Thomas Cannon:  

Hi Panthers! First to be honest, I wish I had attended Eastbrook High School rather than three years I spent at Bennett High School. I was never liberal, not into sports except basked ball, and track, loved "muscle cars and motorcycles". I love music and the oldies are still some of the best sounds around. I was voted as one of the worst 10 Juniors at Bennett High. I guess it was all those books I checked out as "Chuck Roast". I was never in any "click" there, at Eastbrook, I know now that would not have been the case at Eastbrook. Looking back, which is always 20/20, I cannot think of anybody I did not like. All the students were very accepting, friendly, and easy to get along. The one thing about being a senior is that I knew at the end of the year, I was on my own, no more home, I had to make my way in the world. In the mean time, I consider myself truly "blessed" with the friends I made. Bart Stanger was my best friend, now he moved on to that big home room in the sky. There was one girl that I consider my "first real girlfriend" Kay Heeter. My sun rose and set on her blue eyes, beauty, you know all of those things you feel about the first real of your life! She could do no wrong in my eyes. Although it has been 45 years I will always value the time I spent with her, one day I hope to tell her in person.. As graduation drew closer, I had to make some serious life changing decisions. It was a lot like when I got my first tattoo. Finally, I realized that it was up to me and no one could help. Vietnam was still hot (fighting) but I had but one choice, enlist in the Marine Corps. One day when I took my mom into town, I went over the recruiters officers office down stars in the post office. The only recruiter that was there was the one from the Marine Corps. He asked if he could help, I said yes, and on Sunday, I caught a buss to Indy for the AFEES center in Indy. I was 18 then, and my dad gave me such a cussing that it could be matched by the drill instructors I had at MCRD. the thing about not being able to wait till I came home in a box was a bit over the top. There were many things that I wanted to explain to Kay about the decision I made. It was a long range goal. I realized that if I did not get into a trade school or college my future life with Kay would not be possible. Since my dad would not take me to the bus station, the Marine Corps recruiter took me to the bus station and my adult life began with my dad still emptying his reserve of curses in the background. Which still can be heard floating of the woods and planted fields over the country side. I caught a flight to L.A. and then another to San Diego. A bus came to the airport to pick us up. We got to MCRD about 2 in the morning. I remember all the cussing, the yellow foot prints, the hair cut, uniforms, and sending my civilian cloths back home, then hitting the "rack" about 4:00 am. For those who do not understand the Corps, it is a lot like brain washing. For eight weeks I learned the "basics" of the transition from a human being into a Marine which are two entirely different things. After graduation, I was sent to Camp Pendleton for infantry training (every Marine is a basic rifleman). Fired everything from .50 caliber machine gun, the LAW, 3.5 rocket launcher, and we humped (marched ) from place to place. Ate a lot of C-rations which were not as bad as people make it out to be. The high points during this time were the letters that I received from Kay, Linda (my sister) and mom. Looking back, when I got a letter from Kay, I made a ceremony of it. I got a canteen of water, took off my cover (hat) and found the most quiet place I could to read it. I remember smelling her letters and carefully opening it. Some times God sends you someone when you need help. God sent me Kay. I was 18 when I enlisted and I was to turn 19 when I got my WESPAC (Western Pacific) orders. There are a lot of stages you go through when you are facing the violent end of your life. I believed that I was the most dangerous thing on two legs. Finally, after having the hell scared out of me. I accepted my lot I life and as crazy as it sounds, looked forward to going. In a quiet sort of way I lost most of my humanity which would have been a problem when you are trying to kill other humans. Only Kay, Linda, and mom kept a line of humanity coming to me. In 70' my orders for Vietnam were canceled and I was ordered to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No TV, no radio, no ...Expand for more