Richard Peirson:  

After High School I enlisted in the Air Force. After basic training I was sent to missile tech school and then to Vandenberg AFB California. .. That was a tough school, after which I was sent to the Cape in Florida for 9 months for Launch Control school. That was great duty. I was unaware at the time, that I was in-fact living part of history being involved in space exploration and the development of rocket power. I spent 4 additional years in the Air Force and during that time was injured on one of the Atlas ICBM launch complexes at Vandenberg AFB. I recovered with a slight disability but that did not slow my desire to get my pilots license with the base Aero club.. When it was time to reenlist I was cautioned to consider my decision as my disability, regardless of how minor may slow my advancement in rank. I had wanted to make the Air Force my career. At that point I returned to civilian life in Philadelphia. When one door is closed usually another will open. I went to work for several engineering firms, however, they were office (confining/boring) 9 - 5 positions. An acquaintance of mine contacted me and asked if I would be interested going to work as a Safety Engineer for an insurance company. I interview for the position and was hired. That is the career field I have been in from that time on. During that same time period I met and married Joan, the present lady and soul mate I still live with. We ha...Expand for more