David Fettkether:
CLASS OF 1982
Murray Middle SchoolClass of 1982
Ridgecrest, CA
New Mexico Military Institute High SchoolClass of 1985
Roswell, NM
Burroughs High SchoolClass of 1985
Ridgecrest, CA
Groves Elementary SchoolClass of 1978
Ridgecrest, CA
Vieweg Elementary SchoolClass of 1973
Ridgecrest, CA
David's Story
Life
2 sons with a prior marriage, remarried happily have 1 son. Also, 2 dogs, 1 cat and fish. Since the Army has kept me in the south for so long, I haven't been snow skiing that often, but my wife and I did get certified for scuba diving. We have just returned to the south after a 2.5 year excursion in Vancouver WA which my wife was leary of at first but ended up loving the west coast. I have become a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer/Instructor and plan to use that for hopeful career potential after retirement.
School
I left Burroughs my senior year to attend NMMI where my friend from childhood had gone. I will never regret the decision, but I did miss walking in R/C with the classmates I grew up with. I did enjoy my "RAT" year at NMMI, another experience I wouldn't pass up, even the smoke session Robert Loverin and I received for going through the little Sally Port. Both schools did quite a bit for me in shaping what I am today, though NMMI prepared me more for the career choice I entered.
College
College at NMMI. Let's see. I didn't concentrate enough on my school work due to many distractors: dating, the school, dating, other activities and dating. I made mistakes during those years, but do not regret them, since I also made advances in my life. I do wish I had studied more, or at least attended class more, but such is life. Hindsight is 20/20.
Workplace
My work is basically covered by the military column.
Military
I have enjoyed my military experience so far (all 20 years of it), and continue to pursue to retirement. I had to give up the airborne infant...Expand for more
ry due to a herniated disc in my neck which resulted in a plate, so I am finishing my tour in recruiting. A different path from what I had originally chosen, but definatly challenging.
My first tour after completing infantry basic and airborne school was 1-505 PIR 82nd Airborne and Desert Shield and Storm. Thrust immediatly into the unit preparing for the conflict, I had to learn fast. Upon returning to Bragg, I went to the S-2 shop where I enjoyed my time and learned about the other sides of the Army. I went to Korea in 1994-95 where I was stationed with the JSA scout platoon "Scouts Out". There, I experienced some of the closest cameraderie I have ever been a part of. It was 1 of the major highlights in my career and life. I returned to Bragg in 95 to be assigned to 1/325 AIR and deploy to Haiti (where I ran into Slade again, one of my soldiers from Korea). I spent the rest of the time with that unit until 1997 when DA selected me to go recruit. That was a VERY trying time for me in the beginning, everything the opposite of what I learned in the infantry. Just as I was counting the days to my return (I was under 100) a Dr. informed me that my neck and back problems probably would require surgery. Realizing that I probably wouldn't be allowed back to the Airborne Infantry (I was right) I decided that I love the Army and what it stands for too much to leave. So I converted. My experiences thus far have been continuing to adapt to a non-infantry life, but it is happening, slowly but surely. While I have hit the 20 year mark, I have decided to spend a few more in the Army.
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