My test scores were high, but I found out I was color-blind and that made it impossible to follow through on the Jet engine mechanic goal.

I chose to become an air cargo specialist, was trained in Wichita Falls, Texas, and was then stationed at Rhein Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany.

I learned a lot about my field of work and about Europe. I traveled with friends every chance I got, visiting France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and along the Swiss and Austrian borders. The military life opened up the world for me, even if it was only Europe. I worked side by side with Germans and Pakistani's.

I drank with Dutch, Greeks, Spaniards, Germans, Russians and French.

I dated French and German women!!

In all, it was a growing experience and I enjoyed it to the fullest.

I started out working in and around a warehouse, processing air cargo and quickly climbed to becoming a K-Loader operator, loading and off-loading C-130's, C-141's and C-5a Galaxy cargo aircraft.

I was explosives trained and worked closely with Load Masters, assuring the civilians did their jobs right and that cargo pallets were loaded in the proper weight sequence and securely locked on board.

I worked the graveyard shift during the last two years of duty. We drank a lot of coffee, rolled our own cigarettes using Drum tobacco, and played Spades long into the cold winter nights... I remember the winter nights the best because I'm from Florida.

I had to drive my K-Loader on the flightline in the driving snow and load planes. Lots of planes! It was fun.

It was all the kind of fun that can't be duplicated: unique fun, with good buddies. Guy's with whom you meet, live, work, argue, laugh and experience a chunk of life.

Then when you go home, their gone. You know they're out there, somewhere, but God knows where. They're probably home with their kids, and/or their Honey. Working a day job, paying bills. Just never stop remembering them, though. Each one with his own laugh, or his own seriousness, the goofing around, the homesick blues, the songs that were popular back then.

We all did it for America, though. We love the freedom, we love our homes. Thats why we got so homesick. Homesick for America... for which it stands.

I made it to E-3 and received an Honorable discharge in 1977.

Today I'm a single Dad with a 12 yr. old (goin' on 13) son. I have custody of him and it's been working out well now for the past 7 years. We live in Port St. John, Florida (about 10 miles outside of Kennedy Space Center).