Stephen Stafford:
CLASS OF 1967
Nashua High SchoolClass of 1967
Nashua, NH
Hollis Area High SchoolClass of 1967
Hollis, NH
Stephen's Story
Life
If you were wondering what happened to me, I ran off and joined the US Army in 1966. Contrary to popular opinion I did not die in Vietnam. I did see the world though, and spent 25 years living and working for Army intelligence, the NSA, FBIS, Voice of America, ASA, and various other Agencies and friendly Governments. I lived in 11 countries and pretty much had an exciting time fighting the Cold War.
My lovely Japanese wife was kidnapped by 3 men in 1981. They were caught and all went to prison. I raised my sons on my own pretty much. I retired from the Military/ Government in 1992 and now live in Kansas. I met and married a wonderful English woman, Virginia. Though a bit younger than me she is perfect in every way. Life is just great. I have 2 wonderful sons 24 and 26 one in the military. I also have a beautiful daughter 12, Yes I made another and am starting all over again raising kids.
I went to school at Ft Bragg NC, Ft Dix, NJ, Shepard AFB TX, and Navy CB school at Gulf Port MS. I then went to Ft Huachuca Az. From there I would go work for various Agencies in Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Marshall islands, Panama, Japan, Germany, Ethiopia, Puerto Rico, the Pescadories, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Honduras, Italy, Hawaii.
I became "All Army Artist" in a world wide competition with DOD and military Artist in 1985 and also "All Japan" in another competition.
My most scary experiences in the military were:
1. being mortared in Thailand by Thai Communist.
2. The feeling of ever present fear and doom in Cambodia as the Khmer Rouge moved closer and closer and the shame at leaving.
3. Being trapped in Tainan, Taiwan 350 miles from the American Compound when the Taiwanese began rioting after President Carter betrayed them for the Communist. I went to sleep in a country that loved me and woke up in a country that hated me. I was rescued by a kind Taiwanese Taxi driver as I was running down a street dodging s...Expand for more
tones from an angry crowd of Taiwanese. My forever thanks to that man.
Most fun times:
Japan was home. Germany was a drunk. Thailand made a grown man humble, Italy was long beautiful legs, Taiwan was Susie Wong with fire crackers.
But a most memorable incident that happened was the snow ball fight we started with a single snow ball tossed by a couple of school kids in Korea. Every morning for a month the battle would escalate as we walked past the Korean elementary school on the way to our job site. We won of course every time. However on our last day in the Village 5 little boys lured us into an open area as we chased them around a corner flinging snowballs. Suddenly the entire school came out of hiding and ambushed us as hundreds of snowballs descended down upon us. Picture 10 soldiers covered in the snow begging for mercy from a hundred and fifty screaming and laughing 6,7,8 and 9 year olds intent on burying us alive in snow. It was Custer's last stand.
Then there was the time in a far off Asian country when VD. Harrison`s girl friend burned his clothes in the street. She poured gasoline on his piled up clothes as she screamed through a bull horn to tell the neighborhood of all his bad deeds and infidelity. The crowd and us loved it and cheered each time something else would fly out the window to be added to the fire in the street. It was quite a celebration and very entertaining.
My most honored time was when I was told by an African man that "America was God`s gift to the World and it is only through America that people are freed".
Another time and place when an Asian farmer insisted in honoring us by inviting us all into his house even though his 10 x 10 hut had no room for 12 men, his wife, himself, and 3 children. But he managed to physically push and pry us all into his home so he could give us a toast all around of a white flammable liquid in a language we didn`t understand. We did understand his heart.
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