Like most healthy American males (of my age: 83,) growing up after WWII and the Korean conflict, we were raised in an era of allegiance and patriotism. A primary question after high school was "Are you going to college or joining the military?"
Choices were college or any of the 5 services; my immediate family had 3 soldiers, one sailor, and my father, a Marine. I was fortunate that both of my parents wanted me to go to college --- my father had wanted to attend, but had little money during the depression. My mother had a degree in English, and had been an elementary school teacher before marrying my father. Â
Living as a youngster in New Mexico and Colorado, the allure of the outdoors was very strong: my father taught me to fish and hunt---from an early age---and I decided that I would become a forester for the U.S. Forest Service. Foresters had a healthy office (outside most of the time) and had a wide variety of activities to keep them busy... This was my choice, and I followed it, graduating in May, 1965, from Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University.)
Working as a forester after graduation kept me busy. My plans were quickly dashed when I was drafted! The U. S. Army decided that it was time---but that was not to be in my future...I was lucky to be able to go into the Marine Corps OCS Program, at age 23, and start my new adventure in life!
Other Comments:
Retiring after 26 years in the Corps, I entered the teaching profession. As a major, I was fortunate to earm 3 masters degrees in business, and after retirement, taught business and management classes for 5 colleges and universities in southern California. I was also able to run my small business, "Mac's Firearms," selling firearms and related items (ammo, scopes, knives, etc.) throughout the southwest. I retired from teaching in 2011, at age 69; but am still operating my small business.
