Our Stories Military Veterans of Christ the King Parish

Veterans Committee Christ the King Parish Kingston, Rhode Island November 11, 2018 They All Served Their Stories This compilation of profiles and stories of Bill Babcock, US Army 1 military veterans is a project of the Veterans Lynn Bentley, US Navy 7 Committee of Christ the King Parish in John Bergantini, US Navy 8 Kingston, Rhode Island. David J. Cormier, US Army 9 In this first edition, 20 men and women of the Pat Davis, US Air Force, US Navy 10 parish share their experiences, challenges and Perley Doak, US Army 12 accomplishments in the Army, Air Force, Navy Elise Hedglen, US Air Force 14 and Marines. Frank Hopkins, US Navy 16 They were infantry men, weapons technicians, Jack Kelly, US Air Force 17 fire fighters, nurses, a musician, a jump Bill Kovacs, US Army 18 master, intelligence and security specialists, a cartographer and a company clerk. They are Mary Mason, US Navy 19 officers, NCOs and enlisted personnel. Some Leo J. Masse, US Air Force 21 served one tour, others were career military. And George P. Masso, US Army 23 all served proudly and value the friendships and Mike McLinn, US Navy 24 life lessons from their time in the service. Paul L. Muller, US Marine Corps 25 We thank them for their service and for sharing Gary Peigelbeck, US Air Force 26 their stories. Bob Ricci, US Marine Corps 28 Nancy A. Sherman, US Air Force 29 Lord, I Pray for a Veteran David Smith, US Army 31 Lord, I pray for a veteran. The one who sacri- Dave Vissoe, US Army Reserve 33 ficed, served, and did us proud. I pray for the home-grown hero who was on the front lines where fear and fate intersected. I pray for a veteran on a military base, a veteran who served in a hospital, classroom, or office. I pray for a veteran who staffed an embassy, who guarded our leaders. The veteran I pray for is in Your per- petual care, and in my heart forever. Amen

Cover photo: Dedication of the Veterans Memorial Garden on Memorial Day, 2016 Our Stories

Bill Babcock US Army

camp, usually the sick, lame and point element cutting its way with lazy. Also the crazy. But that’s an- a machete. The first day Lt. Bullet’s other story. The job of the Reaction platoon led the way. As Fred was Platoon was to go out and sweep the leaving the perimeter, I noticed he perimeter of the base camp any time was walking point for his platoon there was an enemy probe or breach and had his gold second lieutenant’s of the perimeter. The sweep wasn’t bar showing on his collar. It was not an especially dangerous or exciting the lieutenant’s job to walk point job and it could take several days and in fact it was not a good posi- each time it happened. tion to command and control from. On October 7, my 23rd birthday, I I told Fred I didn’t think it was a was flown out to take command of good idea for him to be walking my first platoon. I was assigned to point with his rank showing. He Bravo Company, 3/8th Infantry, 1st just laughed and said, “Hey, if your Brigade of the 4th Infantry Divi- number is up, your number is up.” Retired Army Colonel Bill sion. I replaced Lt. Tony Sciacca, An hour or so later Fred was shot in Babcock shares two stories, who then became the company the leg and it was later amputated. one from Vietnam and Executive Officer. The other lieu- The second day of the move Lt. the other from Cambodia tenants in the company were Virgil Mann’s platoon led the way with- (page 2). His military Judah, Dave Mann and Fred Bullet. out incident except for occasional biography is on page 6. The company had made contact sniper fire. The third day was my with some Viet Cong the previous turn. After moving through the Friendly Fire day and everyone was pretty excited. jungle for several hours we were Ever since my arrival in Vietnam We set up a company perimeter in moving up a ridgeline on our way in late August 1969 I had been in the vicinity of the contact and ran to a hilltop where we were to set the base camp at Pleiku serving in a platoon-size patrols for the next two up a new company position. Be- variety of positions until an ear in- weeks. Other than finding a large cause we had taken fire every day, fection cleared up. The ear infection enemy weapons cache hidden in we were calling in 105-howitzer began when I was home on leave in some caves, those two weeks were and 4.2-inch (four-duce) mortar July and had continued even after I rather uneventful. I got to know the fire on top of the hill as we moved was sent to Jungle School in Pan- men in my platoon and they got to up the ridgeline in case the enemy ama. It was a middle ear infection know me. was waiting on the hilltop. About that left me with no sense of bal- About October 21 we were or- half way up the ridgeline as we were ance. Eventually it started to clear dered to move the company to a taking a short rest break there was up and I was assigned as the Reac- new location several kilometers a tremendous explosion. At first no tion Platoon Leader in base camp. away. The going was slow through one knew what had happened. Was The Reaction Platoon was made triple canopy jungle with the whole it an ambush? Was it enemy artil- up of whomever was back in base company moving single file, the lery or mortars? We soon realized it

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was friendly fire from the firebase the men had been carrying. It had supporting us. One of the four-duce been cracked by shrapnel and finally rounds had gone the wrong way and exploded. The phosphorus burned landed in the middle of my point three men. squad. The forward observer imme- At one point I attempted to help diately called for a check fire to stop one of my men who had been the firebase from firing any more wounded. He had some small rounds. We immediately started to wounds in his head and blood trick- determine who was hit and started led down into his eyes preventing to take care of the wounded. The him from seeing his other wound. whole thing seemed like a bad war Shrapnel had taken off half of his movie I had seen as a kid. People hand. I remember thinking that it were lying all over the trail scream- looked like someone had smashed ing and moaning. I moved forward some hot dogs with a hammer, to determine who was hit and exposing raw meat covered with passed PFC Rodney Collins, a new blood. As I tried to figure out how 1Lt. Bill Babcock as Platoon guy, who had just joined the pla- to put a dressing on half a hand he Leader in Vietnam toon and had turned 19 a few days asked me if he was going to be all earlier. He was lying wounded and right. He had worked in civilian life to my helmet and asked how long was being helped by someone. Up in an office as a clerk/typist. I lied I had had the hole in my helmet. front I found two men were dead and told him he was going to be I looked and saw that a piece of and a number of others wounded. fine. I just couldn’t tell him about shrapnel had gone through the steel One of the dead, Specialist Max his hand. helmet and lodged in the liner. That Pugmire, did not seem to be hit at By this time I just wanted to sit had been the first day I wore my all; there were no visible wounds. helmet in the field. I usually wore a It turned out he took a small piece down and cry. I suppose I was in shock like all the others. But I boonie hat, a soft, floppy brimmed of shrapnel through his heart. The hat, when on patrol. Lucky again. other, PFC Albert Wayman, had couldn’t sit down and cry. I wouldn’t This was my first major experience half his head taken off by a large let myself do that. I was the leader. as a platoon leader in Vietnam. piece of shrapnel. Doc was hold- I knew I had to suppress my emo- After that I tried not to get to know ing a piece of his brain on a small tions and keep control. That’s what my men that well. It was too hard branch. I moved back down the trail they taught me at Fort Benning. loosing them. and saw someone had put a poncho That’s what I had to do. It was the over Collins. He was dead. Another hardest thing I ever had to do in my Cambodia life. soldier, SGT Ronald Westphal, was During the months of April, May sitting up crying and trying to push I was walking about thirteenth in and June 1970, the United States his intestines back inside. He died the file of thirty-five men in the pla- Army, together with forces of the shortly after he was evacuated. toon. It turned out that every man Republic of South Vietnam, con- As we began cutting down trees to in front of me as well as the man ducted operations that came to be make an emergency landing zone immediately behind me was killed known as the Cambodian Incursion for the medevac helicopters, a white or wounded seriously enough to be or Cambodian Invasion. U.S. News phosphorous grenade went off. It medevaced. Number 13 turned out & World Report reported that by turned out to be one that one of to be a lucky number for me that June 5, 1970, 331 Americans had day. The next day my medic pointed

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been killed during this operation. lead company of the battalion, the rifle platoons had been taken Six of those 331 men were members attempted an air assault into the from rear-area jobs such as cooks of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 8th suspected enemy sanctuary area. Its and other non-infantry-qualified Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th first two attempts were met by hot positions to increase the size of the Infantry Division. landing zones. The third attempt company for this particular mission. Cambodia had long been used by to land was initially successful and Consequently, these men lacked the North Vietnam Army and Viet about half of the artillery battery the skills and experience needed Cong as sanctuaries. Supplies from and half of the infantry company to fight effectively in this type of North Vietnam came down the Ho landed. As the remainder of the environment. Other men were new Chi Minh Trail to the local NVA company attempted to land, an am- to the company and combat due to and VC units who used the area bush was sprung by an unknown- the constant turnover in personnel along the Cambodia/South Vietnam sized enemy force. Two helicopters created by the one-year tour of duty, border as staging areas to launch were shot down, and the remainder which was standard in Vietnam. attacks against South Vietnam. Up of Charlie Company aborted the The leadership of Alpha Company until the spring of 1970, the United landing. Later, an NVA squad consisted of the commanding of- States had respected the wishes attacked the command group of ficer and three platoon leaders. A of the Cambodian government Charlie Company and killed the 22-year-old OCS graduate who had and had not crossed the border in First Sergeant and the Company about two months’ experience in pursuit of the NVA and VC. The Commander, Lieutenant Robert the field as a commander, but none enemy was free to come and go as Phillips. The artillery battery com- as a platoon leader, commanded he wished. mander assumed command of the company. He had never been in Charlie Company. Throughout that In March of 1970 the Cambodian combat. Leadership of the first pla- night they fought off attempts by toon came from Staff Sergeant John Government was internally over- the NVA to take the landing zone. thrown, and President Richard Nix- Mull, a platoon sergeant with six on took the opportunity caused by On May 7 the remainder of the months’ experience in the field. The the political and military turmoil in battalion landed at LZ Phillips. The third platoon was led by Lt. Virgil Cambodia to attack those sanctuar- landing zone, soon to be a fire sup- Judah, a twenty-six year old OCS ies. On April 28, South Vietnamese port base, was unofficially named graduate with five months of field Army forces pushed into Cambodia by the men of Charlie Company for time. I was the second platoon in an area known as the Parrot’s their slain commander. leader, a twenty-three year old Beak. On May 1, U.S. forces fol- As was the usual pattern, one com- ROTC graduate with eight months lowed into the Parrot’s Beak and pany remained on the firebase as of experience in the field. farther north into the “Fish Hook.” security while the other companies The company also had a sniper team On May 6, the 1st Brigade of the moved off to begin their mission. consisting of a soldier who had 4th Infantry Division, commanded The mission was to find caches of spent one week at an in-country by Major General Glen D. Walker, enemy supplies and locate a report- sniper school and three men who began operation “Binh Tay,” a series ed enemy (battalion-sized) hospital provided security for him. Although of assaults planned against enemy complex somewhere in the battal- he had been to school, the sniper base areas designated as 701, 702 ion’s area of operations. had no actual experience before and 740. The 3rd of the 8th Infan- Alpha Company was composed of this mission and did not know a lot try moved on base 702, fifty miles three rifle platoons and the com- about his weapon. This was evident west of Pleiku. mand group, a total of about one when he was observed removing On May 6, Charlie Company, the hundred men. Some of the men in the sniper scope from his rifle to

