Green, Joseph, Cpl

Currently RETIRED not only as a Chapter 61 Retiree but from the civilian world also. Came out too the wonderful world of GLOBAL ECONOMY. Could of got a job in my hometown anywhere before I went in now you can't buy a job. Came out and worked at FREEMAN SHOE closed and shutdown after 2 years. Went too UNVERISAL FOODS spent 12 years there, closed, shutdown and left for a non union workforce. Corporate America at its finest they want the BIG bucks but the workers don't deserve middle class wages. Went too OUTBOARD MARINE had 5 years there got laid off at XMAS time told too come back after the 1st of the year. Dec. 15 the FEDEX lady was running thru town leaving letters for the OMC workers. Company filed for bankruptcy. NO severance pay NO vacation pay NO sick pay NO WARN ACT { plant closing } pay, NOTHING. Merry XMAS. I use too tell my father I wish I was 20 years old in the 50's instead of being born in the 50's. Then I Could of got 30 years in one job.

As I sit back now and reflect on my experiences in life I am glad I followed my grandfather (WW1-France) and father (Korean War-Germany) and served my country. Even as a young boy I knew what they had done I would someday also do. And as every person who has served finds out you are sent where the military needs you and you do what the military needs you to do. It surely is not like the movies make it look like in Hollywood. As you grow older and have any health issues ( 2 stays in the UW hospital and 1 stay in a nursing home ) you have a lot of time to reflect on your younger days and appreciate the memories of our service days. The first enlisted marine I met ,my recruiter SGT/SSGT Dan Smith is STILL my best friend and we talk almost daily. MSGT Smith is in AZ and I'm in WI but we still keep in touch. Just shows what SEMPER FI is really about.