My family, which came over in 1635, has a long line of veterans, officially starting with the Revolution at the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. In the war of 1812, my family was there at the Battle of Plattsburgh -- a captain on Lake Champlain. My great-great-grandfather was part of the 15th Massachusetts and was captured on a chuck wagon (maybe why I enjoy cooking). He spent some time in Libby Prison. My grandfather was drafted during World War I but never served.
My father served in the Navy during World War II, on LST 572 in the Atlantic (Normandy) and Pacific (Philippines) theaters and during the occupation of Japan. Though she did not serve in the military, my mother worked in a ball bearing factory in Springfield, Vt., making parts for the war effort, She was also active with the VFW Auxiliary and the DAR. My wife, Monica, my brother and my brother-in-law served during Vietnam. Monica's service was with the Big Red One at Fort Riley, Kan., in supply and transport. Our son Kyle joined the Marines and is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who served with the 8th Engineers. There are many others -- uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, I could go on and on.
Why did I chose the Navy? I think it was the fact that my father was in the Navy. Plus, my parents were very involved in the VFW, I was around military all the time. I was in the Sons of the VFW and was commander once. I marched in a lot of parades on the holidays.
Many factors led me to me to join the military in 1976, right out of high school.. Times were tough in my small Vermont town. No job, women trouble, time to get out of town, I joined the Navy as a corpsman to see the world, not knowing I would be sent with the Marines to be trained in combat medicine. I wasn't at Camp Lejeune long. I spent most of my hitch in Groton, Conn., at the Naval Submarine Medical Center in the ICU, CCU, emergency department, and with the ambulance crew.
Never did see the world. I do not regret that I volunteered, but I learned a very valuable lesson: "Never Again Volunteer Yourself."