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clean it. Once this weapon had been was obviously part of the Ho Chi for the night where we were, and sighted, the scope should not have Minh Trail complex and probably join him in the morning. I pointed been removed. This inexperience a major intersection, with the hut out to him that higher headquarters and lack of training proved very acting as a checkpoint direction cen- had advised all commanders not to costly later in the mission. ter. I set my platoon in an ambush split up at night since the enemy After landing on LZ Phillips, position covering the trail junction strength was unknown. He did not Company A moved off to the west and waited. change his order. to begin its search for the enemy. At 1330 hours the CO called and At 1730 hours the headquarters Movement was slow through thick, told me to abandon the ambush radio operator called to tell me that triple canopy jungle that blocked site and return to the CP. He then the CO and two other men were out much of the sunlight that fil- sent the four-man sniper team to missing in action. The captain had tered through the trees. the same site to ambush the trail. decided to recon a possible ambush The company moved all afternoon, Instead of concentrating his limited site for Lieutenant Judah’s platoon. calling in the location, direction firepower on the center of the inter- He took Lieutenant Judah and and size of any trails that were section, the team leader placed one three men from third platoon and discovered. As we began to set up man on each avenue of the junction. headed off down the trail that the our night defensive perimeter about An hour later, three NVA walked three NVA had followed earlier 1700 hours, a burst of M-16 fire down the east trail. The sniper fired that day. Lieutenant Judah pointed caused everyone to duck for cover. at a range of fifty to one hundred out that they should take a radio, A lone enemy soldier had decided meters, missed and was wounded by but the CO said there was no need to surrender and had simply walked the NVA, who ran back down the since they were only going a short into the perimeter. One of our men trail and escaped. distance. had taken a shot at him before real- At the same time that the sniper The five men had moved about two izing he was giving up. The prisoner team made contact, my platoon or three hundred meters down the was questioned by the commander. was searching a cache site about a trail when they came upon several He told us he was just a rice farmer thousand meters to the north of the hooches with bunkers under them. recruited by the NVA and forced company CP. Upon returning from Instead of going back or sending to work for them. He just wanted the ambush site, I had been sent to back for help, the CO had the five to be out of any fight that might aid the first platoon, which had dis- men get on line and sweep into the develop. He was either unable or covered the cache. The third platoon enemy complex. Firing broke out unwilling to tell us anything else. now secured the CP. from the direction of the hooches, The rest of the night passed without Staff Sergeant Mull had already and one man was killed instantly. any contact. called in Cobra gunships on sev- The CO and two men were now Early on the morning of May 8, my eral hooches before moving into out of Lieutenant Judah’s sight, and second platoon was sent on a patrol the cache site. As both platoons someone called for a medic. Lieu- to the southwest, while Lieutenant searched, a lone enemy soldier tenant Judah low crawled out of the Judah’s third platoon swept south- jumped up and began firing on us. kill zone and went back to the CP east. The first platoon secured the One of Sergeant Mull’s men re- location for help. He returned to CP group. My platoon soon discov- turned fire and the wounded NVA the contact area and was immedi- ered a large trail junction. The trail ran off down a trail. ately pinned down by enemy fire. A was well used and had bicycle tracks second man was killed and another The CO called and told me to have wounded. No more was heard from on it. A small thatched hut sat in the first and second platoons set up the middle of the trail junction. It the CO and the two men with him.

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As the senior officer I assumed com- Lt. Judah, who had the company’s of overhead cover. Artillery had little mand of Company A and moved forward observer with him, and effect on them. Captain Hunt asked the first and second platoons back had him call artillery fire in front for an air strike on the complex but to the CP. I then moved forward of Sergeant Mull’s position. As the was turned down by the battalion with a small element of about six artillery impacted, setting fire to the commander. He felt there might men to the contact area. I felt it hooches, Lt. Judah called me saying still be a chance the CO and the best not to take the whole company that the forward observer had been others were alive and did not want forward until I could determine the shot from behind and he too was to risk killing them with the air situation and estimate the enemy under fire. He could not tell where strike. Since it was quickly becom- strength. I found Lt. Judah, and the fire was coming from. I decided ing dark, Captain Hunt decided to he explained what had happened. to pull back again and abandon wait until morning to try again. Since it was quickly becoming dark the attempt to penetrate the enemy Early on the morning of May 10, and we could do nothing for the position. Captain Hunt requested an aerial three missing men, I decided to pull Back in the perimeter, the battalion recon of the enemy position to get everyone back into the CP area and commander called to say a new cap- a better fix on what we were up form a perimeter for the night. Us- tain was being sent out to take com- against. A helicopter hunter-killer ing smoke grenades to hide us from mand. It turned out to be Company team reported we were on the edge view and the M-60 machine gun A’s old commander, Captain Hunt. of what appeared to be a battalion- fire to suppress the enemy position, sized enemy complex with a trench I had Lt. Judah withdraw his men The next morning Captain Hunt decided to go back in again. I line and overhead cover going all as I went out and got the wounded around it. Smaller trenches ran out man to my front. I remained behind moved my platoon up to the front of the enemy complex, just behind to its front, which gave the enemy with my RTO and M-60 team to flanking shots on anyone approach- provide covering fire for the dustoff where we had left two of our dead the day before. My mission was ing the main trench. The complex evacuation helicopter as it took out appeared deserted. the wounded man. Under cover of to support Captain Hunt and the darkness, my team and I returned to other two platoons as they tried to Captain Hunt decided to have the the company perimeter. flank from the left. Also, we were to entire company sweep on line into try to recover our dead, who lay out the complex from the left flank. The next day we got ready to move in an open area between the enemy As we prepared to move out, we back into the enemy complex. I sent and us. As Captain Hunt moved in, heard three single shots come from Lt. Judah’s platoon back the way we he was fired on and was unable to the direction of the complex. I led went the first day and Staff Ser- move. One of my men, Specialist second platoon up the left flank of geant Mull’s platoon around what Brian McCarthy, crawled out to try the complex followed by the first we thought was the left flank. I was to recover one of the bodies in front platoon, the CP group, and the with the second platoon, ready to of us. As he started to pull the body third platoon. We got on line and move in either direction depend- back, a single shot ran out and Mc- started in together, burning hooches ing on what happened. Sergeant Carthy was mortally wounded by a and dropping grenades into bunkers Mull made contact first. Firing bullet in the head. Another man ran as we went. No fire came from the began even before he reached the out, picked him up, and carried him enemy positions. They were gone. left flank, and he was immediately back to our position. Captain Hunt Fifteen minutes into the assault, pinned down. Bullets flew overhead decided to pull back once again. and around any man who tried to Captain Hunt called and told me advance into the complex. I called At this point it was obvious that the to halt my platoon and move to his enemy was well dug in with plenty location. They had found the CO

