Biography

My story is a simple one with no explosive revelation or great deeds. The Officer Candidate School pointed me in the right direction. I always have remembered “Duty, Honor, Discipline and Dedication.” I found if you remember these traits and emulate them, you will be a success in all your endeavors. OCS taught me to lead the way, no matter what the mission. It made me a better officer, father, husband, and a better American Citizen. The Marine Corps and the U.S. Army gave me the experience and knowledge, but OCS brought me to another level and prepared me to be the best company officer I could be.

I look back on my service, and when I do, I always go to my time in OCS because I know that is where I got my “finishing school” to serve my country. I remember friends like Lieutenant John Ionoff, Lieutenant Lewis Forrest, and my Tac officers, Jesse Keeton Bill Spanos and Darrell Katz. These men, and men like them, are what you remember as your combat brothers in arms.

I started my military career in the United States Marine Corps in July 1956. I spent a three year hitch in the Corps. I was in the 1st Force Recon Bn., but due to an injury on my last parachute jump, I was transferred to the 1st medium Tank Battalion in Camp Pendleton, California. I stayed in armor for the rest of my tour in the United States Marine Corps.

In September of 1959, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. My first organization in the U.S. Army was the 1st Bn., 69th Armor. My first tour overseas was in Germany with the 3rd Bn., 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division near Munich. By September 1060, I was a sergeant (E5). I finished my tour in Germany and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia in 1963 once again assigned to the 2nd Bn., 69th Armor. This was the third time while in the Army I was assigned to one of the 69th Armor Battalions.

In 1965 as staff sergeant, I applied to become a helicopter pilot. Upon being accepted for pilot school, I was told that I would get orders in about a year. I asked the president (w4) of the board if we really had to wait a year to go to the school. He said I could get there faster by going to OCS and request flight school and I would get a slot for the school. He indicated there was an OCS Qualification Board meeting in about two weeks and my qualification for the Pilot School was higher than OCS. I passed the OCS Qualification Board and reported to OCS 1 April 1965. While I was in OCS I was able to compete and win Soldier of the Year competition at Fort Benning. The $250.00 prize came in handy. Along with other assignments during OCS, I was a member of the Blue Day Chain, Bivouac Chain and the 490 Club. I graduated from OCS in Class 8-65, 15 September 1965.

During OCS I decided to request the Armor branch because I had nine years in Armor and it was granted. I went directly to Airborne School after graduation and then to then to Armor Officers Basic School at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

I had my first tour in Vietnam in 1967 with the 1/10 Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands at Camp Henry located near the city of Play Ku. After my tour, I was assigned to the Fort Knox AG Admin Company which supported basic training, post motor pool, MP Detachment, Post Engineers, etc. In leaving this assignment, I attended the Advanced Armor Officers Course there at Fort Knox.

My second tour in Vietnam was a MACV assignment in August of 1969 to a Popular Forces Training Center near the Holy City of Hue. I was the Team Leader of the 10-man team responsible for basic training for Popular Forces to protect their villages from the Viet Cong. I returned to the U.S. in 1970 and entered the degree completion program at the University of Tampa graduating with a double major in Business and Economics in 1972.

I was once again sent to Germany to the 3rd Armored Division North of Frankfurt, Germany. My next and last assignment was in 1974 with the Readiness Group Los Angeles located at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, near Los Angeles. I was part of an Armor Team that advised the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Armor units in California, Arizona and Nevada. This assignment was challenging and rewarding.

During my last duty station, I was able to get a BA in Sociology at the University of Southern California. I also worked on my Master’s Degree in Gerontology at USC. I wanted to help the elderly when I left the Army. I retired 30 April 1977.

The USMC and the U.S. Army gave me the experience and knowledge, but OCS was the finishing school which brought me to another level and prepared me to be the best company officer I could be.

I held three positions after leaving the U.S. Army. I was a teacher in the JROTC High School in Hillsborough County, Florida, for one year. My second position was a Transportation Director for a non-profit organization serving the elderly and handicapped in Pinellas County, Florida, for more than 20 years. Last, but not least, I held a position with Coach USA as the General Manager of United Transportation in Orlando, Florida. This was a para-transit company that served the elderly and handicapped in five counties. I retired 30 October 2000. Back