My father was, in my mind, a very interesting fellow. He was born in the early 1920s in the Shenandoah Valley, in to a very small Appalachian town. When he graduated from high school, he said that he and his schoolmates had one thing on their mind; they wanted to fight Hitler. He also wanted a college education, and hoped to earn one by serving our country.
He enlisted in the Army at the first opportunity he had. He was denied, due to having an irregular heart beat. It wouldn't be until much later in life that my mom and I would learn that he most likely suffered Rheumatic Fever as a young teen, the results of which permanently enlarged some of his cardiac muscle.
Undaunted, my dad moved to Washington, D.C. Determined to complete a college education, he landed a job at what would become the Pentagon. He also took classes at Strayer University, and was able to take up residence in their men's dormitory.
He never gave up on his desire to serve our country. He tried finding a different doctor to approve his physical. He was denied again, for the same reason.
He continued his civil service work, and studying as much as his salary would allow. When forces started spreading through the Pacific after the Pearl Harbor attack, he approached a third doctor about joining. The third doctor passed him, finally fulfilling my father's dream. He tried furiously for a chance to serve in Europe, however the Army had other plans. The widespread deployment of troops put a strain on the Army for qualified clerical personnell. My father, with some education and War Department experience, had skills that many incoming Privates didn't have...an aspect to his service that may have saved his life.
He wasn't assignted to a combat unit, nor did he go to Europe. Instead, he was sent in the opposite direction, assigned to the Army's personell office and cold-weather training ground at Fort Wainwright, AK. The location was far from enemy fire, yet he still suffered the loss of fellow servicemen. The isolaton of Fairbanks and the scarce hours of daylight during the winter months drove some of his fellow soldiers to depression and suicide.
He returned home from Alaska with an honourable discharge, and a desire to fulfill his other dream of earning a college degree. With the GI Bill behind him, he earned an English degree from William and Mary. He was hired out of college for a marketing job that would bring him to Baltimore, where he would eventually meet my mother. He would spend the rest of his career in Sales and Marketing, and had a particularly good flair for management. While he retired when I was still in high school, he taught me quite a bit about relating to people...including how to negotiate a situation without being cutthroat. Only time will tell if I have learned what my dad was trying to teach.
Unfortunately he met with some very difficult challenges later in life. His cardiac issues caught up with him. Heart surgery in 1993 lead to a stroke, which chipped away at his health until he mercifully passed away in 2001.
Dad, you have always been my guardian angel. Your memories still bring a smile to my face, and you continue to inspire me. Thank you for all you did for our country, for my mom, and for my sister and me. I love you very much. :asian:
He enlisted in the Army at the first opportunity he had. He was denied, due to having an irregular heart beat. It wouldn't be until much later in life that my mom and I would learn that he most likely suffered Rheumatic Fever as a young teen, the results of which permanently enlarged some of his cardiac muscle.
Undaunted, my dad moved to Washington, D.C. Determined to complete a college education, he landed a job at what would become the Pentagon. He also took classes at Strayer University, and was able to take up residence in their men's dormitory.
He never gave up on his desire to serve our country. He tried finding a different doctor to approve his physical. He was denied again, for the same reason.
He continued his civil service work, and studying as much as his salary would allow. When forces started spreading through the Pacific after the Pearl Harbor attack, he approached a third doctor about joining. The third doctor passed him, finally fulfilling my father's dream. He tried furiously for a chance to serve in Europe, however the Army had other plans. The widespread deployment of troops put a strain on the Army for qualified clerical personnell. My father, with some education and War Department experience, had skills that many incoming Privates didn't have...an aspect to his service that may have saved his life.
He wasn't assignted to a combat unit, nor did he go to Europe. Instead, he was sent in the opposite direction, assigned to the Army's personell office and cold-weather training ground at Fort Wainwright, AK. The location was far from enemy fire, yet he still suffered the loss of fellow servicemen. The isolaton of Fairbanks and the scarce hours of daylight during the winter months drove some of his fellow soldiers to depression and suicide.
He returned home from Alaska with an honourable discharge, and a desire to fulfill his other dream of earning a college degree. With the GI Bill behind him, he earned an English degree from William and Mary. He was hired out of college for a marketing job that would bring him to Baltimore, where he would eventually meet my mother. He would spend the rest of his career in Sales and Marketing, and had a particularly good flair for management. While he retired when I was still in high school, he taught me quite a bit about relating to people...including how to negotiate a situation without being cutthroat. Only time will tell if I have learned what my dad was trying to teach.
Unfortunately he met with some very difficult challenges later in life. His cardiac issues caught up with him. Heart surgery in 1993 lead to a stroke, which chipped away at his health until he mercifully passed away in 2001.
Dad, you have always been my guardian angel. Your memories still bring a smile to my face, and you continue to inspire me. Thank you for all you did for our country, for my mom, and for my sister and me. I love you very much. :asian:
