I received the following message from Pat OConnor, one of our followers. As I have said before, Joes story of courage and survival has been repeated untold times by everyday heroes. Thank you for allowing me to share yours, Pat, and thank you for your service. ~Bob I grew up in a home of verbal and physical abuse from our father. So joining the military was better than putting up with living at home. After my senior prom, I went to visit my date Kitty Sue Horton, in Glendale Maryland. She was adopted that year by a family I did not know. The man of that household confronted me at the front door emphatically stating that I couldnt see kitty any longer and was to get off his property or he would call the police. Never got her new phone number , wrote a letter to her but Im certain it was intercepted. No further contact from that point on. In August 1966 went straight to basic training. Heart broken yet still glad to be away from my home environment. My lonely bed was made for me. The discipline of the AF made me stronger. The air travel of 133000 miles in three years was something. Went to Texas twice, California, Guam, Washington State, Thailand, Vietnam, finally ended up at Andrews AFB as my last duty station as a guard for Air Force One. My bed was at times overwhelming , fascinating, breath taking, and frightening. Currently living with the pain associated with PTSD and residual medical problems from prostate removal, and radiation therapy all connected to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. I served with pride, and solute all who have served and currently serve. And so to all, Welcome Home.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 16:00:01 +0000
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