Military branch

United States Air Force

Years of service and rank

I had two enlistments. From 1966-1970, I was stationed at Mt Home AFB, ID, and DaNang AB Republic of Vietnam. My job assignment was Chaplains Services Specialist. My 2nd enlistment was 1973-1974 at Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, TX, and my job assignment was Information Specialist.

While at Randolph, I applied for and received an Operation Bootstrap assignment back to attend the University of Oregon as my full-time assignment. Bootstrap is a program the military has that allows anyone within one year of their degree completion to apply for an assignment to finish their degree and attend college full time while still on active duty.

Awards and decorations

Air Force Commendation and Good Conduct medals

Was your education supported by the GI Bill?

After graduating from Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, I was accepted to attend Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri. Evangel was the first fully accredited Assembly of God denomination. I was subsidized by my father’s unused G.I. Bill entitlement. He was a WWII Navy veteran. I was elected Vice-President of the 1964–65 Freshmen class.

My father passed from Multiple Sclerosis in June of ’65 and I returned home to support my mother in her grief. In the fall, I enrolled in what was then called Bible Standard College in downtown Eugene and played on their Basketball team. BSC later changed to Eugene Bible College before relocating, and is currently New Hope College in West Eugene. I continued to receive subsidy from my fathers G.I. Bill.

The draft board changed my status from 2S (Student) to 1A (Draft-able) using the logic that changing schools showed instability, and I received a draft notice in March. With draft notice in hand, I visited the Armed Forces Recruitment Center to see if there were options. My brother was in the Air Force, and they said I could join but would have to leave in one week. They administered the Armed Forces battery of tests to determine aptitude and competency in four areas, Administrative, Mechanical, Electrical, and General; I passed all four with 80 percent or higher. However, the Air Force needed Mechanical bodies, and after passing my Armed Forces physical in Portland, they sent me to Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Because of the Vietnam buildup, it was shortened from 12 to six weeks. During training there were opportunities to volunteer, and I did volunteer for Paratroopers and Chaplains Assistant. After a successful interview with the Chaplain it was discovered that Chaplains Assistant fell under the Administrative Field, and because I was designated Mechanical, I did not qualify. I was persistent and I was granted a change!

After graduating Basic, I was sent to Amarillo Air Force Base in Amarillo, Texas, for 12 weeks of Chaplains Assistant Tech School. After graduating, I was sent to Mt. Home Air Force Base for two-and-a-half years before being sent to Vietnam. While at Mt. Home, I was chosen to attend Non-Commissioned Officers Leadership School at George Air Force Base in Apple Valley, California, where I graduated first in my class!

After Vietnam I was discharged at Port Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California.

Within a week I was enrolled and taking classes on my G.I. Bill at LCC, and after enough hours for an Associate Degree, transferred to the UO in Recreation and Park Management. While at my 15 hours of Field placement as the Recreation Director at The Inn of Seventh Mountain, things changed dramatically. I had purchased a season pass at Mt. Bachelor and on my first run on the day after Thanksgiving I received a compound, commutated fracture of my left tibia and got to ride down the mountain in a sled. Of course this meant dropping out of school with less than a year to go until graduation.

During my rehab, the Military introduced a program called Palace Chase, whereby prior service could re-enlist with job of choice and base of choice. I applied and was accepted and chose Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, because it is headquarters for the Air Force and the Bootstrap program is headquartered there. I chose the Information career field, but had to go from E-5 pay grade to E-2, and basically start over. I went right to the Bootstrap office and applied, and by September I was back on campus, finishing my degree in June. My goal had always been to be an Air Force pilot but when I got back to Randolph, Vietnam had ended and my dream was shattered!

I transferred to Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, California, and at a routine records check, learned that my years of active duty were enough that I could be honorably discharged. I did, and transferred to the Portland Air National Guard for one year, and left the Air Force to begin my Real Estate career in Eugene.

Without the Air Force and the G.I. Bill, my life would have been very different.

How did your service and experiences affect your life?

My education was supported prior to my 2nd enlistment by both the G.I. Bill and Bootstrap program. The military taught me the necessary discipline to focus on and complete my post high school education. My life will be forever impacted by serving in Vietnam and the experiences during my assignments prior and after Vietnam.

What are your thoughts on the new UO Veteran Alumni Network?

I am excited about the new UO Veteran Alumni Network. It gives a stage to appreciate and acknowledge the sacrifices Veterans have made. The fact that Veterans are being acknowledged and appreciated will lend itself to creating Community for out UO Vets. I believe it will lead to many networking opportunities as they gather and share stories of the time in service.