William Penkava:  

Life I was born in Chicago and grew up in Northlake, where I graduated from Roy School. While at Leyden, I was a member of the wrestling team that went undefeated for more than two years and won the state championship my senior year. Upon graduation, my family moved to Madeira Beach, Florida (on the Gulf of Mexico, near St. Petersburg). After graduation from Florida State University (BS, Industrial management), I entered the Army to complete my active duty training requirements. I was trained as a medic, spending the next few years as a sergeant and the squad leader of a post-operative medical section. In early 1968, my Florida Army National Guard unit (35th MASH) was recalled to active duty. Initially, I worked in the emergency room at Martin Army Hospital and later was assigned to the administrative staff to work on a hospital information system. In late 1968, I got orders to go to Vietnam as a replacement medic. I was re-assigned at the replac...Expand for more