My grandfather had spoken about his time in the service since before I could remember. Until recently, I had never taken an interest in what he was saying. I had become curious to everything that my grandfather, Steve had said. I had heard stories that intrigued me, and had realized that this information he was speaking about was actually important to our family history. He painted a picture in my mind of the time period, a war had just started when he was in high school. He told me that everything was mass chaos, he did not know what to do with his life yet. At first he just ignored it, going to college for a year, and getting married to my grandmother. Steve told me that college just wasn’t something that he wanted to do. After a failed attempt at trying to enjoy college, he decided that he would sign up for the Air Force. His father had been a pilot in World War II, and it was always a dream of his to follow in those footsteps. I was curious about where he was first placed. He went on to tell me that it was at the Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, for his basic training. One of the saddest stories that I remember him telling me was that he couldn’t pursue his dream of becoming a pilot because he lacked perfect vision. Although, one of the funniest stories he told me spurred from this, he had tried to memorize the eye chart to pass his eyesight test. Even though he wanted to become a pilot, he still enjoyed working as an air traffic controller. “What does an air traffic controller do?” I asked. “Well, we dispatched and received at the airfield,” he replied. I had never known what this was, so I was quite amazed, it seemed like a fun job. Although basic training was not all fun for him, he left his wife at home in Kewanee... ... middle of paper ... ... for the reason that they wanted to raise their family, in their hometown. From this, I have learned that family is important, no matter where you are at. Steve told me that leaving the service could have been a disaster, but that it helped him to create a good, steady life for his children. His wife and he now agree that they made the right decision in deciding not to continue to serve in the Air Force. He continues to believe that service is important to keep this nation intact. He drew a vivid picture for me of what it is like to have a family, and to have served for our country. Through the stories he has told me, I have learned it is okay not to always know who you are. Steve has taught me that life is an experience to grow from and to even gain a better perspective of who you are. For Steve, he realized that his family was the thing most important to him.
His college years took place during the height of the Vietnam War, which he personally supported. Subsequently, he joined the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, but unfortunately his military career was short-lived due to his poor eyesight. After graduating in 1969 with a b...
It seemed as if he had found his place while in ROTC. The discipline along with the structure, it was as if he had found people who were like him. He had fallen in love with the Army and after forty years of service, he retired. He was ask, what would have you done if you had not come in the Army? I’d probably be a bus driver, I don't know.
When I joined the United States Marine Corps, I knew it would change my life, but I never realized how great those changes would be. I was trained in public affairs as a print and broadcast journalist, and immediately stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Drastic life changes can take a toll both physically and emotionally over time, and it is always important to have a great personal support system to thrive through those times. My senior advisor at the time, Master Gunnery Sgt. (Master Guns) Charles Albrecht, turned out to be one of the best supporters I could ever ask for.
As a casual Lieutenant assigned to Warner Robins AFB I learned how the 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron trained, operated, and deployed. While assigned to aid the Chief of Training I gained valuable insight into how a training shop ran all the while attending the Air and Space Basic Course, Navigator Initial Flight Training, and completing my Private Pilots’ License. After nine months of rudimentary jobs, I left for navigator training at Randolph AFB.
My personal Air Force story began with a strong family tradition of military service. My great-uncle, whom I never knew, served as an infantryman during World War I. My grandfather served in the Navy as a flight instructor during World War II, training pilots who went on to win the war against Japan in the Pacific. My father served as a Huey helicopter crew chief and door gunner in the Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, he completed the remainder of his 20-year career in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, flying Medical Evacuation missions in the Huey. My uncle also served in the Army during Vietnam. With such strong examples of service set by men I respected, I decided early in life that I, too, wanted to serve in my nation’s armed forces. The only question was how.
A big "celebration" dinner was planned for John's going away. All of his family and close friends came to enjoy good food and fellowship before leaving in the morning. His parents were to drive him to the airport where he would fly to the army base. The same base his father trained at many years ago. John's father was proud of his son, but also a little concerned, for he realized the seriousness of this war.
