Roy Thacker:  

My story? Wow, I've never thought of it being a story, but here goes, short, concise, and to the point: 1987 Graduated Linden McKinley High School. Went to Navy Basic two days later and returned home for good, a failure, 1 month and 28 days later. Got an apartment, and worked odd jobs through the end of the year, and into the end of the next: Sears, JC Penney, Lazarus, Kroger (x2), Big Bear (x2), Cub Foods, Meijer. 1988 Same as above (jobs), met a few girls, made a few friends, roomed with Bill Wright and Greg Akers, met a few more girls, and recognized the futility of my position. Signed to join the Army in November. 1989 Reported to Army Basic 5 January, and began a long journey. Met a few girls, finished Advanced Individual Training (where I had met a few girls) for Electronic Maintenance Technician, and went to live in Bamberg, Germany. The Cold War ended while I was there. Got promoted from PVT thru PFC. 1990 Went home on leave in April, returned with my pockets a little emptier, but I had met a few girls. Met a Swiss girl, and then went to war on 16 December. Got promoted to SPC. 1991 Found myself in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Later came back a little wiser and mature for what I had been through, seen, and experienced. Re-met the Swiss, a German, and waited to see the American girls (I love you OH (and Northland Mall)). Changed duty assignments, and arrived at Colorado Springs, CO in August. Electronic maintenance repairer. 1992 I met a girl. 1993 I made the mistake of marrying the girl, and was provided the start of a joy (being facetious) that would last through the next eight and a half years. Got promoted to SGT. Did duties as battalion reenlistment NCO. 1994 Hell = wife (see above). I had a change of duty assignment, and began to live in Vicenza, Italy for the next three years. Electronics maintenance repairer. My daughter, Erica, was born in November. Beautiful. Still couldn't make up for the person that was her mother. I finished my Associat...Expand for more