My Dad joined the Army Air Corps in 1953. In 1955, he re-upped in the USAF. He served until 1984, when he went Reserve. He retired in 1994.

He was a radio and communications specialist, and was an instructor during his reserve service. He was injured during a guerilla attack in the Philippines while traveling to repair a com tower in 1962. He was in Vietnam several times, each stretch for less than 30 days, because my oldest brother is blind, and back then it was considered a hardship, so they couldn't keep him there.

When he retired from the service, he became a postal worker. He was in that niche where they could double dip on the federal pension, so he did pretty good.

He died in 2005. While going through his things with him, he tried to throw away all his service records because he wouldn't need them anymore. I rescued them and saved them to preserve with his uniforms, all of which he had saved, along with all his medals and awards and ribbons. I don't know what each one signifies, but I plan to do research and make a book with an explanation of what each one was for.

I want the next generations to understand that we were a military family and how proud he was to serve.

I saw a lot of the world because of my Dad. I didn't appreciate it a lot of the time, especially when we had to move AGAIN, but I do now.

R.I.P. Dad and thanks!

(p.s. I still remember the CORRECT way to polish shoes!)