When and why did you decide to join the military and where were you located when you made this decision?

The draft settled that decision for me in 1965. I came home from my last college exam to find that I was about to enter the US Army.

Where did you serve during your time in uniform?

The most important posts were with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam and the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg

What were some of your key memories during your time of service? 

I served in Vietnam in 1968 as a helicopter pilot and flight platoon leader in 3 major operations. The Tet Offensive, Khe Sanh and the Ashau Valley. My last post was to a parachute unit in North Carolina. Having learned to fly I had to learn how to jump out airplanes. I think my mother thought that I should have had my head examined

What is an important value that you took away from your military experience? 

Mental and physical preparation are essential to succeed in difficult situations. You almost always work in a team environment. People are counting on you to do the best you can and you are counting on them to do the same.

 What advice would you give someone interested in joining the military? 

The world has a lot of dangerous places and our military is designed to go there. No one is exempt from the chance that you will serve our country by standing in harms way.