Veterans Day

I was born in Memphis, TN, on Aug. 6, 1929. At age 16 my mother felt I was old enough to leave home, so I enlisted in the Army. I was sworn into the regular Army on March 28, 1946. After six weeks of basic training at Camp Lee, VA, I was shipped to the Philippine Islands and was assigned to the 618th Ordnance Base Armament Maintenance Battalion on Luzon Island. I returned to the United States in 1947, and was discharged at Camp Stoneman, CA, at which time I returned to St. Louis.

After one visit to the local unemployment office to sign up for the 52/20 club, as I had been advised to do, I decide that I was better off as a buck sergeant in the Army, so I re-enlisted. I was assigned as a non-commissioned officer in charge of a troop train from St. Louis to Keesler Field, MS. From there I went to Fort Jackson, S.C. After attending the Signal Corps Photographic Center on Long Island in New York state, I went to Fort Dix, N.J. for shipment to Germany.

In February 1948, I was assigned to the 6th Constabulary Regiment in Schweinfurt with temporary duty to the 53rd Constabulary Squadron in Schwabach and Weiden. The 53rd was reorganized as the 15th Constabulary Squadron with the mission of keepers of law and order in Germany along the borders of the U.S. Zone, the Soviet Zone and the country of Czechoslovakia. My duties were: official U.S. Army photographer, special investigations section investigator, provost sergeant, NCOIC of the special police platoon, commander of the honor guard and first sergeant of headquarters troop.

I was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in January 1952, and assigned as a reconnaissance platoon leader. I served as trial counsel on several special court martials. I remained with the 15th Constabulary Squadron until July 1952 when I returned to the U.S.

I held several command and staff assignments at Fort Leavenworth, KS, until 1956, when I transferred to Keflavik, Iceland, for duty with the 2nd Battalion Combat Team. In December 1956, I went to Fort Benning, GA, until mid-1957 then to Fort Lawton, WA, until 1960.

I went back to Germany and served with the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. I was captain of the 1st Battalion marksmanship team and we took second place in the NATO shooting matches. I returned to the U.S. in May 1963, and was assigned as the senior officer advisor in the VI US Army Corps Officer Command in Pontiac and Flint, MI.

During my Army career, I achieved 14 enlisted and commissioned ranks. I was selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel, but I chose to retire in April 1966 with a rank of major.

I currently reside in Federal Way. I have one daughter and triplet grandchildren. My first wife, Irma, preceded me in death in 2003. I am now remarried to my beautiful bride, Katie.