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and the others. The three men were Officer, Headquarters, State Area Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf lying face down in a trench, hands Command; Commander, 110th Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal tied behind their backs, shot in the Public Affairs Detachment; Battle- with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple back of the head. They had been field Circulation Control Officer Heart, Air Medal, Joint Service captured the first day of the contact. and S-3, 43rd MP Brigade; Plans Commendation Medal, Army The three shots we heard in the and Operations Officer, Headquar- Commendation Medal with two morning had been their execution ters, State Area Command; Assis- Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army by the retreating NVA. tant Commandant, Rhode Island Achievement Medal with one Oak During the three days of contact, six Military Academy; Commander, Leaf Cluster, the Rhode Island men of Alpha Company died, six 243rd Regiment, Regional Train- Cross, the Rhode Island Star with were seriously wounded by the en- ing Academy; Chief of the Train- one oak leaf cluster, the Vietnam, emy and eight more received minor ing Division, Headquarters, State Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign wounds from friendly artillery and Area Command; and Deputy Chief Medals, the Global War on Terror- gunships called in “danger close” to of Staff-Operations, Joint Forces ism Service Medal and the Republic support men on the ground. Headquarters, R.I. National Guard. of Vietnam Service Medal. His last assignment was Command- The principal source for this battle Military Organizations include: er, 56th Troop Command Brigade, Reserve Officers Association, analysis was my own recollection of R.I. Army National Guard from events that took place 18 years ago Association of the United States June 2004 until his retirement in Army, Military Order of Foreign (analysis written in 1988). Exact lo- October 2006. cations and exact times have escaped Wars, Veterans of Foreign Wars, my memory; the events reported Additional overseas assignments 4th Infantry Division Association, here, however, will never be forgot- include Chief of Staff, Office of Military Officers Association of ten. Military Cooperation-Afghanistan America, National Infantry from November 2003 to April 2004 Association, and the Combat About the Author and Team Chief, Joint Center for Infantryman Association. Bill Babcock graduated from the Operational Analysis – Lessons Awards from military associations University of Rhode Island in 1968 Learned, Baghdad, Iraq from June include the Order of Saint Barbara and was commissioned a Second 2005 to September 2005. (Artillery Branch), the Order of Lieutenant, Infantry Branch, Colonel Babcock is a graduate Saint Michael (Aviation Branch) through the ROTC program. He of the Infantry Officer Basic and and the Order of Saint Maurice served on active duty from 1968 Advance Courses, Military Police (Infantry Branch). to 1970 to include assignments Officer Qualification Course, Civil In retirement Colonel Babcock with the 5th Infantry Division at Affairs Officer Advance Course, volunteers for several organizations Fort Carson, Colorado and the Public Affairs Officer Course, including the Employer Support of 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Command and General Staff the Guard and Reserve and the URI After leaving the Army in 1970, College and the Army War College. ROTC Alumni Association. He is he worked as a college adminis- His civilian education includes a BA the Veteran Mentor Coordinator for trator until 1985 when he joined in History, an MA in Education and the Rhode Island Veterans the Rhode Island Army National an MBA in Management. Treatment Court. Guard. His awards and decorations include He lives in Narragansett, Rhode Assignments with the Rhode Island the Combat Infantryman Badge, Island with his wife Judy. National Guard included: Training the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit,

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Lynn Bentley US Navy

Upon graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1964, I was accepted to Navy OCS, Newport, Rhode Island. I completed training in March 1965 and was awarded the rank of Ensign. Then I received orders to duty on the USS Oriskany (CVA 34), an Essex-class aircraft carrier. The orders included attending Naval Justice School through May 1965. I took a military flight from California to Manila and was transported from Subic Bay, Philippines on an Ammunition Ship to meet the Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin. I reported aboard my ship in June 1965 and was as- signed duties as Discipline Officer which included su- pervising two Petty Officers and processing all Captain’s Mast proceedings. I also stood two bridge watches per day as a member of the underway watch officer team. Lynn Bentley’s first duty assignment was aboard the The ship was conducting flight operations in the Gulf USS Oriskany in the Far East. of Tonkin, flying combat missions in North Vietnam.

Our first cruise ended in November 1965, during hanger bay which caused serious damage and 55 crew which many successful missions were completed, a members lost their lives. I was able to get out of harms number of pilots were lost or captured and interest- way but narrowly missed death. A major story of the in- ing ports like Hong Kong, Japan and Subic Bay were cident appeared in Life Magazine soon after. We were visited. One of the pilots captured was Commander of ordered back to the U.S. and the ship entered Hunters the Air Group, James Stockdale, who was the highest Point Ship Yard, San Francisco in December 1966. ranking officer held captive in the Hanoi Hilton. We returned to San Diego in December 1965. I received orders for transfer to the Naval Recruiting Station, Boston as a Officer Candidate Recruiter, in We departed for our second cruise in April 1966 March 1967, reporting for duty April 1967, where arriving on station in the Gulf of Tonkin in May. I served until discharge in March 1969. During this During the cruise, I received a promotion to Lieuten- period, I was promoted to Lieutenant, became Of- ant Junior Grade, stood watches as Officer of the Deck, ficer Programs Officer and recruited at most major overseeing a team of three officers and three enlisted New England colleges. My team of officers, enlisted personnel during ship and flight operations, and be- and Civil Service personnel recruited college gradu- came the Administrative Division Officer. Flight opera- ates for OCS, Physicians and Nurse programs. We also tions were very intensive, successful but with a similar processed commissions for Navy ROTC and Merchant loss of pilots. We visited the same ports when we left Marine graduates. the combat area. In October 1966, fire broke out in the

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John Bergantini US Navy

By Jack Kelly John Bergantini enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and was sent to tech school in North Dakota where he was trained to be a Machinist’s Mate. He served aboard the battleship Colorado which saw action in the Pacific in the pre-invasion shelling of Tinian, Saipan and Guam. As a Machinist’s Mate, John served below deck where temperatures often exceeded 100 degrees and when general quarters sounded, all hatches were closed. This meant John and his fellow seamen below deck were locked in place, and there was no escape if the ship went down. His ship was shelled in those battles from island shore batteries and a number of the shells hit the ship. The hits killed and wounded many sailors, and caused extensive damage to the ship but the Colorado did not go down. The ship limped home after the battles to be repaired, and was subsequently returned to action. This time out, the ship was hit by one or more kamikaze suicide planes. John was on deck at the time, not below, and one of the planes crashed into a five-inch gun place- Machinist Mate John Bergantini served aboard the ment that John was near. He was not hurt. USS Colorado in the Pacific during World War II.

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David J. Cormier US Army

Now I’m a social studies teacher. Time and again, the history books point out one glaring issue: armies with- out training and experience are prone to failure. My primary job for 30 years between wars and operations was to train my people to be skilled at their specialty, experienced at life in many different climates and ter- rain, and wise in the ways of leadership. Every opera- tion I was part of, you could tell who was better trained and who wasn’t. My final tour on active duty was from 2005 to 2008. I was a trainer of headquarters units who were preparing to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. My cadre of teachers put 197 units through exercises with problems derived from real-world issues they could ex- pect to encounter. This meant a great deal to me, since my father was a trainer in the Army Air Force during World War II. As a member of the Army Signal Corps, responsible for installing, operating and maintaining a wide range of communications technologies (radio, wire and cable, computer networks, satellite etc.), it was imperative to get all sorts of Army personnel qualified to use the latest and greatest equipment. But since I was trained by Viet- nam veterans in the early 80s, I’ve always kept in sight the need to not be totally dependent on any one form of operating. The Signal Corps teaches us that noth- David J. Cormier, Lieutenant Colonel, ing is entirely safe and secure, and one always needs a US Army (Retired) back-up for every system. We use the saying “Semper Gumby!” It’s a tribute to the old Claymation character Gumby, and it implies we are “Always flexible.”

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Pat Davis US Air Force and Air Force Reserve, US Navy

I joined the US Air Force Nurse Corps in 1970 after graduating from Rhode Island Hospital School of Nurs- ing in 1969. My initial training to Air Force life was a two-week orientation at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls,Texas. We learned the basics of military life, customs and courtesies. We were taught to march forward, turn right, left and about face. Unfortunately, our graduation ceremony included a march on a horse- shoe driveway. It didn’t go well. I was off to Andrews Air Force Base and the Malcolm Grow Medical Center. My assignment was to the Major Surgical Ward under the tutelage of Major Mary Loffstrum, a career Air Force officer. This is where my real orientation to the military and the Air Force began. Pat Davis, Commander, US Navy Andrews was one of the major East Coast medevac Nurse Corp (Retired) bases and we could have several medevac flights arrive on any given day. Some of the patients were walk- ing wounded, others were stretcher patients and some Blizzard of ’78 closed the state and buried my home were severely wounded requiring ICU level care. Most in Providence. The airports and major highways were of these patients were “Remain Over Night” (RON) opened first but upon report day I was still stranded by patients on their way closer to home and we didn’t get three feet of snow. I was not going to miss the report to know them well. The number of wounded airmen, day in my new career so I strapped my luggage to my soldiers, sailors and marines that passed through our sister’s sled and walked two blocks to the nearest plowed doors was dramatic and when I realized it was just a street. small portion of the total, I was thankful that I chose to Of course my parents, brother and all the neighbors serve but it also stoked my anger over the Vietnam War were out to send me off to begin my Navy career. The and our government’s management of it. Navy training was six weeks and much more intense I left active duty after my initial tour of duty but stayed than the Air Force version. After graduating it was active in the Air Force Reserves. Six years later I realized off to San Diego and three years at the Navy’s largest I missed the military life. A bit of maturity and distance medical facility, Balboa Naval Hospital. From there from my first experience told me I didn’t want to be sta- my next assignment was to one of the smallest medical tioned in Texas, North Dakota, or Arizona, I wanted an clinics in the Naval Medical system. The Naval Facility ocean nearby so I went to see my local Navy recruiter. at Chinhae, South Korea was comprised of one doctor, one nurse and two Navy Hospital Corpsman, one an I was accepted and assigned to Naval Station Newport X-Ray technician and the other a laboratory technician. for Orientation and Training. The year was 1978 and We provided 24 hours-a-day coverage for an average of I was to report to Newport on a Sunday in February. 120 military, dependents, contract workers and tran- Unfortunately, the week before I was to report for duty, sient personnel. There was no hospital in the very small it started to snow and didn’t stop for several days. The

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town for backup so we improvised a lot. That was the Facilities in the United States and Europe. Recruiting longest 13 months of my life but I was rewarded with civilian doctors and nurses to join the Navy was my a next assignment back on the East Coast, attending next assignment and I came back home to Rhode Island school at Marymount University to get a BS in Nursing to work in the New England area. It was in this assign- and decided to work on my Master’s Degree at the same ment where I was awarded the honor of Navy Medical time. After school was done, I asked to be assigned to Recruiter of the Year for the entire Navy. Being back the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda where I home with aging parents encouraged me to request a served as a charge nurse on several different units. As final assignment at the Naval Hospital in Newport. I became more senior in my career, the administrative During my years of military service, I have been hon- assignments became more varied. An assignment at the ored to meet, serve with and care for a group of amaz- Navy Personnel Command was next and it included ing people who shared a special dedication to the assignment and career counseling of Navy Nurse Corps United States of America. I have never regretted my Officers along with travel to many of the Naval Medical decision.

