On Jan. 19, 1971, I was drafted into the U.S. Army at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. The next day I started basic training at Fort Dix, N.Y. I was initially very bitter and angry that I was drafted, but it turned out to be a great thing. Upon graduating basic training, I was transferred to Fort Devens, Mass., to start my AIT which was Military Policeman (95B). MP training usually takes place at Fort Gordon, Ga., but they needed MPs at Fort Devens so we had our training there.

I studied hard as we were told that the top 10% of the class would be assigned to the 67th MP Co and do road patrol. The others would be assigned the 624th MP Co and man the stockade. I graduated to the 67th. I also became a PFC (private first class).

During my training, I made lifelong friends. Charlie Sussner, who bunked under me, was one of them. During my two years at Fort Devens, I had some great partners including Don Marchand and Mick Thornton. Mick and I became traffic investigators and worked together very well. We even made a marijuana arrest of the band members who played at the NCO Club. It was the biggest marijuana bust in the base's history at the time. The total weight we recovered was 7 lbs. Mick and I are in the Military Police History book that was recently published, proudly standing over the marijuana.

I also met my wife, Cheryl, on Fort Devens and married her in 1972. I am a lucky man because we will be married 53 years in November. I don’t know how she puts up with me,

Prior to my discharge I became a special police officer in Georgetown, Mass. I also did my project transition at the Fitchburg, Mass., Police Department. A highlight of that time was when my partner located a 5-year-old missing girl. I can still picture her in my arms when I picked her up and brought her to our patrol car and reunited her with her mother.

Upon my discharge on Jan. 18, 1973, I was hired by the Merrimac, Mass., Police Department, making sergeant a year later. In 1975 I was hired by the Suffolk County, N.Y., Police Department and completed 28 years of service before retiring as a detective in the Special Victims Section. I credit my military training, bosses and partners who got me where I am today. Thank you all. I am planning a 67th/624th Military Police 1971-1973 reunion for those interested in the area of Fort Devens on Oct. 11, 2026. Please contact me at 631-525-7987 or raykelly735@gmail.com.