George Ward:
CLASS OF 1967
Riverside Military AcademyClass of 1967
Gainesville, GA
North Florida Community CollegeClass of 1968
Madison, FL
Duncan U. Fletcher High SchoolClass of 1966
Neptune beach, FL
Duncan U. Fletcher Junior High SchoolClass of 1962
Jacksonville beach, FL
Atlantic Beach Elementary SchoolClass of 1960
Atlantic beach, FL
George's Story
UpDated on 23 FEB 2010 at 5:00 PM
I was born in Jacksonville, Fla. I lived in Neptune Beach on North St. as a baby and later when I was in the 4th grade on Florida Blvd and in Atlantic Beach on Beach Ave from Kinderguarden till 4th grade and Ocean Blvd from 5th grade till 1968 when I went into the Army. I was a Cub Scout & Boy Scout & "Air Explorer" in Pack/Troop/Post 37.
I attended ATLANTIC BEACH ELEMENTARY: 1954 to 1960. My Brother Bobby was 2 years ahead of me in school. Our Mother was a teacher there and she taught Special Class for a long time and then she taught 6th Grade for a while. My teachers were as follows:1st grade Mrs. Nichols, 2nd grade Mrs. Tilton. I was really ill at the end of this school year, and I was in the hospital and I was expected to die. As we see, I didn't, and I guess I have been living a blessed life ever since. After I got out of the hospital, I was "given" the role as "The Prince" in our class play of "Snow White". I got to "kiss" "Snow White". "Cool"!!! 3rd grade Mrs. Pritchard, 4th grade Mrs. Edwards, in the church annex next to the school,5th grade Mrs. O'Connel, out in the wooden temps, 6th grade was Mrs. Hugget who was my Favorite teacher of all time, but all of my teachers at AB Elementary were wonderful. I started learning to play a trumpet in the 5th grade. I then attended Duncan U.Fletcher Jr H.S.in Jacksonville Beach Florida for 2 years and then Duncan U.Fletcher Sr H.S. for 2 years. During this time of my life I joined the JV Band and then the Sr Band. I fell in Love for the 1st time, and learned heart ache too, went to the Worlds Fair in NY City with the Varsity Band.
In 1964, all of the Duval County public schools lost their accreditation so my parents sent me to Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville Georgia where I went for 3 years,(had to make up some courses) and I graduated in 1967 instead of 1966. This school was the high point in my education and for so much more as I learned so many qualities at this institution which molded me into the person I am today. The young cadets that I went to school with were the very best of friends. I owe who I am today to this school. I worked for East Duval County Mosquito Control the 2 Summers after my Sr Year at RMA and after my 1 yr in college prior to going into the Army. This was a "fun job" and was really cool for a summer job. In 67 I went to N.Florida Jr. College in Madison Fl. I asked someone to marry me. I broke my right hand twice there. Lived in the "Wyche House".
I went into the ARMY in Nov 68 and had BASIC at Fort Benning Ga. I got married to my 1st wife on 31 Dec 68 during Christmas Leave.
(*) NOTE: HHC=Headquarters & Headquarters Company, TRP=Troop, BN=Battalion, BDE=Brigade, REG=Regiment, INF=Infantry, CAV=Cavalry.
I was stationed at Kelly Hill on Ft. Benning after finishing Basic Training in Feb 69.
My unit was HHC, 5/31INF, 197INF BDE. I was promoted to E-4 in Aug 69. Sept
I deployed to West Germany where I was stationed at Fliegerhorst Kaserne outside Hanau,Federal Republic of Germany(FRG).
I was assigned to HHC, 18th AVIATION BN, V-CORPS. I was promoted to E-5 in Aug 70. My first wife gave birth to our 1st son Apr 71. 1st wife didn't like the army so I got out and I
returned to civilian life on 31 Oct 71. I returned to Fla and lived next to my parents on Florida Blvd in Neptune Beach fron Nov 71 to Sept 72 during which time I worked as a Credit Supervisor for Sears in Jacksonville, downtown.
Worked for my Uncle in Atlanta from Sept 72 to March 73 as a Glazier at Buckhead Glass Co.
Went back in the Army in May of 73 for the 2nd time.
Was sent to Ft Hood, Tx as an E-4.
I was with HHC,553 Supply & Service BN, 13th SPT BDE. My lst wife gave birth to our 2nd son in Apr 74.