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Perley Doak US Army

By Jack Kelly target jump area, the jump master stands at the front, It was 1946 and Perley Doak was a high school senior and uses hand signals to tell the jumpers what to do. in Portland, Maine when he received a notice that he Hand signals are necessary because engine noise makes had been selected for the draft. When he graduated in it difficult and unreliable to give verbal commands. The the spring of 1946, he reported to the induction pro- first signal is to stand up; the second is to hook up to cessing center in Fort Fairfield, a small town in eastern the jump line; the third is to check the parachute Maine along the US-Canadian boarder. He completed rigging of the jumper ahead of you in line. (The jumper forms and answered a lot of questions, and went home. at the end of the line turns around and has his hook-up Four years later in 1950, he heard again from the draft and rigging checked by the person ahead of him in and was ordered to report for military service to Fort line.) The jump master then moves to the plane door, Devens, near Worcester, Massachusetts. and when the jump light comes on, gives the signal to begin the jump. He jumps first to lead the way. The Perley spent only seven days at Fort Devens. He was jumpers on the left side of the plane jump out the left issued his military uniforms and was asked if he pre- door, and those on the right side jump out the right ferred any particular service class. He selected Airborne door. To ensure that everyone lands in close proximity because it paid $50 a month more than regular pay. to each other, time is critical and all jumpers should be With that, he was told to pack his duffel bag and off out of the plane within 29 seconds. Perley completed he went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for basic training. his required five jumps, graduated, and got his para- After completing his five weeks of basic training, he was chute wings. That was definitely a good day. shipped out to Fort Benning, Georgia for jump school. Initial jump training consisted of jumping out the door of a mock-up of an aircraft on the ground, and learn- ing how to land and roll. This training lasted about a week. Next stop was the 24-foot tower. You hook up to a cable line at the top of the tower and simulate jump- ing out of a plane door. The jump takes you forward and down, pretty much like a zip line. You do this five times and are graded each time on how you pushed off from the plane door and landed on the ground at the end of the zip line. If you do well, the next test is the 250-foot tower. You are hoisted up to the 240-foot level in a parachute rigging, given an instruction on how to pull on the chute to make it steer away from the tower on the way down, and then you are released. You do this only once, and if you pass, it’s on to jumping from Staff Sergeant Perley Doak was a Jump Master a real plane at 1,500 feet with 31 other jumpers. with the 101st Airborne Division. The 32 jumpers are seated on either side of the plane, It was on to Fort Bragg after graduation for more 16 to a side. As the plane reaches altitude and nears the training and war games, back to Fort Campbell for a

Page 12 Our Stories

short stay, and then on to Fort Drum, New York for middle of nowhere, given a radio with a homing bea- winter training in anticipation of possible assignment con, and left to find their way back to the base. They to Korea. It was –25° F to –30° F on many nights and did well and followed the homing signal to a lighted there were no barracks to go in and get warm. You had building ahead. As they approached the building, lo to build your own snow shelter – build a snow wall on and behold, it was a bar! It was filled with other Air- three sides, cover the “roof” with branches and pine borne who were waiting for them, and a grand time was boughs, cover the floor with more pine boughs, cover had by all. the boughs with your poncho, and get into your double Perley is proud of his Army service and is glad that he mountain sleeping bag! That doesn’t sound like much served. He met a lot of very nice people from all parts fun, but knowing how to do it might save your life of the country and had two years of exciting new ex- some day. periences that he would not have had elsewhere. Perley Back at Fort Campbell, Perley continued his jump was a member of 511th Battalion of the 101st Airborne training, became a Jump Master, and in one period, Division and had been promoted several times over the jumped 20 times in 20 days, including two night two years and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He jumps. In a ground exercise, with only 37 days left on was honorably discharged in 1952 and returned to his his enlistment, Perley and his squad were taken to the family in Maine.

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Elise Hedglen US Air Force

I began my Air Force career on a bit a 2nd Lieutenant. After gradua- weeks, but resulted in the displace- of whim. Post-college, I was bored tion, I spent nine months at Lowry ment of millions of Kurdish people and looking for an opportunity for Air Force Base in Colorado, where in northern Iraq, who fled toward some excitement and travel. When I completed Intelligence Officer the Turkish border. Shortly thereaf- I came across one of those pull-out School. From there, I went back to ter, Operation Provide Comfort, a postcards in a magazine to request Texas where I was assigned to the humanitarian relief effort to provide information about the Air Force, I 7th Bombardment Wing, Carswell aid and military protection to the filled it out and sent it in. The next Air Force Base in Fort Worth. The Kurds, was initiated. I deployed to thing I knew, I was on a plane to Cold War was still going on, and Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to orga- San Antonio to begin Officer Train- our B-52 wing was part of the mili- nize an intelligence courier service ing School (OTS). Other than the tary’s nuclear triad designed to deter to support outposts in Turkey and and retaliate against a Soviet attack. Iraq. It was eerie to be in Iraq so I learned a lot about this mission soon after the war, but I enjoyed and had the chance to fly in a B-52 meeting with the Kurdish children many times! in the camps, whose beautiful smiles After three years at Carswell, I was I’ll never forget. They followed us reassigned to Headquarters, United around asking for candy or anything States Air Forces in Europe at American, and we obliged! Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and In 1992, there was a Reduction in promoted to Captain. I arrived in Force, and I took an attractive sever- Germany on November 8, and on ance to separate from active duty. November 9, the Berlin Wall fell. It My first child was born that year, so was an exciting time to be in Eu- it was time to be a full-time mother! rope, as the Eastern European bor- I returned to Rhode Island and ders opened, making travel possible eventually found a position as a Re- to the former Soviet Bloc countries, servist at Hanscom Air Force Base such as Czechoslovakia and Hun- in Massachusetts, doing intelligence gary. Those years also saw the end of systems research and development the Soviet Union, but just when it work. It was a good fit for me as I looked like peace was finally break- could be home with my children, ing out, Iraq invaded Kuwait, start- and once each month, I went to early wake-up calls, I enjoyed OTS ing the Gulf War and Operation Hanscom for drill weekend. In the and thrived. Being a runner and Desert Storm. The world watched summer I would do two weeks of an athlete, I’m very disciplined and as CNN broadcast round-the-clock active duty, and many times I was somewhat competitive, so it was coverage and footage from smart able to bring the family with me, right up my alley. I was a Distin- bombs as they struck their targets. either staying on base or in a nearby guished Graduate in September of The war was over in the span of five hotel. We have fond memories of 1985, and was commissioned as

Page 14 Our Stories

any more call-ups, my kids grew, and I felt it was time for a change. After a promotion to Major, I put in a request for a change of station to the Pacific theater, where I had never been. In short order I was assigned to a position at Osan Air Base, Korea, and spent the next sev- eral years traveling halfway around the world once or twice a year to support annual Command Post ex- ercises there. Korea was unlike any other country I had been to before. It was a completely different lan- guage (unreadable for me), a com- pletely different culture, and a much higher level of military alertness due to the threat and volatility of North Captain Elise Hedglen with Kurdish children Korea. The exercises involved long in a refugee camp in Turkey hours and complicated work, but I gained valuable experience and those days and the fun things we children at home, the youngest just embraced the local culture, food, did on base and off. It was a good nine months old. But as fate would and shopping! life. All that changed on September have it, a call came from Eglin Air 11, 2001. Force Base in Florida - they needed Three years later, my unit at Osan decided to cut most of its Reserve I was at home with my two young- more Reservists to augment their staff during 24 hour operations. I positions, and a large group of us est children when I heard a plane were transferred to 13th Air Force at had crashed into one of the World was the only one left and had to go. While the other Reservists from my Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It Trade Center Towers. I thought was tough duty, but someone had to it was a small plane that had lost unit were called to augment Hans- com, close to home, I was the only do it! I served the remainder of my control, but soon realized it was career at Hickam, which eventually much more than that. I heard my one who ended up far from home. I was in tears as I drove away on my became Joint Base Pearl Harbor- neighbor shriek when the tow- Hickam, and retired as a Lieutenant ers crumbled to the ground and way to Florida. After a month at Eglin, I went back to Ramstein for Colonel in 2013 after 28 years. I I went outside to meet her. We never expected to make a career of immediately hugged each other another month to fill a need there, then was able to serve the remain- the Air Force, but as the saying goes, and consoled one another. It was a time flies. Looking back, it was a scary and sobering day. My fellow ing time on my one-year orders at Hanscom, so I was home for Christ- great decision. I had some amazing Reservists at Hanscom were eventu- experiences, traveled to many coun- ally called to active duty one by one, mas. It was a wonderful homecom- ing. tries, and proudly served my coun- but our commander held off calling try. I’m proud to say I’m a Veteran! me because he knew I had small The next few years passed without

