I married the love of my life in January of 1967. In August of 1967 I joined the US Army to avoid being drafted. I found out that my draft number was very near being called, so in order to have some say so in where I would be stationed, I opted to join for four years rather than three years. I signed up for the ASA (Army Security Agency).

I took my basic training in Columbia, SC at good old Ft. Jackson. August and September at Ft. Jackson was a little bit on the hot side of comfortable.

To be in the ASA, I had to have a top secret security clearance. The Army checked me out from head to toe and somehow I came out with the clearance.

After my basic training, I was sent to Ft. Lee in Richmond, VA by train, my first ever train ride. There I gained my MOS 41J20 (Office Machine Repair). That school lasted for nearly six months but the good thing about it, my wife was able to be with me. It was hard to make ends meet since my military pay was only about $110 a month. She took a job at Petersburg Hospital and we were able to squeeze by each month.

After completion of school, I received orders for what we thought was the Panama Canal by way of Ft. Jackson. There was some confusion with my orders that took about a week to finalize. I'm going to Africa!! What in the world was I going to Africa for? So after my orders were straightened out I was bound for Asmara, Ethiopia, Africa. Now this country bumpkin had hardly ever been out of SC and here I was on my way to Africa. First time on an airplane and I'm going nonstop to Athens, Greece then to Cairo and then on to Asmara. I wound up staying there for eighteen months. My wife was able to come over to be with me. Our first son was born in Kagnew Station Hospital, Asmara, Ethiopia. The Army base was on a 7200 food mountain plateau so the weather was okay, most of the time. We actually enjoyed our time there.

We returned home in early January 1970 and I was assigned to Ft. Devens, MA. I was able to make E-5, Specialist 5th Class.

Then in late June of 1970 I received orders for Viet Nam. So much for having say so input into where I would be stationed. I tried everything I could think of to get my orders changed, but no luck. I landed in Saigon and then onto Phu Bai just south of the DMZ. I spent my last year of service in Viet Nam and was happy when the wheels on the home bound airplane lifted off the ground.