Was sent to Korea June 74 to B- Battery, 1/44 Air Defense Artillery, 38 ADA/BDE located at Kunson Air Force Base, Kunson Korea.
Promoted to E-5, SGT.
Departed Korea in July 75 after 13 months and was sent to Fort Sill, OK. Assigned to the Field Artillery Board.
My lst wife gave birth to our 3rd son on July 76.
Promoted to SSG/E-6.
Transfered to 225th Maintence Company (GS)"General Support" in Aug 76.
Took over the Service & Recovery Platoon and became the Recovery Section Chief.
First wife gave birth to our 4th son on Dec 77.
Left Fort Sill Aug 78 going to Pond Barracks in Amberg Germany.
Assigned to HHT, 3rd Squadron 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Became Recovery Section Chief in Squadron Maintenance. Spent 180 days out in the field this 1st year in the CAV. Transfered to I-Troop to fill in as Motor Sgt for 1 year. This is what being a Soldier is all about! I was put to the test daily on every aspect of being a soldier, a leader , and performing to the highest standards that the army demands.
My Mother dies during this time (Sept 79). The greatest loss of my life! I miss her dearly!
Spent 268 days on the Czechoslovakian border or at Tank Gunnery or in the field on maneuvers this 2nd year in the CAV. Transfered back to HHT, Squadron Maintenance. Promoted to SFC, E-7. Shop Forman, Quality control NCOIC, Asst Sqdn Motor Sgt. Spent 235 days in the field this 3rd and last year in the CAV.
Rotated back to the USA in Aug 81. Assigned to D Company, 197th Support BN, 197th INF BDE.
Father Dies (Sept 81). He was an incredible man and I miss him. He had more integrity than anyone I ever knew.
I got a separation-84/divorce-85 from my 1st wife.
Married 2nd wife in 85(#1 Big Mistake) Spent 4 years total at Ft.Benning Ga. Went TDY to Aberdeen Proving Ground for M-1 Tank school Sept85.
Went to Wiesbaden Germany Nov 85. Spent 4 years at 19th CMMC/3rd Spt Cmd/V-Corps.
5th son (1st child with 2nd wife)born Nov 86.
Rotated back to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood Area, MD. Assigned to HHC, 143 Ordanence Bn.
Promoted to Master Sergeant E-8. This would turn out to be my last duty station in the military. I went on temporary duty with SFDLR Team just prior to the war in Kuwait, that lasted for 1 year. Went through four operations that insured that my military career was finished. I spent 4 1/2 years at APG,MD. I retired 31 Mar 1994.
Moved to Palm Coast, Florida. Went to work for Sea Ray Boats in Aug 94. Separated from 2nd wife in 96. (Story not fit for public viewing)Divorced in 97.
Stayed in Palm Coast and raised my youngest son who was eight years old until we moved to Texas in Oct 2003. (#2 Big mistake)
Moved back to Florida with my youngest son in Nov 2005.
Moved to Orange City.
Met my current and last wife in Orange City, Florida.
Moved to Georgia Nov 2006.
We got married April 2007.(Got it right this time) I now have a Daughter(step), that I had wanted ever since the birth of my 1st son in 1971.
I think about friends from the past, the times that we shared and I feel so many emotions.
The many times that I went to the mail room at RMA and got a letter from my girlfriend, or a friend who is a girl, ok, and my Mom or Dad. How those "Dear John" letters hurt. How many did I get? It seems like a lot. does that mean I was a little fickle..or that they were..not sure about this...lol. My work ethic has always been extremely high and the relationships on the job the closest. The Army was my "Mistress" for many years and I miss "Her". She was always a part of me and I could never get her out of my mind. The soldiers that I served with through out my career were my brothers and sisters. They were my extended family. I shared joy and happiness and pain and sorrow with them. Shared my last bit of water with a young soldier out in the desert, and a cup of coffee in a foxhole during reforger exercise in Germany when it was 18 degrees. Stayed up all night with a young father to be waiting for his 1st child to be born. Holding a young soldier's hand as the Chaplin tells her of her husband.
As a soldier, you share life with your fellow soldiers like only someone who serves in the military can fully understand. They are your brothers and sisters and you would do anything for them.
I have O-Neg Blood, which is a rare type. We can give to anyone, but we can only take O-Neg ourselves. I can't remember how many times I gave my blood, because that is what we do for each other. I miss my "Army family" more than I can ever express in words. I watch the news every day, and I cry when I hear that we have lost more service men and women fighting to keep our country safe by keeping the fight over there and not here.