The sun began to set below the mountains as we were finishing up the interview with my grandfather. I click the stop button on the voice recorder, “Man, you lived an interesting life. Do you have anything else you will like to add to it?” I said. “No, I think I gave you my whole life story. Do you think it is enough for your paper or whatever you are doing, Junior?” he replies. I shook my head and answer yes forgetting that my grandfather is legally blind in both eyes, a simple yes would have been enough. This was the most my grandfather talked about his past to anyone. He is a quiet man, all he needed was his smoking pipe, newspapers, an outdoor setting, and he would be just fine in this world. When I was a little boy, learning about your parents past would never cross my mind, even less my grandparents. As an adult, this was a chance to learn more about my grandfather, Amos Brown, and the life he lived. Currently, he is living with his daughter in Rancho Cucamonga, California. A far drive from his home in Pasadena, where he was born and raised, the house he laid stone by stone with his bare hands, the house he was forced to leave because of his ailing health, he misses it during long nights in bed. The goal of this interview was to see the world through his eyes and get a sense of what his life was. During the interview, I began to imagine my past and present with his, viewing every major event of his with my own. Is it possible that we have the same experiences, but in different eras? Could his memories of his younger years, time during the great depression, travels through the South as a recruit, witnessing a bloody era of the civil rights movement, and 2008 presidential race mirrors my own?
It is ALWAYS fitting to remember our military personnel that have died in the defense of this nation. I could NEVER forget it. I rarely talk about my own ventures into the world of combat. In fact, most of us older coots go out of our way to avoid it. Many of us didn’t serve in Vietnam because we felt our nation’s survival was at stake. We did it because, unlike now, the military draft was the law of the land and Vietnam was our “war”… our time to step up and serve, even though Congress never formally declared war. Most of us never thought much about the righteousness of it. It was our duty and we did it.
...ught me how to make better decisions, both personally and in my professional life. Now that I am going back to Fort Benning upon completion of CGSC, leaving my family there was one of the best decisions of my life. It has taught me how to manage my time better; a skill that always needs to be refined. Most of all, it has taught me to deal with and not just overcome, but also learn from failure. As an organizational-level leader, sometimes I will have to make the unpopular decision for the staff, but that decision will always be for the good of them. It may also be a decision on how I am managing the staff’s time. Most of all, it will help me in teaching my subordinates how to deal with and learn from failure. Therefore, I feel the educational and life lessons I have learned during my CGSC experience has already and will continue to make me a better leader.
Andy grew up as a military child and he assures, “Being in a military family I can appreciate the veterans and their families more.” (Moore) Military children recognize the importance of sacrificial service that their parent committed. This ensures parents that raising a child in the military can help develop an appreciative, respectful, and prideful child by experiencing and interacting within the military lifestyle. The military provides a strong structure or values and traits that promote a healthy development of characteristics for
Several stories into the novel, in the section, “How to tell a true war story”, O’Brien begins to warn readers of the lies and exaggerations that may occur when veterans tell war stories.
I have been blessed to have led a highly fulfilling career over the past 22 years. The Air Force’s standards of conduct and performance have helped me mature into an adult while creating lasting memories along the way. I have had the opportunity to make significant contributions to my country that offer a sense of pride and personal achievement. My current duties allow me to directly contribute to the Air Force and Joint arena on an almost daily basis. Joining the Air Force helped me to realize I had undertaken a task bigger than myself.
The Air Force has been a life shaping institution for me as it has been for many others. The demands and opportunities inherent to military service have given me the chance to grow and develop as an individual and team member. From the age of five, I wanted to be a fighter pilot. But as I grew up, my dream remained the same while my motivations changed greatly. Once I entered the Air Force, the experiences that I had serving were profound and life changing and my current assignment affords me the opportunity to use that experience in a joint environment to shape the way that the Army and the Air Force integrate. While the steps along the way have been many and varied, upon reflection I can see that the common thread throughout has been the ideal of service before self.
This lady is the most wonderful person I 've ever met. She is old, affectionate, and intelligent. It took me eighteen years to realize how much this extraordinary person influenced my life. She 's the type of person who charms everyone with her stories and experiences. She always time for her family and friends. She is the kind of leader who does everything to keep her family together and in harmony. She is my grandmother.