I’ll try and make this short but it’s hard with all the twists and turns that my military career has taken. I actually dropped out of college in 1973 with the intention of enlisting in the Army. All the recruiter could say was electronics and that’s just not my cup of tea. Fast forward to 1976. I got married in 1974 and by November 1975 we had hit rock bottom. So in November I started the process of enlisting in the Air Force. I took the test, did very well and was told to pick any job I wanted. That’s kind of tough when the book was at least 4 inches thick. A Navy buddy got hold of me and talked me into becoming a Mineman in the Navy Reserve. I interviewed with a Chief from the Mine Warfare School in Charleston, SC. The Chief was very forthright and his parting words were you will never be a Mineman. So when I finally got to the MEPs station in Columbia the recruiter took a look at my test scores. He slide a piece of paper across the desk and said take this little test. I did and I passed and from that point on there was only one career field open to me, Nuclear Power. I had been coached by Navy buddies to ask for a number of different programs but everything got shut down but that one. They must have been missing their quotas. So on 5 February 1976, I enlisted in the delayed entry program in the Navy Nuclear Power Program. On 23 February I went back to Columbia and was given a one way ticket to Orlando Florida and entered Navy basic training. I became the Recruit Chief Petty Officer for my company and I did a LOT of pushups for all my dumb mistakes. The Company Commander’s favorite cry was “Mr. RCPO, get down and give me 20" or however many it took to amuse him at the time. Following basic, I did Machinist Mate A School in Great Lake, IL (the armpit of America), Nuclear Power School (NPS) in Orlando, FL (Mickey World), and Nuclear Prototype Training (NPTU) in Idaho Falls, ID (The End of the World). I ended up with an extra school in Idaho, I became an Engineering Laboratory Technician (ELT); a Machinist Mate with an attitude!

In May 1978 I had orders to report aboard USS Francis Scott Key, SS(B)N 657, an awards boat. Because I was an ELT, and ELT’s were in short supply I got pulled from the Key and sent to the USS Lewis & Clark SS(B)N 644 (Gold). I literally reported for duty with the sub group and got sent straight to sea. I survived 2 ½ years on the Clark and did 5 deterrent patrols. I earned my Submarine Warfare Pin or “Fish” quickly but did hard time on the Clark. The Clark was a toxic environment for Nuclear Operators. I was allowed to rotate early to a billet as an instructor in nuclear power plant operations at NPTU Ballston Spa, NY. The Clark was going to the yards for an overhaul and I refused to extend my time to have 6 months in the Navy after the overhaul was complete. All I ever heard about the shipyard was horror stories for nucs. I did 3 ½ years as an instructor and got out of the Navy. I had my fill! I completed my active duty time as a Machinist Mate 1st Class Submarine Qualified (MM1(SS)) and had been selected for advancement to Chief Machinist Mate (E-7).

I started Clemson University in May 1984 and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in December 1987. I did well graduating Cum Laude. Along the way I actually started missing the people I served with in the Navy. I checked with the Navy Reserve and there were no openings in Upstate units so I spent a year in the South Carolina Army National Guard in a Duster Battery as a Spec-4. I did not find what I looking for in a Guard unit. As a note, while at Clemson I did pursue a return to active duty as a Navy Officer. Due to my age I was only offered a position in the Reserves so I focused on a civilian career instead.

After graduation I ended up working at Charleston Naval Shipyard as a Nuclear Engineer. I found out that based on my degree and academic accomplishments, I could earn a direct commission in the Naval Reserve as an Engineering Duty Officer (EDO). In 1989, I was commissioned as an Ensign (Butter Bar). I completed the Reserve Engineering Duty Officer

Course at Mare Island, CA and served in the Charleston Naval Shipyard EDO unit. This unit focused on ship repair for both nuclear and non-nuclear ships and submarines. When the peace dividend hit, the Charleston Naval Shipyard was shutdown and my reserve unit went with it. I was lucky, I was requested by a Weapons Station unit to be the Training Officer over some more senior officers. I moved up to Executive Officer in another Weapons Station Unit. During this time, the Weapons Station units were a constant battle. The gaining command was afraid we would take away there jobs, the Reserve Center used the units as a holding tank for people, and the Navy Reserves were downsizing. So, God opened a door. One of the guys I worked with was a Lt. Colonel in an Army Reserve engineering unit. He offered me a job so I learned how to go from Blue to Green. I drilled as a Navy Reserve Lieutenant one month and the next month I drilled as an Army Reserve Captain. I became a member of a special engineering unit in the 416th Engineering Command. The 416th was made up of Facility Engineer groups which at that time was responsible for base camps in Bosnia and Kosova. The teams consisted of a Lt. Colonel, a Major, 2 Captains, a Lieutenant or two and a couple of enlisted people. My group was a Design Group that did various projects for the Reserves. I did all the interesting Army stuff required for promotion and was promoted to Major the first time my package went to the Board. In August 2001 I told the Colonel I was ready to transfer to the Retired Reserve and spend more time with my family. My military flow path required war College to make Lt. Col. But my desire was to attend Seminary and learn the Scripture. I was saved in June 2000 and the call from Jesus was strong! Then September 11 happened. I put Retired Reserve on hold and stayed with my unit. We were not called up so in February 2002 I transferred to the Retired Reserve. My civilian job was with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and after 9/11, the job became very intense with all the added security and other preparations occurring. I started online classes with Luther Rice Seminary and received a Master of Arts in Christian Studies in 2015.

In July 2014, I turned 60 and officially became Major, U.S. Army retired. The Army credits me with 34 years combined service, active, Guard, Reserves, and Retired Reserves.

Since I retired I have become involved with Vets Helping Vets, the America Legion Honor Guard, run the Men’s Ministry at Covenant Baptist Church, and I am the Veterans Coalition Director for the SC Convention of States. I do a lot of work at my church and do a number of funerals with the Honor Guard.