M(elvin) Andrew Hulse:  

I always said being on a fire support base was more dangerous that being with the infantry in the boonies). I proved that when I was wounded by mortar fire during a major ground attack by some folks who didn't like us at that particular fire support base. I was medivaced incountry, then to Japan, and finally back to Walter Reed). It was while at Walter Reed, I got the opportunity to go back to the Citadel as a veteran student. I was still in the Army and was promoted to Captain while there. In August 70, I graduated from the Citadel with a BA in History. I went to Ft Benning for jump school and ranger school before going to Ft Sill for the officers advanced course. From there, I went to Ft Hood (Battery commander and battalion staff) and then to Korea (May 74-5) as a battery commander. While I was in Korea, I was selected to go to language school and advanced training as a Russian specialist. I spent two plus years in the DC area waiting for a slot. During that time, I worked on my Masters degree in Russian Area Studies. I worked at DIA for about 18 months and went to DLI for Russian in summer 1978. I was promoted to major after 9.5 years as a Captain. After I completed my Russian training (which included a stint as an instructor at the Army's Russian Institute in Germany). I went to staff college and received orders for assignment to the US Embassy in Moscow (May 83 to Jun 85). After many adventures involving visits to about 45 different Soviet cities, I was assigned to the Pentagon. I was promoted to LTC during my tour in MOscow and, after two years, I was selected as a 'fellow' at the Centre for Defence Studies at the Universtiy of Edinburgh, Scotland under the tutelage of Prof John Erickson. I came back to the Washington area and was assigned as Assistant National Intelligence Officer for Soviet Military and Political Affairs. I continued to work on my PhD in Russian area Studies at Georgetown U, and completed all requirements and was graduated in August 1990. When I was passed over for COL in 1989, I decided to retire from the military after 23 years service. I worked for the CIA for the next five years as an intelligence analyst. In 1993, I was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease and, although I managed to continue to work, I eventually was compelled to accept a status of medically disabled. Now its just a matter of taking life one day at a time.