Joseph Kleinsmith:  

Life: Attended West Valley College for a year after HS. Enlisted in the Army July 1971. Married Debra Cramer (Class of 71) in 72. Had 2 children. Got a Dear John and a phone call to back it up while overseas. Could not afford her boyfriends and got myself unmarried in July 83. Attained my college degree while serving in the military from Columbia University. Traveled to Korea, Turkey, Holland, Austria, Germany, Canada, Greece, Israel, Italy, London, & Paris. Retired as Sergeant First Class E-7 following Desert Storm in Oct 91 with 20 years active military service. Settled in Santa Cruz, CA for 20 years with the sun, the sand and a drink in my hand. After another 20 years, in 2011 I began traveling all over the US in a RV with my Harley in the back. I'm single, exploring the USA, enjoying life and hopeful in finding that special woman. Always willing to try new things and get the blood pumping. I have ridden dirt bikes, hunted in Europe, Trap shooting, SCUBA, rappelling, para sailing, riding in ultra lights, and bungie jumping (head first). Haven't jumped out of a perfectly good airplane yet by did I-Fly . Did my volunteer part in the community, I am a Past All State Cmdr of VFW Post 1716, Retired Captain of VFW Honor Guard, member of Elks Lodge and Past Chairman of Drug Awarness and Americanism. Member of Santa Cruz Harley Riders and American Legion. Hobbies include RVing, fishing and riding my Harley Davidson. Family: Dad passed away in 02 and mom in 2010.. My two children are Audrey & Shawn. Both were born in an Army hospital making them official Army brats. They are great kids and successfull. Both excelled in Scouting, Audrey got her Gold and Shawn his Eagle Merit Badge. Never a problem with the law, drugs or liquor. Audrey is a graduate of Cornell and Shawn of San Jose State. Both are happily married. Audrey lives in VA with husband David and 3 sons. Shawn resides in northern, California with wife Cheryl and my grandson DJ,. I am very happy and excited about that. I am a believer of God, family values and assuming personal responsibility. I was a volunteer Asst Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America for over 8 years. Guided and helped many boys attain their Eagle Scout Merit Badge. College: Enrolled in West Valley Jr College after HS and majored in Architecture. Working full time and college studies took its toll and with the Vietnam War still going on, I chose to enlist in the military. After being rejected by the Navy because of my DMV record; too many speeding tickets, [for real], I enlisted in the Army in July 71. I attended Servicemen's Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and attained my degree from Columbia University. Attended college in/at Monterey (MPC), Treasure Island (Columbia University), Turkey (University of Maryland). I also furthered my education thru Military Correspondence Courses in various subjects. Military: I served 20 years active duty in the Army and had a Guardian Angel watching over me as I never got really hurt. My cousin was already killed in Vietnam before I enlisted. If the Navy would of taken me I would of been on a swift boat patrolling the deltas of Vietnam. They refused to accept me because I had too many speeding tickets. Honest! My experiences of the military are numerous and lengthy. I joined the Army to see the world with my eyes wide open and had the test scores to select any school speciality. I turned down the offer of training in many job skills including EOD, Artillery, MP, Medic, Finance, Chaplain Asst, Combat Engr, Mechanic, Transportation, cook, and others. I preferred not to dismantle bombs, loose my hearing, get into fights, to be around sick people, be responsible for money, operate a tractor while being a target, or have a job that required me to get up extra early. I wanted my weekends and holidays off, and I was tired of busting my knuckles on engines, and did not care to be a target, so I chose the Adjutant General Corps. I took my physical and oath at Oakland and was ready to begin seeing the world. I boarded a Greyhound for Ft Ord. There I had basic Training w/2 man room, Leadership Training, Admin School as Acting Corporal w/2 man room and my car in the parking lot. (Tuff duty, huh.) I applied for Airborne Jump School and took the physical and personnel lost the paperwork. [fate or my angel ?] After graduation from AG school I received orders for Thailand which were cancelled because I refused to take Christmas Leave. Why take leave when I was 60 miles from home and had my car on the base. I joined the military to get out of CA. So they attached me to an Admin Company on Fort Ord and later assigned to Fort Ord. Graduated Instruc...Expand for more