Working. Born on Kentucky Derby Day in 1944 my childhood was one of moving from Army post to Army post with my father and family including living overseas in Japan and France. After graduating from high school in 1963 I joined the Marines and went though basic training at Parris Island South Carolina with Platoon 262, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion and spent the next 28 years serving as a United States Marine. Some notable and memorable duty assignments include my 2 year long tours of duty in the Republic of South Viet-nam both in the DaNang area. The first was in 1965 when the build-up began and the 2nd in 1969-70. In between those tours I spent 27 months at the American Embassy, San Jose, Costa Rica.
More then half of my Marine Corps career consisted in the area of training and education. I had two 3 year tours training Marine Corps Reserves in Miami, Florida (during the hay days of the Dolphins) and the 2nd in Battle Creek, Michigan. I asked for and was assigned to Drill Instructor Duty at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in the mid-seventies. There I trained Marine recruits as a Junior Drill Instructor, a Senior Drill Instructor, Company Gunnery Sergeant and with an extension of 18 month the Chief Drill Instructor of Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.
My last 7 years were spent in Professional Military Education when I was selected as the Chief Instructor of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer at El Toro, California. When the Marine Corps changed the Director billets from Officer to Senior Staff NCO's I was reassigned to the duel positions of Academics Officer/Deputy Director of the Staff NCO Academy, Marine Corps Training and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia. There I supervised the the training of Marine in 17 NCO schools and 4 Staff NCO Academies. For my final assignment I was selected as the first enlisted advisor to the President of the newly formed Marine Corps University. I was really honored when I was selected to and spent my final three years on the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Association at Quantico. I was also the guest speaker at Staff NCO Mess Nights and preceding over graduations both as the Chief Instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the Staff NCO Academy. As the Marine Corps enlisted education started to change under General Gray. I was privileged to travel from Marine Corps Base to Marine Corps Base to give the presentation on the upcoming changes.
While stationed at Quantico one of my fellow Marines had a Doctorate in Education and encouraged me to get into college which I did. After 7 years of night school I had earned a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree both completed when I was in my 50's.
After working as a Child Protective Investigator for three years I got back into education and taught the Emotional Handicapped student at the Elementary, Middle and finally the high school level. During that time I also volunteered at "Give Kids the World" both as an air-port greeter and village volunteer. It is a wonderful place where "Make a Wish" children come to spent a week with their families, all expenses paid.
My love of photography took hold as I was retiring from teaching and has grown ever since. My sense of service continues.
Photo is when I graduated from Drill Instructor School in 1977. I retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in 1991.
More then half of my Marine Corps career consisted in the area of training and education. I had two 3 year tours training Marine Corps Reserves in Miami, Florida (during the hay days of the Dolphins) and the 2nd in Battle Creek, Michigan. I asked for and was assigned to Drill Instructor Duty at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in the mid-seventies. There I trained Marine recruits as a Junior Drill Instructor, a Senior Drill Instructor, Company Gunnery Sergeant and with an extension of 18 month the Chief Drill Instructor of Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.
My last 7 years were spent in Professional Military Education when I was selected as the Chief Instructor of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer at El Toro, California. When the Marine Corps changed the Director billets from Officer to Senior Staff NCO's I was reassigned to the duel positions of Academics Officer/Deputy Director of the Staff NCO Academy, Marine Corps Training and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia. There I supervised the the training of Marine in 17 NCO schools and 4 Staff NCO Academies. For my final assignment I was selected as the first enlisted advisor to the President of the newly formed Marine Corps University. I was really honored when I was selected to and spent my final three years on the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Association at Quantico. I was also the guest speaker at Staff NCO Mess Nights and preceding over graduations both as the Chief Instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the Staff NCO Academy. As the Marine Corps enlisted education started to change under General Gray. I was privileged to travel from Marine Corps Base to Marine Corps Base to give the presentation on the upcoming changes.
While stationed at Quantico one of my fellow Marines had a Doctorate in Education and encouraged me to get into college which I did. After 7 years of night school I had earned a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree both completed when I was in my 50's.
After working as a Child Protective Investigator for three years I got back into education and taught the Emotional Handicapped student at the Elementary, Middle and finally the high school level. During that time I also volunteered at "Give Kids the World" both as an air-port greeter and village volunteer. It is a wonderful place where "Make a Wish" children come to spent a week with their families, all expenses paid.
My love of photography took hold as I was retiring from teaching and has grown ever since. My sense of service continues.
Photo is when I graduated from Drill Instructor School in 1977. I retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in 1991.
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