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Looking back over the years since high school it is interesting to see the journey taken and the path moving forward. After high school I made a rather feeble attempt at attending college neither my mind nor my heart was in it and I wandered and drifted without knowing what I wanted to do. I had dreams as I did in high school of flying jets, but the roadblocks seemed insurmountable. What changed my focus was the opportunity to spend many months with two of my best friends, Tim Loula and Jeff Olinik, traveling across the country in 1973. We bought an old chevy van and fixed it up, our mobile palace. The adventures and memories of that trip taught me what I needed to do.
Fearing the draft (#32) I joined the Air Force and set my life in motion. I was fortunate to have had to opportunity to work for some officers who believed education was the most important component of success. Hence, I had the opportunity to go to school full time at Northern Michigan University while serving as a young enlisted guy. When I finished my commitment, and college, I applied for and was accepted into officer and pilot training (I have to thank Norm Gomolak for the motivation to apply as he was also accepted and there was no way I wasn't going to follow my dream).
I got married just prior to attending Undergraduate Pilot Training, and received an assignment to fly the B-52. My career as a pilot was something you cannot describe, besides flying the Buff (Big Ugly Flying F...) I had the opportunity to instruct at a Fighter Training Program with instructors and students from 13 different nations. We had three kids during this time and they are the love of my life. During this time I completed my Master of Arts degree, another stepping stone to my future.
One thing every pilot hopes for is the opportunity to fly in combat, that is the reason we joined. I had my opportunity in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, believe me, getting shot at isn't as glamorous as one sees in the movies. I received the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism along with a whole bunch of other medals during my career. One of the greatest moments of my life was when the General pinned my father's DFC on me in a ceremony with my family present.
My marriage didn't last long after that, but I met and married my current wife, Ellen Hendrick, a trauma nurse and we began the next chapter of our lives together. With that marriage came another child...or should I say an adult, Marguax who has been a wonderful addition to my life.
Since retiring from the military, I have been consulting around the world for many businesses and governments, enjoying the travel and the opportunities. The people I have met have added so much to my life and I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to have them in my life.
Ellen decided to leave nursing and become an attorney so we moved to Seattle while she attended law school at the University of Washington. In three years I never got to see one UW football game, she was always too busy to get season passes. We traveled all over the Inland Northwest during this time looking for property to buy and a new place to live after law school. We found and bought a beautiful albeit small ranch on the river and moved to Spokane where Ellen has become a very successful attorney. Being bored, I decided to pursue my doctorate and completed it a few months prior to our 40th reunion. Next to Air Force pilot training, it was the most difficult thing I have ever done and I still wonder what was I thinking!
Our journey continues...
