"Retired" due to medical conditions. -Heart Bypass (Quintuple) -Hepatitis C (from blood transfusions in the 1970s) -Diabetes (Type II). -Kidney failure w/ MRSA complications. -Operation to remove infection at sternum above old Heart Bypass site (still in recuperation early 2014).
Other Comments:
Self taught artist (multiple media); Self taught computer skills (I liked old "Windows 3.x" and DOS); Multi-lingual (a little of this and that); Life Member of the National Rifle Association. Still like to punch paper when I can afford the Range costs. (The proud owner of a Match Grade M1A, with glass bedded stock and also an M1 Garand.)
Best Moment Earning Meritorious PFC upon graduation.
Worst Moment Barely qualifying with M14 Rifle. I had a final score of 193 out of 250. However, I DID qualify!
Instructors Sgt Steve Martin Sgt Jerry Prater Cpl Ronald Pumpelly* SSgt ?Harris? *Cpl Pumpelly was transferred for striking a boot. A sorry-ass shitbird, named Ben Lane, cost him his E5 stripe. The Staff NCO who took his place deferred command back to Sgt. Martin, despite higher rank, to maintain the command structure we had trained under to that point. I don't recall his name because he joined us near the end. My apologies to him. BTW: Ben Lane didn't graduate with Platoon 226. I don't know if he ever became a Marine or not.
Other Memories Our Platoon took the Rifle Range, 1st Place. Went in weighing 185 lbs., and graduated weighing 147 lbs. One Lean Mean Killing Machine.