Who Influenced You To Take The Oath And Join The Military? - Login & Share to Win!

The Military Academy itself. After the Sports recruiter called and sent information, I was surprised and honored that someone had that confidence in me to submit my name as a possible candidate. I determined to give it my best effort. Four years (+) later I was so excited to take the next Oath of Office and serve.

My dad and my great grandfather.

Nobody. I had a family I needed to provide for.

1 g grandfather, 2 grandfathers, my father, 4 uncles, and god only knows how many of their friends served during time of war. It was my turn, just as my 2 sons and 1 daughter felt it was their turn.

Just a chance to get a good school and travel.

partially my Father, but mostly my Grandmother, she told me the importance of standing for your beliefs, defending your flag and way of life, she was talking about her Grandfather, Wiley Jackson Bean of the 30th Alabama Infantry

John Wayne.

My WW11 vet father and uncles along with JFK.

If I had to say it was anyone it would be my father. It’s not that he was pro military he was a deserter and hated anything military. He among others told me that I would never make it in the military. He was right I only lasted 24 years when I was medically retired. Other than a few bad officers and one E-7. I liked everyone met. My dad blamed me until the day he died for influencing my 5 nephews to join the military. 1 retired AF, 2 are close to retiring from the Navy and 2 enlisted in the Army.

I had a couple of uncles who were active duty Air Force when I was a kid. (One retired as a CMSgt and the other left active duty and retired from the Reserves as a MSgt.) Both of them had a tremendous influence on me when I was a young man.

During WWII, my dad had served in the Army Air Corps as a flight instrument repairman and aircraft electrician working on B-24 Liberators. After the war, my dad took flying lessons and became a private pilot. So, I spent a lot of time around airplanes and knew that someday I wanted to fly as a profession.

When I was 10 years old, my father took me to the theater to see the film "A Gathering of Eagles." The film starred Rock Hudson and Rod Taylor. It was about a newly assigned SAC wing commander who was trying to get his Aerospace Wing with Titan I missiles, B-52Gs, and KC-135s off its back and ready to pass a no-notice operational readiness inspection (ORI). As soon as I saw that film and, especially the B-52Gs, I knew I was meant to serve in the Air Force!

When I became 13, I joined my local Civil Air Patrol squadron. I went through four years of the Cadet program, attended two summer encampments at Wright-Patterson AFB, and several other CAP special activities. Once I passed the requirements for my Gen. Billy Mitchell Award and became a Cadet Officer, I was eligible to enter Air Force basic training with a stripe (E-2). After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the Air Force and entered Basic Training in September 1970. Because I was the only Airman with a stripe in my flight, I soon became the Dorm Chief.