Initials

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Topic

PS

1

007

He is married with 2 children. His wife’s name is Sarah and their children are Patrick III (or Trey) 22, Mindey 20. Both children live at home and attend Wallace Community College. The entire family resides with his aging mother in order to provide her with proper care.

PS

1

024

He spent 8 years in the Air Force and 16 years in the Air Force Reserve. The enlistment was from November 1969-November 1973. He was a heating specialist. He did not serve in Vietnam. From August 1971 – November 1973, he supported the B20 Bombers while serving in Germany.

PS

1

059

Once out of the military, he continued his education at Auburn University by earning a degree in secondary education of social science. In 1977-1980, he worked on a dual degree in science and biology.

PS

1

074

In June 1980 he received a 6-month training in aircraft masteral school and was promoted to 1^st Lt in October 1980. He was assigned to Tyndal Air Force Base for 3 ½ years but then was caught in the military RIF (October 1984).

PS

1

094

In January 1985, he decided to join the 919^th Civil Engineering Squad at Eglin Air Force Base and remained there for 16 ½ years.

PS

1

120

While in the Reserves, he did some substitute teaching and sold insurance, while operating a lawn service.

PS

1

135

The military aided him monetarily, by financing his education through the GI Bill as well as providing him with a paycheck. Since he did retire from the Reserves, he will be collecting retirement pay at the age of 60.

PS

1

151

While in the reserves, he was a heavy construction operator for 6 years and an air conditioning repairman for 10 years. This experience helped him some in the civilian world, but it was not enough to allow him to be proficient in the field.

PS

1

162

He would not trade his overall experience for anything, he had a chance to travel and saw many different things. He spent 2 ½ years in Europe and even though he wanted the chance to serve in Vietnam, he is glad that he never had to go. He feels that the guys that went to Vietnam received a slap in the face.

PS

1

194

He feels that the news media believes that the American soldiers in Iraq were prepared for what they have experienced. The situation in Iraq has not just come about in the last 35 years; it has been there for at least 300 years. He views it by reminding that with all the different tribes fighting, this problem cannot be solved overnight.

PS

1

275

He has never had to use his Veterans medical benefits since his wife works at a hospital and has a wonderful health care plan. He cannot experience the retirement plan since he still has 6 more years to serve.

PS

1

290

His daughter has no interest in the military and his son has physical as well as emotional problems, which cause him to be on disability.

PS

1

300

He was to have retired August 8, 2001, but due to the occurrence of 9/11, he was put on stop loss and was called back to service. He has recently come off the stop loss and is now eligible for VA benefits. He will retire from the service, as a Tech Sgt. But will draw the pay of a 1^st Lt.

PS

1

330

He is satisfied with all of his accomplishments in the military, but somewhat dissatisfied with the training. He regrets never having been to a technical school.

PS

1

348

He was an only child. His father wanted to join the military during World War II, but could not due to a hunting accident. He had 2 uncles in World War II and one cousin who worked with B17 pilots. He did not train to fly planes. He only operated heavy machinery. He served four years as an enlisted man   and got out for 7 years and returned another 4 years on reserve statues.

PS

1

383

He has talked with other Veterans and they all seem to receive satisfactory treatment at the VA facilities. There is one VA hospital in Birmingham and one in Tuscaloosa. Some VA services are not as good as civilian services.

PS

1

395

He agrees with some of the military closings because there were simply too many. He does however feel that it was bad for those individuals that settled in an area and then lost their jobs while having families to support.

PS

2

002

He does not know much about the VA since he really does not use their services. He feels that the VA should help with educational services.

PS

2

042

He feels that it is considered fraud and waste when the government airlifts the MREs (meals ready to eat) or warehouse when we have homeless people or boy scouts can use it.