Angelo Degree:
CLASS OF 1975
Dobbins-Randolph Vocational Technical SchoolClass of 1975
Philadelphia, PA
Angelo's Story
My Biography
My name is, Angelo B. Degree, Sr.
I was born in a large but typical family for the area in Philadelphia, Pa. in the year of our Lord 09/17/1956. In my youth, my life was impoverished and hard but even from an early age I was somewhat of an odd-ball or someone who seem to lean towards the none stereotypical. When my friends were out in the playgrounds, I was trying to find some way to help my mom and siblings eat and so forth. I can say my lifeâsâ experiences really began at age (14). The Schools in Philly were over crowded and we were scheduled classes in shift; mornings and afternoons. I was in the 7th grade morning shift and had to attend Thomas Fitzsimons Junior High School in the afternoon in North Philly while living in South Philly. In addition, I was somewhat artistically gifted and was offered the opportunity to participate in a volunteer program for young people whom wanted to learn a trade. I thought this was great and jumped in head first. Little did I know that this would be the foundation of my career as a traditional Machinist then on to becoming a Tool & Die Maker Machinist working in one of only two companies in the United States at that time fabricating state of the art Electrolytic Tooling Machines for Prominent Industrial Companies and Military Contracts for such items as (Hold-Backs) that catapult Jets and other aircraft off Aircraft Carriers. I was even offered the opportunity to attend an art school for gifted youth! However, the art of Machining won out and that has made me feel as though I had a connection to all things and those feelings still survives.
My childhood was something that I really did not want to spend much time in; I wanted to be an adult as soon as possible. However, this thinking in hindsight has had its drawbacks. I thought I knew it all as I guest most teens do. As for the result of a quirk to get out of school early for a day I volunteered to take a test to see if I would qualify to be accepted enrollment into what would be a privileged to attend one of the top ranking high schools in the United States at that time, Murrell Dobbins Vocational Technical High School Phila, PA. I Graduated Matriculating in (Numerical Control) Computer Assisted Tool and Die.
After High School, I was married at age (19) to my wife of (18) and it quickly fell apart and I ran for safe haven and a new start at life in The United States Navy. During the first two years in the Navy my wife and I gave it another shot and it ended more badly then the first time. But, I thank God that that never made me turned my back on my children. The skills I had learned as a Machinist Apprentice at (E.P.P.I.) Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and Everite Machine Product Co. Phila. PA. Tool & Die Maker carried me on into my Military Experience as a Machinery Repairman, Fire Fighter and Armed Military Security Personnel from 10/76 until (Honorably Discharged) 02/81.
Nineteen Eighty One was not a good year for my family and me. My younger brother Robert Wayne Degree, Video Engineer at channel (10) WUSA and David Lettermanâs Camera Man when he was a Weatherman in Lake Placid. Was brutally murdered after walking his girlfriend to the bus stop and returning home to his son? A large part of me died along with him and the wound still bleeds. In fact the pain was so great that when I became a Paraplegic on the night of Monday October 12, 1981. When I was shot in the back first and then in the head; while going to the store to get a pack of cigarettes. Wow, what a change; one minute Iâm walking to the store and the next Iâm bleeding to death on the ground waiting to die. By the grace of God I was given my new life and for the next (12) years I went on as if I was not handicapped. I moved from Philly to Virginia Beach to live with my oldest brother; (CW-04) Willie E. McMillan, Jr. Who once was the highest ranking (CW-04) in the navy. All of us have always been very proud of his accomplishments.
After a brief period of living in Virginia Beach with my Mom and older brother, I went to the Independent Center of Tidewater and then became a volunteer. I would attend and represent the Center at Budget Hearing and City Council meeting to ask for funding and I always got the money. The Quadriplegic that was my friend during that time and mentor is now the Director and President of (ILCT). I was afterwards encouraged to enroll in The Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, School of Drafting. Fishersville, Va. I Completed 16 month course, training in all areas of Hands on Mechanical Drafting. Which was much like Machining to me, the only difference was that my cutting tools were now (A Drafting Table and Drafting Tools) in addition to my entry into the world of wheelchair sports of which I am much thankful. I had my passion back for awhile and I was on fire to say the least.
