David Bilyeu:  

Life Shortly after I graduated from Lakeview, I went off to Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego. I had joined the Corps in Jan 73. After graduation I was sent to Camp Johnson, NC, for Cook's Basic School, then was stationed at MCB Quantico, Va. After spending about 8 mos. there I requested orders to Okinawa, Japan where I ended up with my first tour with the Airwing. I went on float during the evacuation of Vietnam & Cambodia with Heavy Marine Helicopters, HMH 462, where we evac-ed the embassies in Phomn Phen and Saigon. Then I was came back to the states, stationed at 29 Palms, CA. I re-enlisted and got orders to Washington, DC, (Henderson Hall, HQMC), where I worked at the Pentagon cooking in the Chairman' of the Joint Chief of Staff dining room. Spent 2 yrs there then requested orders back to Okinawa, this time with 3rd Marine Division, Camp Courtney, working for the Commanding General's Messhall. After being promoted to SSgt(E-6), I went down the hill to the Enlisted Messhall for the remaining 5 mos of my 1 yr tour. Then got stationed at MCLB Barstow, CA for 2 yrs. While I was there, I learned how to parachute (made 4 jumps) spent alot of time in the desert camping on weekends and re-enlisted to get back to the East Coast, got re-stationed at Quantico, VA. Spent 4 yrs there and request orders for my final tour to Okinawa, this time with 3rd Fleet Marine Forces attached with the 1st Track Battalion. They have the tanks and amphibious vehicles. Got to spend sometime test driving them and playing in the ocean. Then it was time for me to come home and got stationed in Beaufort, SC. Spent my last 8 yrs in the Marine Corp...Expand for more