Leaving the Army was a terrible time in my life. I went through 4 operations that sealed my fate. I now think of the funny times that I had with different people and I spend hours laughing with my current wife about old times she had or that I had.
We listen to each other and accept the people each of us talk about as if they were both of our friends.
I think back to what I did as I grew up and what we, my friends and I did all those long years ago, played sand lot football, went surfing with 5 friends with only 1 surf board, went out in the woods and target practiced with our .22 rifles, walked on the beach, went to the Atlantic Beach Hotel and met "Girls" for the 1st time, and got a phone call from a girl for the 1st time...now that was a high point!
I guess I am just being sentimental in remembering these times in my life. All of the friends I made during my military career and at RMA and from my childhood are very important to me.
If you were my friend, you still are in my mind and heart! I have been so very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people, guys and girls/men and women, in my life and some I can not remember their names, and I am truly sorry for that, but I still see their faces, and hear their voices and remember the times we worked, played or experienced together the awesome times which we shared. How many different people have I had lunch with during my life time? More than a few I think. Remembering when we went surfing, or explored old Forts in Florida, stood guard duty or walked the...Expand for more
perimeter, went bowling, or to a football game, or a drive-in movie, worked all night to meet a deadline, pulled all night duty, went to REFORGER, went to a dance, met someone at a dance, and shared a cigarette with the SDO, went to a walk-in movie, went target shooting, rode over the sand dunes in a dune buggy, shared coffee with the young duty driver and all of the guys at Riverside Military Academy who I spent three exciting, fun filled and interesting years with doing the ROTC stuff and the drill team and all of the neat stuff we got to do. Returning back to school early to help with the "Newbees". Pulling SDO and sharing a smoke after "lights out". Making "ID" cards out of the covers of the old Training Manuals that had the "War Department" seal on them which, of course, we never used.
It is because of my failing memory that so many of your names, the people and friends that I grew up with and worked or served with escape me and not that you were not important.
So I will try to say Hi to some, but not all, that made a difference in my life.
If you read this and you are not mentioned, I am sorry, and know that if we were friends, I still think of us that way. Please write to me and remind me of how crazy we were and who you are and where we met or served or worked together. It would really mean a great deal to me, and might jog my bad memory.
Thank you to my 2 Drill Sgts (D6/2) at Harmony Church, who trained me to be a soldier and a leader on top of what I had already learned at Riverside. Sgt. Gray at the TAERS office, who taught me so much about the real Army when I was a young PFC. Sgt Ron Blodgett from Maine, who was my Motor Sgt in Germany during my 1st tour there, who helped me to become a better soldier. I think of you and the pain you have from your wounds you got in Nam. I hope you have had a good life. My good friend SP5 Freddie Blackwell, and his wife Jannice from Amarillo Tx. Ya'll were the best! To the People I met at Sears, ya'll were all really nice, hmmm....well not all, but most. SSG Gould, my Motor Sgt at Ft.Hood who helped me get a job at the Auto-Craft Shop when I really needed the extra $$. He had a home close to Killen. SP5 Ostman, who had my back in Korea and taught me how to operate a 5-ton wrecker,I hated to see you leave Korea. PFC Toole, not sure if spelled that right. You were like my little brother. My peers at F.A. Board at Ft Sill. Ya'll were great.
Then my 2nd Favorite assignment was the 225th Maintenance Company (GS). Cpt Wilson was our Company Commander and was a great CO. 1st Lt. Haliburton was a cool XO. Had a great 1st SGT, but I can't remember his name. Acting-SGT Lars Skoglund was my partner in "crime" and a great Training NCO and good friend. He had a knock out PFC/SP4 helping him. I can't remember her name, Teresa I think was her 1st name, lol, I'm obsessing. My guys in recovery, Sp4 Webster, great guy, and awesome M-88 Driver. Sgt Malone had my back,great NCO, had /has a BaBaBad Black Trans Am.
