As I graduated from the University of Florida, I was commissioned a second lieutenant, Armor branch, U.S. Army Reserve. After a two month wait, I reported for active duty at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, and the Armor Officer Basic Course.  Upon completion, I moved on to Ft. Wolters, Texas, where I was part of the ORWAC Class 69-50, "white hats". From there, I went to the advanced training phase of flight school at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.

After graduating flight school and thirty days of  leave, in April, 1970 I left my home in Jacksonville, Florida for Vietnam. Following the usual in-processing, I was assigned to the 164th Aviation Group of the 1st Aviation Brigade in the Mekong Delta (IV Corps). Immediately upon reporting there, I was further assigned to D Troop (Air) 3/5th Cav in Vinh Long.

I flew slicks in the lift platoon-the Long Knives-and after a few months I went to the "in country" IP school and became the troop's UH-1 instructor pilot. Those duties not only included giving the necessary  checkrides when needed, but any external sling loads, especially LOHs whenever one of our scouts was shot down. Some months later, my troop commander showed his utmost confidence in me, and, as a 1st Lieutenant, I began flying Air Mission Commander, and did so for the remainder of my tour.

I left active duty in February, 1973 and returned to civilian life. My life since then included 18+ years in the retail jewelry business as a store manager and district manager, and 10+ years in the pest control industry where I was a branch manager and general manager. In 2003, my wife and I moved from the Atlanta, Georgia area to Fair Grove, Missouri where we make our home today. Currently I work part-time at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, in the Guest Services Department.