Born & raised in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I was drafted after dropping out of college.
During basic training I extended my term of active duty to become a Chinook crew chief because I always wanted to fly. At Fort Eustis, I could not read the numbers on the colored cards and was told I was color-blind and could not get into crew chief training. To get into aviation I agreed to train in power train & rotor repair. I was sent to Fort Campbell to the 570th TC Detachment and helped raise hell at the clubs.
Late in June 1968, we flew by C-141 directly to Chu Lai via Alaska & Japan. After rebuilding bunkers & hooches on the hill and alot of rat patrol, we began to work on the Blue Ghost aircraft. I worked on slicks & guns, progressing to maintenance team leader and technical inspector. I was so glad the C-models were replaced by Cobras.
I almost extended my tour but decided to return to CONUS. I became an instructor at Fort Eustis then was sent to Fort Meade to help teach ROTC at Indiantown Gap in the summer of 1970. I returned to college and joined the Hoover Company after graduation in 1973.I retired in 2003 after 30 years at Hoover, my last position being a Corporate Staff Specialist in Information Technology. I never limited myself to one woman.Post Adjutant of the American Legion Post in Malvern, OH for 11 years.I am proud to have served and even more proud to have been associated with Blue Ghosts.