Donald Dunning:  

After I graduated, I went into the Navy and became the lead trumpet for the United States Navy Band in Washington D.C. While there, I was in the honor guard for President Kennedy. I played with some big named people, Herb Alpert, Joe Morello, and Woody Herman. Woody Herman wanted me to go with his band after I finished my military service but by that time, I had a wife (Bonnie) and a daughter. After a year in Washington D.C. I transferred to a fleet band so I could see some of the world. I thought I practiced quite a bit while stationed with the Navy band but when I went to the fleet band, it was 8 to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I was stationed in Norfolk, VA, with ComCruDesFlot 4. I worked for Admiral Sarver, who was in charge of the Gemini Space Program. I did quite a job with that program besides being with the Band. While in Norfolk, we were put in the honor guard for General Douglas MacArthur. We also backed up Anita Bryant in North Carolina. I had a good career. Even made it to Viet Nam but only for 28 days, 2 days short for my combat badge. Having a wife and a child was no life with Woody Herman as we would have been on the road for about 11 months a year. I ended up in Howell, MI, working for the City Police and working for the Michigan Department of Corrections. I knew if I wanted to make anything of myself I would have to go to school so because of our location, I went to Michigan State full time and worked both of ...Expand for more