WEBVTT 00:01.756 --> 00:05.141 - My buddy and I had talked about it together 00:05.141 --> 00:07.558 while we were in high school. 00:08.971 --> 00:12.181 That's exactly what we decided we were gonna do 00:12.181 --> 00:13.681 after high school, 00:14.354 --> 00:18.187 because I wasn't really into going to college, 00:19.343 --> 00:21.843 and didn't have any direction, 00:23.169 --> 00:27.252 but figured I'd be safe by going in the military. 00:32.517 --> 00:34.102 Spent a lot of time in our barracks. 00:34.102 --> 00:37.810 Our barracks back then where like chicken coops. 00:37.810 --> 00:40.227 They were all wood, open bay. 00:43.110 --> 00:45.931 We did a lot of polishing and cleaning 00:45.931 --> 00:48.598 just like you see in the movies. 00:50.059 --> 00:53.642 One day we were sitting there playing cards 00:53.979 --> 00:55.562 on a nice sunny day 00:56.664 --> 00:58.796 and we listened to the radio 00:58.796 --> 01:02.032 and heard that Vietnam had declared war on the U.S. 01:02.032 --> 01:04.782 That's how I remember hearing it. 01:15.886 --> 01:17.327 Every time the airplane flew 01:17.327 --> 01:21.494 we were doing something that I personally felt good about. 01:21.886 --> 01:25.803 There was never a time that I didn't wanna fly. 01:33.851 --> 01:36.522 That's the unique thing about being 01:36.522 --> 01:38.939 in the Reserve or Guard unit. 01:39.102 --> 01:41.019 That's a family affair. 01:41.034 --> 01:43.867 Folks have their kids and nephews. 01:45.629 --> 01:48.112 People can talk about their fathers or grandfathers 01:48.112 --> 01:51.862 been in, had previously been in the military. 01:53.476 --> 01:56.809 You're already starting off as a family. 02:07.455 --> 02:09.122 I would have stayed. 02:09.309 --> 02:11.559 I'd still be in if I could. 02:12.782 --> 02:16.032 I loved, again, I can't tell you enough 02:16.528 --> 02:19.538 how much I truly loved being in the military 02:19.538 --> 02:20.627 and with the people 02:20.627 --> 02:23.710 and flying the missions that we flew.