Paul Mervin Smith:  

I joined the United States Navy, March 15, 1961. Was home on boot leave when I graduated from Central High School. I made a career out of the Navy, and was a Hospital Corpsman. I attended many specialty schools. The 1st specialty school was; Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat. I then went to the Naval Hospital, Beaufort. S.C. I supervised the clinic, and assisted the Drs in surgery. I was an E-3, had 2 guys working for me, they both was higher rated than I, but I was their boss, because I was the Technician. From there, I went to the Navy's SEAR's School, commonly called Survival School, then headed off for Viet Nam where I spent 1 year and survived without injury. Next came onboard ship duty, I was given orders to theUSS Praire AD-15, A cruiser tender. Then I went to Naval Air Station, Pautuxent River, Md. I was the EENT Clinic Supervisor. I left there and attended the Navy's Optician School and received orders to Naval Regional Medical Center, Long Beach, Ca. I was again the EENT Clinic Supervisor, as well as the Optician. My second daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes while I was stationed there. The Navy wanted me to go back to sea, the Dr's told the Navy I couldn't, because of my daughter's health, so the Navy game me a "Hardship" discharge and said come back when my daughter is under cotrol. I returned to Fort Wayne, got a job as Assistant Store Manager, Longe Optical on North Anthony. I was there for 4 years, then went back in to the Navy, my first set of orders were to Advanced Hospitalman's School, commonly referred to as Independent Duty School. Where Corpsmen are trained to go to commands without doctor's and serve as the doctor. The school is associated with the George Washington Scool ...Expand for more