Bob had been ordering me to put up a bio for about 10 years now, so I
figure, I haven't got anything better to do.
Going back and thinking about the time from graduating at DLF until now does not feature the most pleasant recollections for me. Most of the time is punctuated by poor choices, bad decisions, and raising a lot of hell.
After UPT it was the greasy EC at Pleiku, Papa Kilo, Channel 107, PKU - call it what you will, it was a pit. The only interesting thing that happened was it snowed in the Central Highlands in February. Misplayed that hand pretty much - was offered a regular commission, turned it down. Should have pulled my papers and taken it, but that is water under the bridge. After SEA, it was Pease and KCs in the 34th ARS. Squadron.
After separating on 15 Nov 72, I did a stint in the NJANG until they told us we needed to put more time
into the Guard and my employer disagreed. Too
bad, should have stayed at Maguire - didn't. Continued to work on Wall Street, several years later the marriage dissolved, as well as the job. Ultimately there ensued, at the former spouse's behest,
a long and costly divorce and custody battle.
The picture, below, is of my maternal grandfather; the family had always thought he had been in the Czar's cavalry, but my friend Paul Nakrosis-about the only guy who went (ultimately) from Goons to FB-111s, correctly identified the uniform as Cossack. Good grief! My grandfather was a Cossack! How he managed that is beyond me. But, I figured it's a nice picture to put here. (Look at the size of that sword! Nearly as long as he is tall.) I do wish I could have been in the cavalry ... Came close before USAF, riding in shows, fox hunting, and other ridiculous stuff.
Here is me and
my horse Mandingo, not in the cavalry, Russian or otherwise,
riding the "outside course" at the Spring Valley Hounds horse show,
maybe in '66. It was the "outside course" because the competition
("class," it was
called) was held outside the ring on a kind of steeplechase course,
which simulated a "run" in foxhunting.
On other - even less interesting - topics, in 2000, while having lunch
with my sister-in-law at Ikea (she was the senior chaplain at
Travis), she asked if I was ready to be baptized. I said I was, but we
were in Ikea. She said it was as good a place as any, got a glass of
water, and hauled me aboard. Should have done that a long time ago.
But
that is a "whole nother" thing. Go figure. I have a couple of
other interesting photos that are linked to this baptism photo, you
might want to check them out, they are kind of really unique.
Am now an observant
Lutheran, and the Lord has been good to me in spite of all my screw-ups.
That enough, Bobby?
By way of a disconnected addendum, let me add the
following. I retired from teaching on 1 Jul 08 for numerous reasons, the
main one being that I did not like them more than they did not like me.
I was also feeling significantly run-down and tired all the time. Pretty much uncharacteristic for someone who had cycled 40 miles a day and kayaked around Manhattan island twice, maybe three times, don't remember too clearly. So two weeks after I retired I went to see a cardiologist, figuring my heart needed some help. Make a long story short, I was anemic, and they thought I had bleeding ulcers. Endoscopy showed I had a 10.8 cm tumor in my stomach. So two weeks after I retired I began my ongoing relationship with the most excellent folks at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, here in New York City. My cancer is a rare sort called Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, or GIST. It is a soft tissue sarcoma, and right now it is under control. But it is a mean cancer and comes back when you figure you are all better.
Went to the VA for a claim, following Mike Moriarty's advice, which they rejected even though the Agent Orange Act of 1991 cites sarcoma being eligible for disability. So I appealled the decision, and about two years later they granted me a temporary 100% disability, and last year, I think, it went permanent... I have now (2017) gone about 9 years without tumor growth, although they are still there, thanks to my medication (Gleevec--Imatinib Mesylate) so that is good.
Funny thing, after nearly two years waiting for the appeal at the VA,
I hired a lawyer. Before he actually got to do anything the VA granted
the claim. He was decent enough and did not take the 20%, just enough to
"cover expenses." Funny.