Lawrence Healy:  

Life It was 1969 and money for college was gone and so was my draft deferment! So I enlisted to get the GI Bill. The funny thing is I liked it so much that I decided to stay for "just a few more years". Promotions seemed to come quickly and with each one I decided to stay "just a little longer". Well, that turned into a career. Viet Nam was one of the vacation spots I got to visit. Also, about 8 years in Germany were included in the 21 years I spent in uniform. With the exception of 3 years as a Recruiter in Maine, the rest of the time was spent in the Field Artillery. I was in Germany when the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall came tumbling down. At that point I realized it was time to hang up my helmet as the military I knew was going to undergo major changes. It did! The downsizing and budget cuts almost destroyed it! Well, I retired just as troops began to deploy to the Middle East under Desert Shield in advance of Desert Storm. I was sorry to have missed that, but content at the same time. Now, my old helmet in the corner is a single reminder to me of the days past. Memories of past comrades, both living and fallen in combat, sometimes cross my mind. For all our troops, regardless of branch of service, for their parents, spouses and children I am grateful and proud to have been a part of them. Now it is 2006 and I have to consider myself a Virginian! After ret...Expand for more