I joined the Army at age 17 after graduating from Hollywood High School in 1964 with the intention of becoming an Army Aviator. The recruiter told me that with my scores on the Army tests I would have no problem getting accepted, but that there was then a one year delay before being able to join with a guarantee of going to Flight School. At that time before the Vietnam War built up, that was true. But the recruiter said there was a simple shortcut of just joining the Army with a guarantee of a different MOS, then an officer would come around to one of my basic training classes and ask who wanted to apply for OCS, Flight School, etc., and that there were many more slots for those already in the military, and I could go to Flight School right after basic training. And just like the recruiter said, a Captain entered one of my basic training classrooms and asked who wanted to apply. My hand shot up and I said that I want to apply for Flight School Sir! The Captain said: "How old are you son.” I answered, "17 Sir.” He said, "see me when your old enough to apply at 18 ½.” My world and dreams were crushed, but after Basic, and after just a few miserable days in the infantry, I was being processed in at the Admin Company when a Giant Master Sergeant with what looked like to me a million strips on his arms, pulled me into his office, sat me down, and asked me, "Son, what the HELL are you doing in the 14th Infantry! How’d you like it if I transferred you to work for me in the 25th Admin Company.” I was overjoyed, and later as I approached 18 ½ years old, I had learned enough about how the Army Admin works to apply for Flight School by myself. Finally, after completing the long arduous process, I ran into what I viewed as a major roadblock. The Division Inspector General had me report to his office and told me that he had great news for me. I excitedly asked him when I was leaving for Flight School! He said he had an even better assignment for me. I told him that there was nothing better than going to Flight School! He said that he had only one slot a year for West Point for the whole Division and he had decided to give it to me. He said I could apply to go to Flight School after 4 years at West Point. I foolishly turned that great opportunity down and told him that I wanted to go to Flight School now! He reluctantly honored my request and a few weeks later I proceeded to Flight School. I then spent 9 months in Flight School and then 3 years as an Army Aviator, which of course included a year flying helicopters in Vietnam. I flew both Slicks and Gunships around the jungles of Pleiku and Cambodia before being transferred to Saigon to live in a French Villa and fly VIPs for the 120th Aviation Company. I quickly worked my way up to the top job of flying General Westmoreland not long before my one year tour was over and was soon offered the prestigious assignment as one of the two of "Westy’s” permanent personal Aircraft Commanders. But that would have required me to volunteer to stay in Vietnam for at least one extra year. I don’t know if it was foolish or not, but I instead opted to rotate out to Europe as scheduled and later took a European discharge from active duty in 1969. In 1970 I started flying Police Helicopters for the Santa Monica Police Department and after 5 years of flying both Law Enforcement airplanes and helicopters not only for Santa Monica PD, but also on temporary assignments for the LA County Sheriffs, Inglewood Police Department, US Border Patrol, San Diego Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, and even the "CIA.” Early on when I started flying for Law Enforcement, I was offered a full-time job flying instead for the CIA in Southeast Asia. Declining that offer was the one choice I made in my life up to that point, that I am sure was not foolish! The next 4 years I spent flying in Europe, Asia, and Australia for a Dutch Air Charter company flying at first large heavy lift helicopters, and then quickly moving on to multi-engine airplanes. Next, I spent 2 years flying corporate jets internationally for an Orange County based corporation in the oil equipment business. Finally, I landed my aviation dream job flying for 25 years for Northrop Grumman Corporation, first as a line captain, but then I quickly moved up the ranks to Chief Pilot and then Aviation Department Manager. And then a few years later I was able to form up a new subsidiary corporation and became the Vice President and General Manager of Northrop Grumman Aviation Inc. Before I retired, I was responsible for a fleet of 2 dozen aircraft, half for executive transportation and half for Flight Test spread out all over the country at 9 bases with 9 Chief Pilots reporting to me. I had my choice of wonderful assignments, like flying very interesting Flight Test missions out of Edwards Air Force Base and beyond, Flying Executives and even Movie Stars on our Corporate Jets all around the world as we also obtained our own FAA Air Carrier Certificate so we could also fly private charters, also using corporate jets to lead formations of new Northrop F-5 fighters for delivery to countries all over the Middle East and Asia, etc. A very interesting and at times exciting job. I joined All American VFW Post 2323 well over 20 years ago and served as Adjutant, Senior Vice Commander, 6 consecutive terms a Commander, and numerous other positions, and I am currently serving as the Judge Advocate. I also did volunteer work as a Member of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce, Member and Board Member of the Granada Hills Rotary Club, 12 years as a publicly elected Board Member of the Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council for the City of Los Angelos where I served in the positions of Vice President, and Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. Since 2013 I have also been a Realtor at the Northridge Corporate Office for RE/MAX ONE while continuing my volunteer work for the VFW.