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Frank Hopkins US Navy

In 1974 our country con- Nursing certification to assist treatment for decom- tinued to have some of pression sickness (Bends) and hyperbaric wound care. the tumult of the preced- The Navy provided the first exposure to a diversified ing decade. Vietnam still community of men and women all working for a com- simmered and Congress mon cause. The homogeneity of a small Pennsylvania kept cutting its support, coal town was transformed by opening my eyes to the the Ayatollah began his complexity and commonality of the many races, reli- takeover of Iran, the gions and cultures this great country truly embodies. Watergate Scandal was in My discharge after four years as a Hospital Corpsman full swing with Nixon eventually resigning and Gerald Second Class sent me north to Rhode Island College in Ford taking over as our 38th President, and a revitalized Providence to pursue a nursing career. Mohammed Ali KO’d George Foreman in the “Rumble After graduating from Nursing School and gathering in the Jungle” in Zaire. As a young man growing up in experience as a Critical Care RN, it was time to seek Scranton, I wrestled with what I wanted to be when I an experience as an officer and return to the Navy. In grew up. Three semesters at a local Jesuit college were 1988, working at the VA Medical Center in Providence not showing great results. An interest in marine biol- in a full-time position, I secured a new commission as ogy and an infatuation with the great explorer Jacques a Lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps. I was assigned Cousteau drove me to pursue two options, a transfer to to the Marine Reserve Unit in Providence. The Navy Florida Institute of Technology for Marine Biology or called looking for support as the first Gulf War came a tour in the Navy to pursue a diving career. The Navy around. Fortunately, that conflict did not last long and won out. there were only minimal assignments to Operation The path to a diving career took me out of the coal Desert Shield. Following that conflict, billets were being mine town of Scranton to the cold lake front of Great reduced and officers were encouraged to resign. Having Lakes Naval Station in Illinois in February of 1974. small children, it was time to focus on family and my Boot camp was followed by Hospital Corpsman Train- Navy career ended in 1992. ing including advance training as a Laboratory Tech- The Navy provided great experiences, wonderful train- nician. Assignment to the Naval Submarine Medical ing, and lasting relationships. It helped a young man Research Lab in Groton, Connecticut would provide who was a bit lost, find a great career, a special lady, and training as a diver but also provide exposure to the a wonderful state in which to settle and raise a family. It medical field and direct my eventual career choice. I also brought me to Rhode Island College during Father thrived in an environment of MDs and PhDs and ex- Joe Creedon’s stint as Campus Minister and a lasting cellent NCOs who mentored me in the areas of subma- friendship that brought our family to Christ the King rine and diving medicine, including a Hyperbaric Parish.

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Jack Kelly US Air Force

a room full of other guys and we I was at MacDill, a number of us eventually boarded a bus that took were sent on a three-month tempo- us to the airport for a flight to San rary duty (TDY) to Oceana Naval Antonio, Texas. The airport was Air Station in Virginia Beach to called Idlewild at the time, and was attend a tech school on the weapons re-named JFK after President Ken- control system on the F-4C Phan- nedy’s assassination. The plane was tom II. The tech school was fine, a TWA Super Constellation. It was but did you ever see what happens surprisingly small inside compared when a carrier full of sailors comes to the planes we fly on today. We home after months at sea and they were delayed quite a while at the hit downtown on the same night? gate before we took off because the That’s another story, but let me put plane had to be de-iced. It was like it this way: OMG! going through a car wash. All of my assignments in the Air We arrived in San Antonio at dawn, Force were good, and the tech and boarded a bus that took us to school electronics education I got nearby Lackland Air Force Base for was priceless. I liked my job (MOS) basic training. I can’t say that basic too, a weapons control systems Jack Kelly was a weapons was fun, but it was okay. Even the mechanic on the aforementioned control systems mechanic TI (Training Instructor) who tried F-4C, a jet fighter/bomber that working on F-4C Phantoms and to act mean was okay. In one of his played such a vital role in Vietnam. other jets in the Air Force. weaker moments he told me that The F-4C was a great plane to work he was from Tennessee, his family on and I remember how thrilled I I enlisted in the Air Force on March was poor, and he lied about his age was the first time I got to sit in the 5, 1962 soon after I turned 18. This to enlist at 16. I don’t remember his pilot’s seat to work on the plane’s is what many guys my age did when name but I came to like him and radar. I was not a pilot but I loved they graduated from high school. It respect him. the excitement of working on the was a right of passage of sorts and My trip to San Antonio and Lack- flight line with all of its noises and I was proud of the 1A status on smells. My commanding officer was my draft card. I had never heard of land Air Force Base was my first trip out of New York and my first time Colonel Frank K. Everest. He had Vietnam and my service experience an Indian Chief feathered headdress was my first big adventure. in an airplane. Subsequent assign- ments to Lowry Air Force Base in painted on his white helmet and it It began with a subway ride on a Denver, MacDill Air Force Base was so cool looking. freezing cold March morning to the in Florida and Davis Monthan Air I would not trade my military military induction center on White- Force Base in Tucson gave me my experience for anything, and I have hall Street in downtown Manhattan. first views of the Rocky Mountains, never for one second regretted serv- I was sworn in later that day with palm trees and a desert. Also, while ing in the United States Air Force.

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Bill Kovacs US Army

By Jack Kelly to get the best view of the terrain but it was a little scary Bill’s parents could not afford to send him to college at times. Also, the plane was equipped to land on water when he graduated from high school, so he enlisted in or ice, and he was on board for both types of landings. the Army in 1953 in order to take advantage of the GI Bill’s assignments in California were mostly conducting Bill when he got out. Little did he know that his earn- surveys of numerous rifle ranges. While not as exciting ing the Surveying Merit Badge when he was in the Boy as flying around northern Alaska in a plane with no Scouts (Bill was an Eagle Scout) would lead to a great door, it was an important assignment because it ensured job in the Army and a rewarding career afterwards. In that the ranges were configured correctly for safety. an interview, the Army had asked him what he was Bill wasted no time after he was discharged to take interested in and Bill mentioned the Surveying Merit advantage of the GI Bill and he enrolled in Civil En- Badge. Bingo! He was assigned to the Army Corps of gineering at Cornell. Upon graduating with a BS, he Engineers. took a position in engineering practice in San Francisco because he enjoyed being stationed there in the Army. He furthered his education while there with Masters and PhD degrees in civil engineering from the Univer- sity of California at Berkeley. He next moved to Indiana to take a position as a Civil Engineering Professor at Purdue University, a university known for its excellent research in science, technology, engineering and math. While there, he and a colleague wrote Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, a best-selling textbook, which was translated initially into French, and then to Malaysian, Turkish, and Chinese. A younger geotechni- cal professor from Northeastern University later joined Bill and his colleague for a second edition, and now the publisher has requested a third edition to be spearhead- Bill Kovacs time in the service led to a career in ed by Bill’s colleague professor from Northeastern. civil engineering that included serving Finally, and lucky for all of us at Christ the King, as the Chairman of the Civil and Environmental Bill capped his academic career here at URI, first as a Engineering Department at URI. Professor of Engineering, and then as Chairman of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. The Army Corps of Engineers was an excellent assign- Bill reminds me in a way of the Matt Damon character ment. Bill was stationed in Alaska in the summer and at in Saving Private Ryan. In the closing scene, with his the Presidio in San Francisco in the winter. His job in Army service many years in the past, Bill asks his family Alaska was to survey the Distant Early Warning Line of if he has led a good life. radar stations (the DEW Line) from a small plane that had no door to keep him in the plane. This enabled him Yes, Bill, you have.

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Mary Mason US Navy

I joined the US Navy Nurse Corps in May of 1973 desalinization plant because the fresh water lines from while attending Hartford Hospital School of Nursing mainland Cuba were cut after the missile crisis. The in Connecticut. I attended the six-week Officer Indoc- hospital was extremely limited in some medical resourc- trination School in Newport in August 1974 and then es, which required the doctors and staff to be creative proceeded to my first duty station at Naval Regional (and successful) in treating many emergency patients. I Medical Center, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina (where particularly remember a newborn whose lung collapsed I was born). My father was thrilled since he is a former shortly after birth and the pediatrician and nursing staff Marine and spent the majority of his USMC time in improvised using suction catheters for a chest tube and Camp LeJeune. an improvised ventilator since we had no infant ventila- tors. We medevaced the infant out once he was stable. He made it. We had three minefield accidents while I was there. The Marines were always out checking the minefields and accidents were sure to happen. We were able to save two of the three Marines. After my 13-month tour in Guantanamo Bay, I was se- lected to attend school full time at Marymount College in Arlington, Virginia to obtain my Bachelors Degree in Nursing and was also successful in completing my Masters Degree in Nursing Administration while there. I then completed a short stint at National Naval Medi- cal Center, Bethesda before being selected as one of two Navy nurses to help develop the nursing component of the very first Department of Defense integrated com- Mary Mason, Commander, puter system for military health care. It was an honor US Navy Nurse Corp (Retired) and privilege to be able to work with other health care Additional duty stations included Naval Regional workers and nurses from the Army and Air Force in Medical Center, Newport (1976-1979); Naval Regional developing an automated health care system that is still Medical Center, Philadelphia (1979-1982); and then in use today, albeit much more sophisticated and func- my favorite duty station, Naval Hospital, Guantanamo tional than it was in 1989. Bay, Cuba (1982-1983), where I was the charge nurse My next duty station was to return to Officer Indoctri- for GTMO’s 26-bed hospital. We cared not only for nation School in Newport, but this time as an instruc- the military members on this small base along with tor and eventually the Assistant Director of the school- their dependents but also for Cuban nationals who house. My clinical nursing skills were turned in for defected from Communist Cuba by way of the shark teaching doctors, nurses, lawyers, dentists and health infested waters. As Americans, we could not go into the care administrators new to the Navy on how to march, surrounding Cuban countryside because the base was salute, properly wear a uniform and to acclimate to the surrounded by live minefields as a result of the Cuban Navy culture. More significantly, I believe I played an Missile Crisis. Our drinking water was produced by a integral role in assisting these young men and women

