My Life Would Have Been Different If I Had Done This Sooner

Back Story

Every self-help book or article that I have ever read, and I read plenty, begins with define what you want and set goals. I’m 71 years old now and I’ve never set a goal.

I’ve always been “smart” and “capable” with varied interests and good at everything I attempted. I was good in high school but bored. I joined the Army during the height of the Viet Nam war. I went to clerk school and was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas.

I got promotions quickly but I was bored there also. Volunteered for Viet Nam duty and was sent overseas. I work at a Corps headquarters in Awards and Decorations, and there were a lot of them. I rose quickly and was soon in charge of the section.

It was an easy sort of “wild west” kind of life. There were travel perks, both in and out of the country. I extended my tour for six months to do some more traveling.

I thought I wanted to become an officer and had command support so I was preparing to apply. About this time the Army had a program that if you had less than six months remaining on your enlistment at the end of your tour, you would be released from active duty. That was my situation. I chucked all my plans and got out of the Army.