On 1/21/2020 8:03 PM, a425couple wrote:
On 1/14/2020 8:26 PM, a425couple wrote:
My MC reunion
To understand, it's probably best to go back a few years before we all
met. I had one, older brother. In 1960 he was a college freshman and
while walking on the sidewalk from the dentist office to the bus stop,
he was hit and killed by a drunk driver. So, even more than before,
my dad really wanted me to go to college. I'd saved up money from
warking at a gas station so I paid for my 1st quarter. We had never
clearly discussed funding, but I had the general understanding that he
would help me some. Well, before Thanksgiving of
Yeah, I started out as a poor boy, had to work
graveyards at gas stations and wrestle my way
through college. My dad had really wanted me to go to college,
I spent my high school savings on the 1st quarter payment.
We never discussed it, bu I had the general understanding that
he would be able to help me financially, although even in his
best year ever, he did not come near earning $10,000.
But then, before Thanksgiving of my 1st quarter at college,
he was dead. Time to tighten up the self resolve and
figure things out.
I decided to plan and succeed over it all.
On 1/14/2020 8:26 PM, a425couple wrote:
My MC reunion
To understand, it's probably best to go back a few years before we
all met. I had one, older brother. In 1960 he was a college freshman and
while walking on the sidewalk from the dentist office to the bus
stop, he was hit and killed by a drunk driver. So, even more than
before, my dad really wanted me to go to college. I'd saved up money
from working at a gas station so I paid for my 1st quarter. We had
never clearly discussed funding, but I had the general understanding
that he would be able to financially help me some. Well, before Thanksgiving of my freshman year, he had suddenly died.
had to work
graveyards at gas stations and wrestle my way
through college. My dad had really wanted me to go to college,
I spent my high school savings on the 1st quarter payment.
We never discussed it, bu I had the general understanding that
he would be able to help me financially, although even in his
best year ever, he did not come near earning $10,000.
But then, before Thanksgiving of my 1st quarter at college,
he was dead. Time to tighten up the self resolve and
figure things out.
I decided to plan and succeed over it all.
I graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in History and
Teachers Certification, but by then I had decided to volunteer for the
Marine Corps.
So, guess I arrived with
At TBS I felt confident I would get my requested MOS of Air Traffic Controller, but it turned out after we put in the requests, they changed standards, and decided that they would make eyesight requirements for
Traffic Controllers the same as they had for pilots. Oh, Well!
So I went to 5th MAB along with many of us as Infantry 0301. It turned
out I was assigned by them for 6 months duty to Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton and had an interesting and productive time with the
Marksmanship Training Unit, the rifle and pistol ranges. I was able to improve my personal marksmanship skills, and by observing plenty, form
ideas for teaching marksmanship.
It was fortuitus that when I arrived at 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, 1st
Marine division as a Infantry Platoon Commander, they happened
After that I went to
At TBS I felt confident I would get my requested MOS of Air Traffic
Controller, but it turned out after we put in the requests, they changed standards, and decided that they would make eyesight requirements for
Traffic Controllers the same as they had for pilots. Oh, Well!
So I went to 5th MAB along with many of us as Infantry 0301. It
turned out I was assigned from them for 6 months duty to Marine Corps
Base, Camp Pendleton and had an interesting and productive time with the Marksmanship Training Unit, the
unit that managed and ran the rifle and pistol ranges. I was able to
improve my personal marksmanship skills, and by observing plenty of
different units fire, form ideas for teaching marksmanship.
It was fortuitous that when I arrived at 3rd Battalion 7th Marines,
1st Marine division as a Infantry Platoon Commander, the
fairly new Battalion Commander noticed my marksmanship assignment and
mentioned
that the prior year the prior commander had been called out for a bad re-qualification rate. I told him I was very confident I could do a
good job at that additional duty. He assigned me to be a platoon
leader. Later I was given the additional duty of two week assignments
as rifle requalification OIC and Range Safety Officer. The Bn. C.O. was
at first hesitant about me being both the OIC and RSO without oversignt
by his BN S-3 staff, but after the results came in from the first
re-qual, then the second he became comfortable that I was competent, and continued to assign me to all requalification details. It turned out
that I, and my team of coaches, got us a "superlative re-qualification
rate of 99.1%" a division record, and I was given a "Certificate of Commendation"
Events turned out that the battalion got a routine quota to send a
lieutenant to Embarkation School, at the lieutenant did not take it
seriously and failed, so the Battalion C.O. got a routine 'ding". He
had decided that I took assignments seriously, and instructed that I
should be sent to the school. It turns out that my abilities in spatial relations, memory and spread sheet thoughts were a perfect fit with
Embarkation school. I did very well. Unknown to me, it turned out
later, that the Embarkation training staff went overseas to the 3rd
Marine Division and told them about my class work and that I was coming.
On January 29, 1972, I along with a fair number of TBS classmates flew
over to 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa. After landing at Kadena, we
were all told to remain in our seats. A MC Gunnery Sgt. came aboard,
talked to the flight attendants, then came up to aisles, confirmed my
name, and said his Coronenel wanted to talk to me and to please follow
him. In the terminal building the Division Embarkation Officer bluntly
told me that although he had no idea what my dreams might be, that I and
none of us on the plane would ever lead a platoon, or company in combat
in Vietnam. He said I could, if I really wanted, go to an infantry
assignment at do a lot of climbing up hills in Okinawa, or, if I was
willing I could be his assistant Division Embarkation Officer, a Major's billet. I told him that if he wanted me I would be happy to work for him.
And, thus began this skinney Norweigians Marine Corps magical mystery
tour of SouthEast Asia.
After that I went to
Lest you think I am simple and one dimensional, a long time
ago I finished college and was set to be a history teacher and
wrestling coach. I chose to do my patriotic duty and served
as a Lieutenant and Captain in the US Marine Corps (and did go to
Vietnam). While waiting for law school to start, I was offered
employment as a police officer,
and decided that would be fun for a few years until I got serious
about being an adult. Turns out I enjoyed it and the career often
enough felt like it was good work worth doing. I worked at many things,
patrol officer, field training officer, detective, patrol sergeant,
instructor in many areas, detective sergeant, and lieutenant.
My duties also caused me to 'network' with other law enforcement
agencies, local, state, and federal.
I was active with my family and community.
We have raised 4 children and got all of them through college
and into professional situations.
Active in PTA and local politics. I ran for the city council once, and
got the endorsement of both newspapers that covered the race.
10 years on the local library board, 12 years on the local
civil service commission
12 years active in leadership of a fraternal order (FOE / Eagles)
And crazy active in sports car racing as a driver and in it's
government / guidance.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)