I'M NOW RETIRED SINCE THE CANCER. I RETIRED FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IN A DEFERRED PAYMENT STATUS. THIS MEANS I'LL START TO COLLECT MY RETIREMENT PAY AT AGE 60. THE STATE IS REDUCING STAFF ALL THE TIME AND I WAS CAUGHT UP IN THAT BECAUSE OF ONLY 15 YEARS WITH THE STATE. SO, I MADE MY OWN MOVE FOLLOWING THE 5 P'S. SECOND CAREER I WAS A FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR FOR A PRISON WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN JACKSON,MI. I WAS HIRED IN THE MDOC SIX MONTHS AFTER I RETIRED. I PROMOTED INTO MANAGEMENT WITHIN 16 MONTHS. MY FACILITY HAS A POPULATION OF 1752 PRISONER. I DO NOT GET THE SAME REWARDING FEELING RUNNING A OPERATION FOR PRISONERS, BUT THE PAY IS GREAT AND SOMEONE HAS TO DO THE JOB. IN RECENT MONTHS I BECAME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MDOC BOOT CAMP. MY WARDEN IS A FORMER MARINE AND HE SPEAR HEADED THE BOOT CAMP FOR MICHIGAN. THE POPULATION MANY GET AS HIGH AS 450 BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN THE LAWS. PRISONERS WHO GO THRU THE PROGRAM USUALLY DO NOT RE-COMMIT AND THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA. ITS NOT THE 1970'S BOOT CAMP, BUT FAIRLY CLOSE IN MANY RESPECTS. THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO BECOME DI'S ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, PROFESSIONALS ALL IN ASPECTS. WORKING AT THIS FACILITY ALMOST BRING BACK FLASH BACKS OF BOOT CAMP.
Other Comments:
TODAY I'M A GRANDFATHER OF THREE BOYS AND ONE GIRL. I STILL ENJOY SHOOTING FIREARMS AND HAVE AN ENOUGH PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS I BOUGHT A LARGE SAFE. I HOPE TO BEGIN RELOADING SOON WITH MY BLUE PRESS. I COMPETE IN NRA MATCHES 2700'S AND KEEP PRACTICING WITH MY CARRY GUNS. KIMBERS, GLOCK, SMITH & WESSON ARE MOST LIKELY CANCEL CARRY HANDGUNS. MY INTEREST IN FIREARMS BECAME MORE INTENTS WHEN I BECAME A MARKSMANSHIP INSTRUCTOR. TRAINING BOOT'S AT EDSON RANGE ON THE SAME RANGE I SHOT ON IN BOOT CAMP. REQUAL SHOOTERS AT CAMP SCHWAB AND AS A SGT. I RAN THE COACHES AND PMI SCHOOL AT DIV MTU FROM JULY 1977 TO JULY 1978.
Description The Liberation of Kuwait was the campaign to retake Kuwait from Iraq after the massive air campaign, between 24–28 February 1991. U.S. troops and the Coalition entered to find the Iraqis surrendering en masse; however, pockets of resistance existed, particularly at Kuwait International Airport where Iraqi troops, seemingly unaware that a retreat order had been issued to them, continued to fight, resulting in a fierce battle over the airport itself. The majority of the fighting took place in Iraq, rather than Kuwait.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1991
To Month/Year
February / 1991
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember LtCol Fallen, Bn Cmdr Major Einsideler Bn XO Sgt Major Hall Capt. Conley, H&S CO 1st Sgt Handley GySgt Nebel
Memories As the Bn Mess Chief, my troops helped prepare meals twice a day for 30,000 Marine , Navy and Army personnel. 1st Bn 1st Mar 1st Mar Div was part of task force Pappa Bear with 3rd Bn 9th Marines and 1st Tank Bn. Half my cooks and myself went forward on the ground assult in the Kuwait. The first day was alot of stop and go and friendly artillery fire, day two the tank battle in the Al Walhua Oil fields. When we got close to the Kuwait International Airport(KIA) we came across a very large deep hole, small peices of buildings were all over the place. Once at the (KIA) we had sniper fire for a short period. That night we had a Scud Missle come in 7 click of our position. My troops and I did the same thing the grunt did and at (KIA) they cooked a meal. It turned out being the determining factor for me to receive the (NAM) along with a few of my other cooks. I was very proud of my mens performance, we had already been together for 2 to 3 years. My second family, I called them my boys in a respectful way. We all lookout for each other. I remember hearing Lou Armstrong sing "Its a Bueaiful World" that cold crisp morning the wind changed direction and we could see the sun. It was a great day to be alive. We had a Heros welcome home and Thank God our Viet Nam veterans were able to join us and be reconized after so many years. The Viet Nam Vet who gave me a case of Bud and thanking me. I said "No Thank You, You didn't get this when you came home" We shook hands and gave each other a knowing look. I'm proud to say the Marine Corps operated at its very best of my whole career and I had been told by many old timers it would be that way. Most important all the B---S--- stopped.
