Leighton Vary:
CLASS OF 1959
Fontana High SchoolClass of 1959
Fontana, CA
Southwestern Bible CollegeClass of 1988
Phoenix, AZ
Leighton's Story
Military
I joined the Army in 1959 after graduating from FOHI. Basic training at Fort Ord, California. Station at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, to the 2nd Chemical Battalion, 46th Chemical Company, SG. Reassigned to Ladd Air Force Base, which became Fort Wainwright, Alaska, 521st Transportation Company, Lt Trk. This was near Fairbanks. 2 years there. Lots of fun, COLD, 76 below zero at the aerospace med lab on the post. Got out for 1 month. Joined the Army Security Agency and there I stayed until I retired. First assignment, USASATC&S, Fort Devens, Mass. then to the 3rd RRU Vietnam, then Vint Hill Farms Station, Virginia. Assigned to Tuslog Det 27 Turkey, then the 17th USASA Field Station, Rotwesten, Germany, back to Vietnam, 175th RR Company. Then to Fort Devens, again. Hawaii, 372nd ASA Company. Then to Arlington Hall Station, the ASA MAIT Team. From there to Fort Bliss, TX, the Sergeant's Major Academy. Then to Field Stations Augsburg, Germany. Then back to Devens from where I retired.
The greatest thing I remember is that day I was promoted to Staff Sergeant (E-6). The operations officer gave...Expand for more
me my orders at the end of the day, then I returned to my shop to be confronted by the guys there. They had made Staff Sergeant stripes that were at least 3 feet high and they had stapled them to my field jacket. I proudly wore those huge stripes out the gate to home.
That was at Vint Hill Farms Station, Warrenton Virginia in 1966, January 22nd. The day after my first child was born.
Eventually I was promoted to Sergeant Major and spent my last 2 years at Fort Devens, Mass. I then attended Southwestern Conservative Bible Collage. I now serve as Pastor of Grace Baptist Church is Julesburg, Colorado. The church is a small rural church but we sponsor the AWANA clubs. We have done this as a church for 34 years now. And we will continue until the Lord Jesus tells us to quit or He takes us HOME. I am now 75. I still head up the AWANA program and preach evey Sunday. My dear wife takes good care of me and feeds me well. My career in the Army has given me unbelievable benefits. I can't say enough good about the VA. Excellent care. I think a lot about high school these days, I guess that's a sign of getting old.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Photos
Register for Free to view all photos!