I joined the Navy on Sept 7,
1970 (my mother’s birthday), I went to boot camp in San Diego, CA and A school
for Basic Propulsion Engineering in Great Lakes, IL. I reported aboard the USS Alamo, LSD 33,
homeported in Long Beach, CA as a Boiler Tech. I did two Pacific Theater deployments where I earned my Vietnam Combat ribbon
in 1972 and 1974. I served 4 years and
then entered the active reserves where I served for 4 years. In 1977 I became an apprentice Pipefitter at
the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. When they
closed in 1995, I was offered a job in Point Loma, San Diego, CA where I was
able to complete my 30 years and where I met my current wife.
I joined the VFW Post 7243
as a life member 16 years ago and was immediately asked to be the Adjutant and
assistant QM. I later became the QM and
served for 7 years. I was elected to
Post Commander and served for 7 years in that capacity. During that time I was asked to volunteer as
the Patriots Pen, Voice of Democracy, Teacher of the Year, and Buddy Poppy District Chairman.
I am currently a Little League Assistant District
Administrator in charge of Softball. As
a District volunteer, I was instrumental in starting the Challenger Program on
the west coast. The Challenger Program is
for physically and mentally challenged children who want to play baseball that
is adapted to their special needs and assisted by non-handicapped ball players. I have volunteered in Little League for 37 years
as a coach, manager. local board member and District board member. I have also volunteered for the YMCA Indian
Guides, Boy Scouts and YMCA Basketball.
Even though the acronym NAVY
stands for "Never Again Volunteer Yourself,” I have a muscular disorder, when
groups asked for volunteers, my armed shoots up (LOL).
I have one son and 2 grown
granddaughters. I am the stepfather to
my wife’s 3 children and 1 Granddaughter.
My wife is District 4
Auxiliary President and our motto this year is "Infinite Love for Veterans and
their Families.” Our emblem is the
tattoo we got when we were married, which is two hearts and an infinity symbol
intertwined.