Hometown: Springfield
Current Residence: Springfield
Family: Proud grandfather to three granddaughters and seven grandsons, all living in Arizona.
Career After the Military: Machinist and heavy equipment operator, net assembler. Currently working as a net assembler with TAC- The Abilities Connection in the Veteran's Affairs rehabilitation and employment services program. TAC is the sole supplier of new cargo nets to the United States Air Force, and the sole source for repair of nets.
RELATED: Springfield vet completed secret WWII missions
Hobbies: Fishing, swimming and hiking
Branch of Service: United States Army
Did you join the military or were you drafted? I enlisted in 1983
Dates of Service: December 1983 through December 1986
Deployments/Bases: I went to Fort Sill, OK for basic training. Then I went to Germany to serve as a field artillery surveyor for 19 months. Back here in the United States, I served at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
Total time that you served? Three years
What did you do in the service? I was a field artillery surveyor. Because it was not during a time of war, I was a forward observer. I gave direction for fire by survey points.
READ MORE: Springfield sailor killed in Pearl Harbor now home 75 years later
What did you gain from serving in the military? The Army taught me to respect all people, it taught me to get up every day and do something. My military service taught me discipline. I gained great pride in my country by serving in the military.
What do you remember most about your service? My most memorable time in the military was during my service in Germany. Their ways are very different, and I enjoyed learning about their culture. For example, belching after a good meal was a compliment to the cook.
What would you like readers to know about your military experience? I enjoyed serving in the Army very much. I learned the kind of discipline needed to get up and go to work and make something of myself.
To nominate a veteran, e-mail samantha.sommer@coxinc.com or randyark48@gmail.com or call 937-328-0363. Any veteran of any military branch, years of service and age is eligible to be profiled.
About the Author