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to begin to develop the leadership and management initial obligation of two years and then get out. Then skills that were necessary to excel in their dual roles as I would say, I’ll try one more duty station to see what naval officers and health care professionals. After four it is like. Opportunities and new challenges presented years in this assignment, I went back to Naval Hospital themselves each time I moved and before I knew it, I Newport as the assistant and acting director of nursing. was eligible to retire. This is where I completed my Navy career with 23 years It was also a privilege to serve the greatest country in of service in 1996. the world. I have no regrets, and I am truly blessed to It was a true honor to serve a career in the Navy as a have worked with and cared for so many wonderful Naval Officer and a registered nurse. I did not plan people. on making the Navy a career. I was going to fulfill my

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Leo J. Masse US Air Force

a full city block was burning. The last most memorable call would be after the base flight line was down for the night. At about 1:00 a.m. the crash bells went off fol- lowed by “Attention in the station. We have an in-flight emergency. We have an aircraft with low fuel. No other information at this time.” As we mounted our trucks and took up standby positions, we were informed we had multiple aircraft with low fuel. The first one, a Navy A-6 Intruder, took the barrier for 2,500 feet. He was stuck in the cable as the hook bent around it. We had only one runway, so the tower requested permission to land the second aircraft at the other end. A few min- utes later the tower requested to land the aircraft over the top of the A-6. Moments later, a Navy F-18 almost Jay Masse was a fire fighter in the landed on the now freed A-6. At that point, we left the US Air Force and Air Force Reserve in the runway with 18 full armed aircraft. This was the first United States and Europe. night we never went back to sleep after a call. The best part of this assignment was presidential support. We Biographical Information for Technical Sergeant Leo J. would go to Kennebunkport, Maine to President Bush’s Masse, US Air Force summer house to provide fire protection. Spouse: Jennifer Nappi; daughter: Krystin Gildea; sons: The next assignment was in Germany with the 564 Joseph Masse and Jonathan Masse CES, and then later the 86 CES, otherwise known I joined the Air Force on a delayed enlistment program as the Vogelweh Fire Department. Some everlasting October 21, 1988. I was recruited by Staff Sergeant friendships were made during this assignment. The call Tony Mota in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. I entered active volume at the station was unique, with three stations 12 duty on January 30, 1989 from the Boston Military miles apart located primarily in downtown Kaiserslaut- Entrance Processing Station and reported to Lackland ern. No aircraft, all structural and medical. Too many Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for basic training, calls to even talk about. It was just said that you would after which I was assigned to the Chanute Air Force see it all at this department and we pretty much did, Base Fire Apprentice School. The first duty assignment right down to World War II bombs. On my first day on was Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire as a member the rescue truck as a crew chief, I sent three people to of the 509 Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), where I the hospital for smoke inhalation. We also had a person started a firefighting career while assigned as a member thrown from third-floor window, a stabbing victim, of the Fire Department. a motor vehicle accident, half a dozen minor injuries calls, a few fire alarms and a human bite victim. This I completed upgrade training and had a couple of was just not your normal day. However, the travel and interesting calls. The first one was when the base gas the friendships made the workdays possible. While off boiler exploded. The second call was a mutual aid call duty, I started working with the American Red Cross as to Portsmouth to Market Square. Upon arrival, we saw

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a volunteer working with youth. or service recruiter, with the ability to go anywhere and My next assignment was the 27th Fighter Wing at stayed in Clovis, New Mexico to recruit, as a member Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. I of 367th Recruiting Station in Colorado Springs. This started as a driver operator, and then was a crew chief. presented many unique challenges, and allowed me to I attended airman leadership school in residence. I was meet many different people. I was accepted into the promoted to fire protection supply office representa- Knights of the Round Table for making goal. At one tive as a senior airman replacing two retiring master point, I recruited the most people the Clovis office had sergeants and assuming responsibility for all fire de- in any year. partment purchases and equipment. I was assigned as Next assignment was with 66th CES at Hanscom Air inspector for the fire department base Inspector Gen- Force Base in Massachusetts serving as a crew chief and eral, and was responsible for a complete exercise during station captain. We responded to HAZMAT calls and the absence of the deputy chief. One day at year-end, I in-flight emergencies. This assignment turned out to be spent $80,000 in four hours for the fire department. my last active duty base. Time here was short but like This assignment had some interesting calls as well. any of the bases, friendships were made and they last During the time we had four or five plane crashes, and forever. The unique thing for the base was that I was some wildland fires. During the off-duty time, I became one of the last active duty firefighters assigned. involved with American Red Cross again, this time On January 6, 2001, I joined the Rhode Island Air running the volunteer program for the hospital, and National Guard as a member of the readiness office. I becoming Volunteer of the Year for the American Red worked there for almost one year until a spot in the fire Cross. department opened up and I transferred to it. I retired In 1997, I left the fire department to become a non-pri- in January 2014.

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George P. Masso US Army

By Jack Kelly George was honorably discharged with the rank of George is a WW II US Army veteran who was inducted Staff Sergeant in October 1945. He is an accomplished in the Army in March 1945. His first assignment took musician who still today writes scores and arranges, and him to Camp Wheeler in Macon, Georgia where he plays beautifully on the piano. trained as an infantry rifleman to replace soldiers who were killed and wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, a major German offensive in the Ardennes Forest in December 1944. He was on his way to Germany as a replacement but the war ended before he arrived. He was assigned instead to the Army of Occupation and served for a short time in a quartermaster unit in Frankfort, Germany. It was there that he saw what war can do, as Frankfort had been virtually leveled to rubble by Allied bombs. The devastation is as vivid to George today as it was more than 70 years ago. So are the hardships of the people who managed to survive the bombings, the women who ran behind coal trucks and the children who came to the camp’s fences to beg for food. The children knew what time the soldiers ate, and George and his fellow soldiers would go to the fences after their meal and give the children whatever food from the mess hall they could. Having worked as a professional musician prior to military service, George was then assigned to the music center in Frankfort as a trombonist. He was later trans- ferred to an Army Service Forces Band in Bad Schwal- bach, Germany where he served as 1st trombonist and arranger in the 314th ASF Band. The band entertained Staff Sergeant George Masso was First Trombone the troops by broadcasting over the Armed Forces Net- and arranger for the 314th Armed Service Forces work every Sunday from the Weisbaden Opera House. Band in Germany. Tony Bennett was a member of the outfit, and he and George became close friends and still keep in touch.

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Mike McLinn US Navy

I was commissioned at the start of my freshman year in dental school. The summer after my junior year, I at- tended officers’ indoctrination at Newport Naval. After graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1969, I served my two years active duty at Quonset Point Naval Station as a dental officer. My low memory was the amounts of fiscal waste. The high point was life time friends that I met. One of my new acquaintances is still my wife of 47 years. Having enjoyed my time on the East Coast, did decide to settle here and start my private practice. As we say, the rest is history.

Lieutenant Mike McLinn was a dental officer at Quonset Point Naval Air Station.

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Paul L. Muller US Marine Corps

Colonel Paul L. Muller, originally of Torrington, Con- Idaho; J-3 Plans Officer for Joint Task Force-160, necticut, was commissioned in May of 1988 upon Operation SEA SIGNAL, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Pacific Theater Policy & International Affairs Officer Maryland. in Marine Forces Pacific, and as the Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. His last operational assign- ment was as Director, J-5 Policy and Plans, U.S. Forces Afghanistan for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He commanded 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, as a Lieutenant Colonel. Staff and higher headquarters assignments included: Joint Staff J-5 Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Detainee Affairs Division and subsequently Chief, Coalition Operations Branch/J-5 Liaison for the Joint IED Defeat Task Force; Deputy Future Opera- tions Officer, G-3, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; Joint Staff Branch, Plans, Policies and Operations Department, Headquarters, Marine Corps; and Secretary of the General Staff, Office of the Director Marine Corps Staff. His final assignment was serving as the Senior Marine and Holland M. Smith Professor of Marine Expeditionary Warfare at the U.S. Naval War College. He is a graduate of the Command and Control Systems Course, the USMC Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Naval War College, obtaining a Master’s De- Colonel Paul Muller recently retired from the gree in National Security & Strategic Studies. US Marine Corps after 30 years of service. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit A career armor officer, he commanded tank platoons w/ gold star, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious with 1st Armored Assault Battalion, 2nd Tank Bat- Service Medal w/oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Ser- talion, 3rd Tank Battalion and the Marine Barracks vice Medal w/three gold stars, Navy & Marine Corps Ground Defense/Security Force, Guantanamo Bay, Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing Cuba. He had the honor to command a tank platoon “V” device and four gold stars, Joint Service Achieve- in Task Force Ripper throughout Operation DESERT ment Medal w/oak leaf cluster, Navy & Marine Corps SHIELD/DESERT STORM. Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Additional operational positions included company He is married to the former Jacqui Flinn of Torrington, command with 2nd Tank Battalion, Inspector-Instruc- Connecticut and they have two children, Keller (12) tor of Charlie Company, 4th Tank Battalion, Boise, and Raegan (9). Colonel Muller retired from active duty after 30 years of service on May 31, 2018.

