Mark Arnold:
CLASS OF 1982
North Sunflower AcademyClass of 1982
Drew, MS
Drew High SchoolClass of 1982
Drew, MS
Alconbury Elementary SchoolClass of 1982
Alconbury,
Alconbury High SchoolClass of 1982
Alconbury,
Pineville Junior High SchoolClass of 1982
Pineville, LA
Mark's Story
Life
Short biography:
This starts after Alconbury Jr. High at RAF Alconbury England.
After leaving England and flying back to the states I wound back up in Louisiana at England AFB of all places. I dont remember much there, had a couple of friends but that was it. I went to 8th grade JR High at Pineville and Alexandria. Go figure 1 year 2 schools, story of my school years as a military brat. I played volley ball and soccer there. Go figure I was pretty good at soccer after leaving England since soccer was really new in America and I played almost nonstop for 2 years in England. Upon completing my year there I finally went back to Mississippi with my Dad in Drew, MS. I did 9th 10th and some of 11th grade at Drew High until I went to North Sunflower Academy, still in Drew/Ruleville MS. Mainly for a crush on a girl named Amy. I graduated about mid class, as I was a rebel without a cause so to speak, a peg out of place in a world that I once used to travel. I observed a lot, never part of the major crowd, but friends with all, something I learned in my Air Force brat days and still friend with some there. In High school of both I played baseball and was pretty good, a lot better than average. Very sporty guy so to speak. I never got into the football thing, even though I loved to play roughneck football
just a bunch a guys playing no holds barred. Got damaged several times but loved it and was really good at that too.
While I was going to school I started my second job as a stocker at Sunflower Grocery store and did that for 3 years. Oh forgot, my first was working with my Uncle and Dad on a saw mill, cutting Cypress trees out of a swamp and fending off snakes, oh what fun. Want your kids to quit complaining about hard work put them through that for a summer. That was one of the toughest things I have ever done. That and working on a concrete crew for 2 weeks while on leave during my military days. (later in this.)
I graduated i...Expand for more
n 1982 and pretty much did the same things as I was doing with more time. While I was working for the grocery store, one of my friends said he was going to talk to a Navy recruiter for a bit and would be back. Pretty much said I am going with you and ended up signing up under the delayed entry program. 6 months later I was on a bus to Memphis and flight out to San Diego for boot camp. I arrived and finally got to bed in my bunk at about 1 am to be woken up by a metal trash can thrown down the middle of the barracks at about 4 or 5 am. Oh sh!t what did I get into
I completed boot camp and off to Pensacola for 4 weeks in Aircrew Candidate School. Had to swim a mile the 2nd week there. Took me an hour and 3 min. Dont believe I will ever forget that. Basically, run swim, run swim, and run swim with a bit of class work. Needless to say I was in better shape than 97% of the country at that time. Not any more, haha.
Next was Memphis for A school to be and AW
(Aviation Anti-submarine Warfare Operator). Aka, track Soviet subs during the cold war. Super cool job that I loved. Cat and Mouse to the extreme. Better than bungee jumping
.
Ok, next was Naval Air Station, Jacksonville Florida to C school. Learning all the equipment in the plane (P3) and learning what to expect flying. Very intense training and serious which I wasnt so I got into a lot of trouble
go figure. However they woke me up and I finished school with orders in hand to the USS EISENHOWER (CVN-69) and another school in Damneck VA and Norfolk VA. I Played softball for the command there were I ended up blowing out my knee and was side lined for a couple months. I competed school and went off to the Eisenhower, oh by the way this was a Super Carrier
Awesome in sight and magnificent underway.. Its amazing how every thing works. I worked in Admirals country so it was really cool for a little E3 at the time. Ok, ran out of room. Will have to finish in my web when I get time.
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