When I came back to Philly I enrolled into The American Veterans Multi-Service Center School of Computer Literacy. This was when we used (Word 5.0, dBase 3& 4, (Lotos 1 2 3) and the unforgettable 4" inch Floppy Disk). After which, a short time later I enrolled and completed courses at The University of Pennsylvania Veterans Upward Bound Program, Phila. PA. (Matriculating in Computer Sciences, Trigonometry, Geometry, Physics and Humanity Sciences). This was one of the most proud moments in my life, to attend an Ivy League College and the first one in my family to do so. After which, I had planned enrollment into Drexel College of Engineering, to get a (Bachelorsâ and Masters in Engineering) I paid my entry fee and was about to move on with my life and it went obli...Expand for more
que. Murphyâsâ Law had laid itsâ hands on me. As I never really had any extensive training on how to live as a Paraplegic; I notice a bruise on the base of my spine from pushing a wheelchair around the (U of P) campus. I didnât know what it was so I went to the Veterans Hospital on Woodland Ave. near the (U of Pa). It was a Decubitus Ulcers, something I never even heard of was about to change my future in ways I could not have had imagined.
Now to make matters worse, my oldest sister Janie May McMillan a boutique woman whom we called (Tina Baby) died after losing a battle with cancer caused by a beating from her insane husband at that time. She had devoted her life towards taking care of special needs children and made great progress. Now as if I thought it could not get any worse, my second younger brother Darrell Degree was murdered before Janie could pass away from her cancer and two weeks later she passed. I became very depressed, and began to lean toward hanging in the streets and numbing my pains with whatever; even to the point of wishing my turn to die would come sooner then later.
The summer of Ninety Three was when I was sent to the Bronx, VAMC by the Philadelphia, VAMC to get treatment for the ulcer. I was in the hospital for (14) months and saw veterans with all sorts of injuries, (Quadriplegics, Paraplegics and all Sorts of Traumas). Yes, war is hell I thought, until I began to see the true meanings of the words (Strength, Courage, Humility and Faith). However, I also learned the important of family and friends support in recovery from injuries such as mine and others more challenged then me.
New York, NY was a wild and wonderful place to live if you could stay away from some of the traps that city has to undermine. So, Iâll just say it was a roller coaster ride of thoughts, feelings and emotions, achievements and setbacks. I became a member of the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association and got to see (Broadway, The Meadow lands, all of the lime lights the city that never sleeps has to offer. I even met a wonderful man named Mr. Jerry Barber whom helped me become a whole man and believer in myself again. I got to travel from East Coast to West Coast from North to South and places in between; win medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze) ribbons from 1st place blue, 2nd place red and times at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games even when I finished dead last; I still felt great just to be a part of life again. I was winning the hearts of most all that I came into contact with. My images in PN-News, my stories in the New York Times, Yonkers News Journal, Washington, Post News Paper and Fox 5 New Yorker of the Month. I met a wonderful woman whom I thought I would marry. I even made another attempt at college by enrolling in the Westchester Community College endeavoring for a Degree in Engineering and then I had skin break down again. Nevertheless, I survived.
There were times when I felt that I was all was lost and I had no reason to live; until about (10) years ago when I relocated to Maryland because my mom had lung cancer and it was not a sure thing that she would live. But she did and much more, MOM Blanche showed us what faith can do when applied. She did very well until about (4) years ago when she died at the blessed age of Ninety-One; Praise God! Watching, listening and obeying Moms and Gods ways and words had brought me back to life again. In her final days of life, I found life and purpose.
At present, I am assigned to The Directors Office under Patient Advocates Services. My (PD) is Information Receptionist, Administrative and Patient Advocates Assistant to the Directors Office Staff. I Provides information and assists in problem-solving about VHA its functions, activities, and personnel. When indicated or requested, I accompany the veterans to appropriate offices and services to ensure the highest quality of service we can provide individuals getting to and from the offices and services they need and is introduced to the appropriate staff in that area that will be providing the services to the veterans.
v Responsible for assisting the Patient Advocates documenting, mediating and resolving all questions, concerns and issues that may arise during a patientâs visit to the facility.
v Responsible for conducting Inpatient and Outpatient surveys with the TruthPoint System aimed at improving the quality of service provided by clinical staff.
v Responsible for obtaining customer feedback by inquiring veterans and visitors as they leave the medical facility about their experiences and assessing if their needs have been met, and if not, then further follow up when it is necessary, which may include assisting the individual in obtaining the necessary information or directing the individual to the appropriate VA employee or service to be completed.
v Responsible for entering data into the Patient Advocates Tracking System (PATS) and obtaining information using computer (SOP) Standard Operating Programs such as VISTA, Outlook and the Internet.
v Responsible for answering patientsâ questions concerning services, providing appropriate pamphlets or written information when available.
v Providing information and assistance regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the regular operations of the organization, including its functions, activities and personnel.
v Responsible for meeting, greeting and escorting V.I.P.âs and Dignitaries to and from their clinical appointments and meetings with executive leadership, as well as assisting them in scheduling their clinical appointments and pharmaceutical pick-ups.
Mr. Angelo B. Degree, Sr.
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