VETERANS DAY

 

In August of 1972, I was discharged from the US Navy...   this photo was taken by my cousin two days later, when I had returned to Burlington, NC.

My time in the US Navy was during the tenure of CNO Zumwalt.  Zumwalt allowed full beards to be grown, and he also allowed hair to be of an uncertain length as long as it did not interfere to with one's headgear.

I took advantage of what he was allowing during a SIX-MONTH MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE.

My job in the Navy was a radio operator (RM) and during my time in the military I cross-rated into a Communications Technician (CT).

During my Mediterranean Cruise, I used my money not to buy alcohol but to invest in STEREO EQUIPMENT and CAMERA EQUIPMENT...  both of which lasted almost twenty years.

Before enlisting in the US NAVY, I completed 2.5 years of college.  After my discharge, I returned to college and was awarded a BA degree in 1974 and an MBA in 1981, BOTH OF WHICH WERE PAID FOR BY THE GI BILL.

I HAD NO COLLEGE DEBT...

My GI Bill not only paid for my books and tuition but gave me a housing allowance because I was married with a child.

My daughter was born while I was in the military and the only cost to be was $25 because I had to paid for the wrist band she wore.

My daughter was born at a hospital in Burlington, NC while I was stationed on a ship docked in Little Creek at the Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.

MY EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY WAS VERY POSITIVE...