Kevin VanValkenburg:
CLASS OF 1975
Lutheran South AcademyClass of 1975
Houston, TX
University of North Texas Health Science CenterClass of 1995
Ft. worth, TX
Texas Lutheran UniversityClass of 1979
Seguin, TX
Morenci High SchoolClass of 1975
Morenci, MI
Kevin's Story
I came to Houston in 1971 from Michigan after my parents divorced. I was at Lanier Jr High as a Freshman, then went to LHS South Sophomore through Senior years. I made some friends at LHS. I worked at Methodist Hospital all through high school. After LHS, I attended Texas Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University) from 1975-1979. I graduated with a BS in Chemistry. I met my wife at Texas Lutheran College and we were married in San Antonio in December 1980. I moved to Fort Worth in 1980 and worked as a Research Chemist at Alcon Laboratories from 1980 to 1991. My two kids were born in Fort Worth during this time. I was accepted at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and attended there from 1991 to 1995. From there I moved to Greenville, Michigan to go through Family Practice Residency from 1995-1998. I was able to get reaquainted with my Dad and my other relatives in that area during my three years in Michigan. My wife worked as a Hospital Social Worker both in Fort Worth and up in Michigan. We left Michigan due to significant problems with racism towards my wife and kids (they are Hispanic). We moved to Clinton, Missouri where I practiced Family Medicine from 1998-2001, doing clinic, hospital, nursing home and hospice practice which encompassed my entire time, working 16-18 hour days. For the sake of my family and my health, I joined the Air Force and started my training in September 2001. I was in Commissioned Officer Training when September 11 occurred. My first assignment was at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB in San A...Expand for more
ntonio, TX (my wife's family is in San Antonio). Since I was a Direct Accession and came in not owing anything to the Military, I was able to choose my initial assignment. I was in San Antonio from 2001-2005 and transferred to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX in 2005 to work as the SGH (Chief of Medical Staff). I am currently stationed in Del Rio and have just gone through the Aerospace Medicine Primary (AMP) Course to become a Flight Surgeon to assist in the care of our Pilots and Student Pilots. As a Flight Surgeon, I will get to fly in the training planes (T-6 and T-38). I plan to retire from the Air Force at around 64 years old. I was deployed to Iraq in 2004 to help with the medical care of out Troops over there. That was an awesome experience and an honor to serve over there. It is hard to describe the mission over there, but suffice it to say that all of our Troops need the support and prayers from everyone back in the States. My kids are working on their futures so we see them occassionally. We are currently working through the empty nest status but the kids come around enough to make it a more gradual transition. In the economy today, it is harder for kids to strike out on their own than it was for us. Rent the movie Failure to Launch and look at the Special Features where they talk about this phenomenon. My wife works with Adult Protective Services in San Antonio. Del Rio is a rather remote area, so we chose to do the two household thing for now. I am the one on Orders to Del Rio, not her. I would really like to hear from my classmates.
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