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Gary Peigelbeck US Air Force

I served in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968. It was an incredible experience for me. I loved the Air Force and if it were not for coming back and marrying my wonderful wife, Fredz, I would have made it a career. I served at a time when Southeast Asia was getting very hot and things were not looking good. My Major Com- mand was the Security Service. At the time I was think- ing air police but it really was electronic intelligence. When in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, I took many aptitude tests. One dealt with international Morse Code. I knew the code very well and could send and receive it in many forms from years of using it as an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. Needless to say, I aced the tests. Gary Peigelbeck was in the US Air Force Security Service serving in Pakistan. The next thing I knew I was in the Security Service going to tech schools for almost two years. One school be an incredible learning experience. Much happened was at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. there including two Pakistan-India wars over Kashmir. This is where this Yankee learned about segregation, the I had the opportunity to read raw data from all over the KKK and a lot more! The next school was Goodfellow world on a daily basis. Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. After this school, the top students in the class were given the choice of I also had an experience that any young kid at the time world wide assignments. We all put in for Germany, in any service didn’t think about - orders; do your job; England, Scotland, Hawaii, and Japan. My good friend regardless of danger or death. There was the largest from South Dakota and I were the top two. Our orders sugar cane refinery on the sub-Asian continent 40 miles came together – Peshwar, Pakistan. Where was this? east of the air station. There they cut the cane, refined This must be a huge mistake or a joke! It was neither! it and shipped it by tank cars and ships to England to We were going to a no-name air station (at the time make alcohol for medicinal purposes. There were many very top secret) 1,500 miles north of the Indian Ocean; four- and five-story tanks of this stuff stored all over the 20 miles east of the Khyber Pass; 50 miles south of place. One day two blew up and many more threatened Kashmir and 300 miles from the huge Russian missile to blow and destroy the plant and the town! The Paki- base at Turytuom. stan Army and Air Force tried for three days to put this inferno out with no luck. They were using foam but the As we landed at the tiny airport ( which had train tracks mixture was incorrect and the foam itself burned and across the main runway) there were rows of gray, un- added to the fire. They finally called the air station for marked U-2 planes lined up. This turned out to be the help. Our Colonel sent three of us and one Pakistani place that Gary Powers flew out of in 1960! This was out to help. All we had was an old Korean War vintage really big time and the Air Force wanted the best there. fire truck and a ton-and-a-half truck filled with barrels It was a 16-month tour in the desert. It turned out to

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of foam. (I also served part time on the fire department it was all over. The tanks looked like giant beer glasses with my top secret clearances to fight any fires in our with a great head of foam on top. compound.) We drove there on dirt roads and wagon The President of Pakistan flew out to us with all his en- trails across the desert. It took 45 minutes to set up tourage in six choppers. They gave us a huge dinner and the trucks along side of each other. Foam was pumped cleaned all of our equipment. Somewhere in this city is from the barrels into the fire engine and mixed. Then a monument with our four names on it. through hoses it was pumped up to us, each standing on two of the next tanks to blow. In about 20 minutes I have never felt so proud to be an American and to be in the United States Air Force!

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Bob Ricci US Marine Corps

Robert Ricci, Veteran United States I was then reassigned from artillery Marine Corps: 1954 to 1957 to a motor transport unit where I Parishioner: Christ the King Parish spent several months at the former 1990 to Present Japanese military base at Camp Gifu and Camp Magill. One of the Following my graduation from benefits of being in a motor trans- Central High School in February port outfit was the opportunity to 1954, I enlisted in the USMC and drive across the country and get to was off to Parris Island in March for see, up close, the people and the 10 weeks of boot camp. My first as- beautiful country of Japan. signment was with the 10th Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division My final two months in the Far at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. East were spent on Okinawa. I was assigned to the artillery fire Following overseas service I arrived direction center. We trained at Fort back in the USA. I still vividly Bragg for a number of days and remember sailing in under the then prepared for amphibious sea Golden Gate Bridge in San Fran- landings along the Carolina coast. cisco and receiving my orders to Very early into my three-year enlist- report to the Marine Corps base in ment, when offered three overseas Quantico, Virginia. I was finally options: Vieques in Puerto Rico, the transferred to Newport, Rhode nine-month Mediterranean Cruise, Island to serve out the remaining or assignment to Korea (then in the months of my enlistment. first years of the truce that continues I am proud to have served my PFC Bob Ricci in November 1954 until this day), I chose Korea. We country as a United States Ma- with his future wife Josephine were transferred to Camp Pendle- rine and doubly grateful that the Chirico, who is now deceased. “She ton, California for training for our government financed my under- supported me throughout my three overseas assignment. graduate education. With a college years in the service,” says Bob “and degree, I was able to succeed in another 57 as my wife and the On arrival at Camp Pendleton we mother of our three children.” were informed that marines slotted my life’s profession as teacher and for duty in Korea would instead superintendent of school districts be assigned to bases in Japan. At in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Pendleton, we completed advanced combat and cold weather training. We then boarded troop ships that would transport both Marines and SeaBees first to Kodiak, Alaska and then on to Japan.

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Nancy A. Sherman US Air Force

Sergeant Nancy A. Sherman is the Military Personnel Management Officer for Joint Force Headquarters, Rhode Island National Guard, Command Readiness Center, Cranston. She is the state-level military person- nel programs manager and primary staff advisor to the Adjutant General, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Director, Joint Staff and the Director of Staff relating to these programs. She joined the 281st Combat Communications Group, Rhode Island Air National Guard in March of 1989 as an Information Manager and attended Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas in September of the same year. She then fol- lowed directly on to her technical training school at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi graduating in December of 1989. Sergeant Sherman was assigned as a Drill Status Guardsman until being selected for an Active Guard Reserve full-time position at the Rhode Island Air National Guard State Headquarters in Sep- tember 2000. In May of 2005, Sergeant Sherman cross- On October 1, 2018 Nancy Sherman was promoted trained to the personnel career field and continued her to Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in assignment at the Rhode Island National Guard State the Air Force, capping a distinguished career in the Headquarters in a new capacity as the Assistant Military R.I. National Guard, which includes deployment to Personnel Management Officer. Then she went on to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. complete the Personnel Apprentice professional course at Keesler Air Force Base in August 2006. volunteered for a 30 day tour at the National Guard Bureau A1 Officer Promotion and Accessions Section Sergeant Sherman volunteered for a deployment in sup- at Joint Base Andrews, Camp Springs, Maryland. Since port of Operation Enduring Freedom to Ali Al Salem March of 2015, Sergeant Sherman has served as a Task Air Base, Kuwait from August 2010 to January 2011, Force Blue Liaison to the Rhode Island National Guard where she served as the night shift Flight Chief for a Joint Operations Center for state emergencies and natu- team of third country national escorts in the Force Pro- ral disaster responses. From 1983 to 2000 in her civilian tection Section of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engi- career, she worked full-time in various industry capaci- neering Squadron. Since November of 2010, Sergeant ties from a receiving inspector at an electrical wiring Sherman has been a certified Victim Advocate. She as- manufacturer to a plan file and data entry clerk for a sisted the National Guard Bureau in April of 2014 with submarine designer and constructor. Then as a shipping the processing of Air National Guard General Officer and receiving coordinator for a heating and ventilation promotion board packages at Arlington Hall, Arling- manufacturing company and a home planning consul- ton, Virginia. In June of 2015, Sergeant Sherman also tant at a local lumber yard. Prior to her current posi-

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tion, she was the Assistant Military Personnel Manage- Army Commendation Medal ment Officer for the Joint Force Headquarters, Rhode Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Island National Guard. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Organizational Excellence Award EDUCATION Air Force Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal 1994 Noncommissioned Officer Preparatory Military with eight oak leaf clusters Course, by correspondence National Defense Service Medal 2001 Noncommissioned Officer Academy Military Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Course, by correspondence Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 2005 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Mili- Air Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border tary Course, by correspondence Air Force Longevity Service with seven oak leaf clusters Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass and “M” 2011 Associate of Information Resources Management device Degree, Community College of the Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon 2014 Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Air Force Training Ribbon Military Course, by correspondence STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 2017 Intermediate Incident Command System Expand- Rhode Island Commendation Medal with oak leaf ing Incidents 300 Course, Rhode Island Emergency cluster Management Agency Rhode Island Defense Service Medal Rhode Island Service Medal with eagle device ASSIGNMENTS Rhode Island National Guard Recruiting Ribbon with 1. March 1989–October 1989, Student, Basic Military two oak leaf clusters Training, Lackland AFB, Texas OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 2. October 1989–December 1989, Student, Technical 1991 281st Combat Communications Group Out- Training School, Keesler AFB, Miss. standing Airman of the Year 3. December 1989–September 2000, Information 1992 281st Combat Communications Group Out- Management Craftsman, 281st Combat Communica- standing Airman of the Year tions Group, Coventry Air National Guard Station, R.I. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS 4. September 2000–April 2005, Information Manage- Air Force Association, Member, 2005 to Present ment Craftsman, Joint Force Headquarters Rhode Rhode Island Enlisted Association of the National Island National Guard, Command Readiness Center, Guard, Treasurer, 2008 to Present Cranston, R.I. Rhode Island National Guard Retiree Association, As- 5. May 2005–March 2015, Assistant Military Personnel sociate Member, 2013 to Present Management Officer, JFHQ RING, CRC, Cranston, EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION R.I. (August 2010–January 2011, Force Protection Airman, March 1, 1990 Flight Chief, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait) Airman First Class, November 1, 1990 6. March 2015–Present, Military Personnel Manage- Senior Airman, May 1, 1991 ment Officer, JFHQ RING, CRC, Cranston, R.I. Staff Sergeant, March 1, 1995 Technical Sergeant, March 8, 1998 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Master Sergeant, December 1, 2001 Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Senior Master Sergeant, March 15, 2015 Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster (Current as of February 2018)

