Bill Gile:  

WHS was a great school to go to. I hopefully made a few friends while there because I went to school with an awesome crowd of people. I have some many great memories and true a few sad ones as well. Did some really crazy things and had a few wild times from my freshman to my senior year. Had some really great teachers and some that just scare the baajesus old of me - Mr Rowland. Served in the US Army from June 30, 1967 to June 1970. Sent a year overseas in RVN with the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sep). After the Army went to work for the US Post Office and worked there for 31 1/2 years until Medically Retired. Married my Lovely wife Kathy, have 3 daughter (one still born) and have 2 grandchildren Philly & Sunny now of Oklahoma. Am and have been enjoying the retired and the road trips to my Military Reunions. Have been across this Country 7 times in the last twelve years. Went to Australia once in 1991 and again in 2005, and just loved it downunder in Oz. Following is something like a timeline for me after graduation: Military I entered the US Army June 30th 1967 just 15 days after graduating. I took Basic Training at Fort Lewis, Washington. Then on down to Fort Gordon, Georgia for AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) were I was trained as an 11C (81 MM Mortars - indirect fire) with additional training in weapons and a basic course in EOD (explosives ordinances and demolition) . After that I went to Fort Benning, Georgia and spent three weeks in intense training at the Army's Airborne School and after I graduated as Paratrooper in Dec '67 I return home for Christmas leave. While at Jump School and 61 of us paratroopers took the test for Special Forces, which only 9 of us passed. I reported to Fort Bragg, NC to Special Forces Training Group at JFK Special Warfare Center (Green Beret). I spent 6 months there and went through 1st phase field training exercise but instead of finishing I volunteered for Vietnam and this was done to keep my brother, Bob, from going. I was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sep) and sent to Bao Loc to join my unit, Charlie Company 3/503rd, 173rd Airborne Brigade in June 1968. Then about halfway through my tour in the jungle I was given a MOS (job) change, I went from a 11C1P (grunt) to a 64B2P (truck driver). I was then assigned to Charlie Company Support Battalion with the Airborne Express both An Khe and Bong Song and drove convoys between them. I drove 2 1/2 ton tactical truck till I took over driving lead convoy jeep right up almost to my D.E.R.O.S. (date eligible return over sea, duty) June 1969. After I DEROS from Vietnam, I was assigned to Fort Jackson, SC where I spent the last year of my Military service. I spent it as a Convoy Commander in the convoy section hauling trainees around to different training courses there on and off the base. I did some traveling along the East Coast and around the Carolinas. I really liked being back there it was a lot of fun and the barbecue pits (restaurants) served some mean BBQ. I seperated (ETS) from the Service at the end of June 1970 and returned home. I always wanted to be a Soldier when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a dumb idea. As it turns out, they were wrong, I loved the three years I served on Active Duty as an RA (regular Army) which means I enlisted.. Af...Expand for more