12 years, only a Corporal? What is wrong with this guy?

I know some of you are curious because I have been asked by more than one of my connections, who after reading my bio asked me why I only made it as far up the ranks as Corporal in twelve years of service. So I thought that instead of answering this question more than I already have I would open up about why only a Corporal.

I enlisted fresh out of high school and just back from Columbus, GA. where I had been visiting friends and family. I needed a job and as was the case I was told that I didn't have any experience for the job I was applying for.

My first tour on active duty lasted from November of 1979 until November of 1982. My mother signed the papers for me to enlist because I hadn't reached the age of 18 and off I went. I wanted to go Infantry because that is where my heart was at the time. My GT scores were good enough but I was disqualified because of body acne.

Second choice was Air Defense Artillery, and I wound up learning how to properly maintain and fire a Vulcan weapons system.

I wanted to go Airborne, but was told I was too short and didn't weigh enough. Ok. Dream number two squashed by Army bureaucracy. So I finished my AIT and was then sent to the 24th Infantry division at Fort Stewart, GA. Close to home but not where I wanted to be.

I made it to PFC/E3 in less than a year, and thought that my stuff didn't stink. WRONG! I shot my mouth off due to a hard head and a developed bad attitude, the result of being denied several things that I wanted to do. Busted to E1.

Worked my ass off to get my stripes back and asked for a transfer to Korea. By the age of 18 I was half way around the world from everyone I knew and loved. No problem, right? This is what I wanted, right? I was assigned to a squad that was led by a hardcore drinker, and developed a taste for the local liquors myself. No worries I had it all under control, right? WRONG!

Showed up for too many formations either still drunk from the night before or just flat hung over. Busted to E1, again. Got sober, and worked my ass off again to regain my stripes. Fell in love with a member of the local indigenous female population and went behind the Army's back and got married out of school, so to speak.

Only a few people knew about the marriage, my drunken squad leader for one. No problem, right? WRONG, again. Busted back to E1 again, hence the nickname elevator. Stayed married in Korea, and started the paperwork for her to be allowed to marry a member of our nations military service. This included a background check of her and her family.

I earned my stripes back for the 3rd time and this time I kept them. While waiting for the background check, which I mistakenly thought was being handled by the military, I was approached one day by a Korean national who it turns out was doing the background check. He told me he wanted $500.00 or he was going to create a false report which would discredit her and her family.

I did what I thought was right and reported the incident to my chain of command. Right move, wrong results. I was essentially called a liar and told to go away. So I did. I went about my duties still only married by Korean law, only now everyone knew about it. I didn't care. We had a child, a son.

I neglected to fill out the extension papers that would have kept me in Korea without returning home. So where did I end up? Good old camp swampy, Fort Stewart, again, damn the bad luck.

Prior to going back I took 15 days leave and contacted the Korean Consulate in Kansas City. They began a background check into my wife's family. No problems, or so I thought. I returned to Fort Stewart and was assigned to the same battery that I had transferred out of.

Day 3 after reporting in I requested to speak to the 1st Sergeant and Company Commander both. Why? I wanted to go back to Korea. 8 weeks later I am on a plane headed back to my Korean family.

Reassigned to the same unit A Btry. 2nd Bn. 61st ADA. Seonyu ri Korea. My second home. Reunited with my wife and son, I kept my nose clean for my second year in country. I was on the list for E4/Corporal, everything was looking up.

The unit was going to Sea Range for some live fire training. Bad luck strikes again. My wife and son were killed in a car wreck when a drunken soldier of the indigenous military forces crossed the center line of MSR3 and ran over the cab they were in while headed to the train station in the neighboring village.

I didn't find out about this until after they had been buried. I lost it! My shot at Corporal went out the window a few seconds after the 1st Sergeant handed me the notification letter he had received while we were at the range. 4 days later.

Kept my E3, and was Honorably discharged from active duty. Went back to Independence, MO. and found out that the background check had been completed and there were no discrepancies in the family background.

I enlisted in the reserves, figured I could still serve my country, just not as often. Good plan, it worked out for three more years. I met another woman, thought I fell in love, turns out it was only lust, and got married, we had a daughter. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome.

I finished my enlistment in the Reserves, still an E3. The unit I was assigned to wasn't real big on promotions. My contract lapsed, I moved to a small town in southeast Kansas, and enlisted in the National Guard. A combat engineer unit.

This was where I earned my promotion to Corporal. Served three years, realized just how disillusioned I had become and walked away from the Army of any kind after 9 years of Honorable service.

11 years passed and I was again in southeast Kansas with a new wife and two step-daughters. We had moved there to help my sister care for our aging mother who was beginning to show early signs of Alzheimer's disease. My mother could no longer care for herself so we made the decision to put her in an assisted living facility.

Out of work, 35 years old, and needing to save myself from Kansas I contacted an Army Recruiter. I reenlisted on 5 August 1999 at the age of 36, went back through basic training as the oldest member of the company at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. My motivation for making it through basic was all of the people, my wife included, who told me I would never make it. WRONG, I did it!

Fort Lee for AIT as a supply clerk, and off to Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division (Climb to Glory). After in processing I was assigned to of all things, an Infantry unit, which is where I had wanted to be 20 years prior. A Co. 4th Bn. 31st Infantry Regiment Polar Bears (Pro Patria).

I can say without any hesitation that this was the finest division and battalion that I had ever served in. To this day I still have and wear the Polar Bear crest on any hat you see on my head. The only problem I encountered was I was enlisted at the rank of PFC. My name came up on the promotion list for E4/SPC on time, the only problem was is that they couldn't decide what my date of rank should be. I was promoted to E4/SPC with a date of rank of 5 August 1999. It seems I should have been reenlisted at E4 to begin with. I finished out my contract despite breaking my back, literally, and was discharged Honorably.

So, that is my military story. I wanted to follow in my fathers footsteps and retire after 20+ years. No such luck. It is all good, I am still happily married to the same woman, we have 8 grand children and are living in Oregon.

My last goal in life is to make it back to Georgia before I die. Wish me luck. If you have any questions feel free to ask them. I don't have a problem with answering them.