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David Smith US Army

Seventeen of us were gathered aboard the USS Macedonian. “Two up, one back for the best around the table on Thanksgiving in I was already an outlier having perimeter defense” (heard often 1969 when I caused a great deal of just left the seminary and ending a during Infantry OCS, Ft. Benning, consternation by announcing that five-year deferment. In October, I Georgia) I would report for induction into responded to the draft by signing “Beginning Morning Nautical the U.S. Army the next day. It was up for Officer Candidate School Twilight starts when the sun is 12 not that my aunts and uncles were (Armor OCS, I naively thought). degrees below the horizon” (an concerned that I would come to an invaluable nugget from Military end in Vietnam, or that my cous- Before the 17-way conversation moved on to high school football Intelligence School, Ft. Holabird, ins objected to the war or military Maryland). service. The “You’ll do what?” came rivalries or some other Thanksgiv- from the fact that I picked the ing Day topic, my cousin Jack, who “When making a contact positive, wrong service (actually, the wrong had just spent the last five years at place the film emulsion to emul- service picked me). You see, up to the Naval Academy and who would sion” (surprisingly valuable advice that point my family was all Navy, eventually become “Admiral Jack,” practiced at CONTIC, Ft. Bragg, starting with great-grandfather said to me, “It will be good for you. North Carolina). James “Jimmy the Tinker” Sheehan You’ll learn a lot.” I bristled at his There were also unrepeatable nos- from County Kerry who earned tone, a tone I would later learn was trums from drill sergeants, and the his citizenship by serving during typical of ring-knockers. experience of dealing with the great the Civil War, first as a cabin boy Well, Jack, I did learn a few things variety of personalities that resulted as I reported for induction, went to from the draft that winter during the wrong OCS (as dictated by the Basic Training at Ft. Dix and “Needs of the Army”) and served Combat Engineering Training at Ft. honorably for the next two years, ten Leonard Wood. After a three-week months, three days and a wake-up. holdover working at the rifle ranges These will be on the test at Ft. Leonard Wood (I was a “ca- sual”), I left the Ozarks for Infantry Some of the things I learned were OCS (not Armor, not Engineering, bits of military doctrine (as opposed “Needs of the Army”) at Ft. Ben- to the church doctrine that I had ning, Georgia. been studying) articulated in field manuals or captured in oft-repeated She will get you through sayings (that will be on the test). The majority of candidates who Some lessons echo years later for no reported to the 55th Training Com- apparent reason: pany, Infantry School, Ft. Benning in May 1969 (Class 23-70) were “Good drainage is the most impor- Jimmy Sheehan enlisted in the drafted after either graduating from tant factor in a military road” (from Navy in 1864 at the age of 16. or dropping out of college and were Combat Engineering Training at Ft. He served until January 1868. ready to act gung-ho enough to get Leonard Wood, Missouri).

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through the program. The TAC episode included calls from my su- officer (the OCS version of a drill pervisor, a retired Air Force Lt. Col., sergeant) for my platoon had a very who used secure two-letter country different background. 1Lt. Alphon- codes because nobody would guess so White was schooled in the streets that JA referred to Jamaica. of East St. Louis and three tours in Our job was to draw organizational Vietnam before going through OCS charts, illustrate uniforms and in- himself. He took great delight in signia, and annotate maps for the testing the commitment of his “Frat intelligence publications, and, of Boys” and me, the “Monk.” One course, create visuals for command day I was braced against his office presentations. My role was to drive wall as he opened a care package the schedule, write resumes for the that my then fiancée Rosemary had short-timers, resolve the genera- sent me. As he took out the two tional, gender, racial and civilian- nips of gin, the cheddar cheese and 1Lt. David Smith in 1971 at military conflicts, and get the air saltines, he declared, “Well, Monk, Ft. Bragg with Rosemary, she who conditioner fixed before the North you keep that woman and you can got him through Carolina May temperatures melted get through anything.” On October center’s Graphics Branch, where a the wax holding the layouts togeth- 22, 1970, having been declared an few months later I became Officer- er. Amid the dramatic episodes, the officer and a gentleman, I left Ft. in-Charge when my predecessor crew produced an amazing body of Benning with a security clearance, secured an early out. work with their Rapidograph pens, orders to attend six weeks of Mili- tapes and EXACTO knives, defi- tary Intelligence School and my gin. The Graphics Branch was housed in one of four repurposed mess nitely low-tech compared to what is On October 25, I married “that available now. In one instance, we woman” who got me through. halls in an old barracks area on the northwest corner of the post and converted a French tourist map of On December 14, 1970, I reported was equipped with drawing boards, Baghdad into a seven-color tactical for duty to Headquarters and Head- light tables, flat files, an opaque map. It took hours of inverting and quarters Company, Continental projector, Varityper Headline 820 editing sheet film just to change the Army Command Intelligence Cen- (with no supplies) and a dysfunc- grid system. Today that map can be ter (CONTIC), Ft. Bragg, North tional window air conditioner. I made online with satellite photogra- Carolina. CONTIC produced intel- inherited a situation comedy. The phy and distributed electronically. ligence studies on 80 different coun- cast of eight in Season Two included On August 30, 1972, I exited Ft. tries. Because CONTIC already had five enlisted men (two short-timers Bragg with a DD Form 214, a low a surplus of 2nd Lieutenant ana- and three newly minted PFCs), a ribbon count and many valuable lysts, I was not tasked to apply my woman PFC, and two civilian em- lessons in adaptation. I was very for- recently acquired skills to analyzing ployees: Lydia was a German-born tunate that the “Needs of the Army” the enemy, weather and terrain of Army wife who was a skilled retail resulted in my serving far from Yemen, Gabon or Uruguay. Nor was advertising artist and Charlie was Southeast Asia, and the printing and I able to use my training in perime- a young local guy who could have publishing experience would serve ter defense, building military roads, been played by Jim Nabors. There me well in a career of marketing and or monitoring a rifle range. Instead, were also guest appearances from technical documentation. because I had worked on my col- the print shop and photo lab in Yes, Admiral Jack, I did learn a lot. lege yearbook, I was assigned to the the mess halls next door, and every

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Dave Vissoe US Army Reserve

Turning My Life Around the home from which he comes.” In May of 1964 I flunked out of After basic training I became the North Adams State College in west- clerk for Company B, 4th Train- ern Massachusetts and in retrospect ing Regiment, for which I received it became the best thing to happen a letter of commendation from the to me. Company Commander, Lt. Stephen F. Ledger upon leaving active duty. After meeting with Academic Dean “Despite your short tenure as a Komorek, I enlisted in the US Army clerk,” he wrote, “the administrative Reserve in Hartford on October 19, efficiency of this unit was enhanced 1964 reporting to the 1117th Army and increased. This I attribute to the Garrison, a headquarters company, dexterity, spirit of cooperation, and with the rank Private (E1) and with conscientious effort you have dis- For Dave Vissoe, Basic Training no basic training yet. Off to Fort played in the performance of your at Ft. Dix was a “game changer.” Devens in early Fall of 1964 to help assigned duties. I have no doubt organize a tennis tournament as well that your effort here will serve as a what to do. Did not seem very reas- as a trip to see the Boston Patriots springboard for even greater success suring at the time, to say the least! (New England Patriots) and New in your future endeavors.” There were some highlights - many York Titans (yes, the New York Jets) players from the Boston Red Sox of the American Football League When I returned to college I joined farm team were in this unit. Dick in a preseason game. WOW, this an Army Reserve unit in Pittsfield, Mills a pitcher from Weymouth, Army stuff is pretty nice at this Massachusetts where I was a 3.5 Massachusetts is one that I remem- point. Rocket Launcher. My experiences in this particular unit were disap- ber. Basic Infantry Training at Fort Dix, pointing to say the least. It seemed In September of 1965 I returned to New Jersey began in December that weekend drills were not well North Adams State College to finish 1964; that’s when reality hit and my planned – wasted resources – wasted my degree in Biology and Second- personal life changes began. Mental- time. For example, one time, we ary Education and while doing so ly I wanted to be the best I could be painted our helmet liners and steel I became president of the student with the idea that I may find myself pots with one paint brush for the government. In November 1968, in a real combat situation some day. whole company. Another moment I began my teaching career at Mt. In a letter to my father from the that made me wonder was when Anthony Union High School in Commanding Officer, Major Joseph we were at Fort Drum, New York Bennington, Vermont teaching biol- D. White, wrote “Your son was at the range where we were firing ogy and chemistry. appointed a ‘Trainee Squad Leader’ our 3.5’s and I had a misfire which with a rank of Trainee Sergeant When Bev and I moved to South caused some concern on the range. based on his leadership potential, Kingstown in June of 1970, I joined I became very anxious when no one his cooperative spirit, his adaptabil- the Army Reserve unit at Fort seemed to know what to do, so they ity, and his desire to excel, which Greene in Narragansett. That sum- then took out a manual and read reflect great credit upon him and mer, we went to Fort Polk, Loui-

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siana to train troops. Since I was a teacher, I thought I left on December 22, 1970 with an “Honorable I would be able to train troops, at least in a classroom Discharge” and many memories, but the bottom line setting, but was not allowed until the very end of our was that Basic Infantry Training at Fort Dix was a game commitment there. So I kept my self busy with recre- changer for me. It set the stage for continued growth ational activities to help make the time pass. in my life but always with a commitment to hard work and to excel in all challenges that I take on.

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