Next was the 3rd Squadron/2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. This was my (#1)favorite assignment. This is how its done for real.I was Stationed at Pond Barracks in Amberg Germany. It was a very small post. Best Commander I ever had was Cpt Noyse I-Troop 3/2ACR. I learned so much from him. He was a pilot who liked Tanks! LOL. Our Act. First Sergeant who was the best a soldier could ask for and who took care of us like we were his sons. Our XO in I-TRP was really cool and a great guy. Our Squadron Cdr was LTC Landry who went on to be a 2 or 3 Star General. Regiment CDR was COL (Bullet Bob)Wagner. Cpl Athey was M-88 operator in I-Trp and a good friend. Too many people to name them all. SP4 Koch in HHT, M-88 Operator and a younger brother to me. The German girls loved him. We spent alot of time out in the field on maneuvers or on the Czechoslovokia border or at Tank Gunnery Cycles. I loved my time in this unit and working with the best soldiers that the army had.
Next will be D Co. 197th SPT BN, 197th Infantry Brigade.
1st on the list is a CW4 Maintenance Warrent, old guy, lol, like I am now, dang, I can't remember his name. Well, he was an awesome person and he knew more about maintenance than anyone I ever met. He retired close to Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
There was First Sergeant Thomas who was an awesome leader and a good friend. Command Sergeant Major(CSM) Webb who was my Bn CSM and then later was my Brigade CSM. He was an example for me and all of his soldiers and he helped me to be a better leader. My Brigade Commander at this time was Colonel Cavezza who took the Brigade to new levels of proficiency and major accomplishments. Col. Cavezza departed around Nov 83. He later became a 3 Star General(LTG). These were the last of my "Superiors" that had integrity. After these leaders left, the end of Duty, selflessness, sacrifice and Honor disapeared from my unit. There were different people at this unit, but they all were not who you would want watching your back. The Non Commissioned Officers in the Mechanical Maintenance Platoon were weak and lacked integrity and honor. I really have nothing good to say about anyone over the rank of E-4 except as I have mentioned above. The young men and women, E-4 and below, whom I served with were the Army's future and for the most part were motivated and loyal and were good soldiers, like SP4 C.J. Money, who I wish I had listened to more.
The officers that I served with from 2Lt,CW3,CPT and Lt. Colonel fell into 3 categories. Some were glory hounds and some just deceitful and dishonest, while others were just incompetent and ignorant of what was really happening in my unit. They, the officers and the envious and jealous senior NCO's in my company, tried to run me out of the military, but I was stronger than they were. They did stop me from being promoted when I should have been, but I persevered and was promoted later after having to prove myself all over again at my next duty assignment.
The Officers and senior NCO's in my unit were corrupt, dishonest, selfserving, lacked integrity and had no honor what so ever. They were not like the Officers that I had served with previously or afterward.
My last Bn CSM was so afraid and weak he told me he didn't want to get involved when I took a problem to him...he was going to retire in 3 months and didn't need the headache! That is the type of unit that my unit turned into.
Thank heaven that as all assignments eventually do, this one ended.
I was then assigned to 19th CMMC, 3rd Support Brigade, V-Corps at Wiesbaden Germany. I took over the Maintenance Branch in Tank Automotive /Artillery Division, which oversaw the automotive maintenance/readiness posture for all of V-Corps units. We were the eyes and ears for the Corps Commander as far as maintenance of the units within his Corps. I served with Maj. Fleury, and LTC Hood, two outstanding officers. I served as the NCOIC and also the OIC for my Branch as we were short a Captain, so I worked as both. After three years, Cpt. Eliker arrived and I was able to pass the duties of the Ordanance Officer to him. We all worked for Col. Childers who was an awesome Commander, and later Col. Bawell who was a superb Commander. I was really fortunate to have served with these fine officers during the four years I was assigned to this unit. I really enjoyed this assignment. I extended my 3 year tour for 1 year and left in Sept 89 after 4 years, headed for Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
I wanted to be assigned to a combat or combat support unit, but...the Army wanted me at APG.. I was promoted to Master Sgt. Jan 90. I was assigned to HHC, 143rd Ordinance Battalion.(Wheel Vehicle Dept), and worked in the Recovery Division. We trained young 63D, 63Y, 63W soldiers on how to be mechanics and along with the 63B BNCOC's, how to use recovery equipment and all of the other related equipment they would work on at their units.
SFC Eiben and SFC Urban were 2 of the best NCO's I ever met. Maj Kimball, Maj Rossow, Maj Spooner were Directors of the Wheel Vehicle Dept and LTC Fairall and LTC Berry were Commanders of 143rd Ord Bn. All were outstanding officers. I retired and moved to Palm Coast Fla in Mar 94. I went to work for Sea Ray Boats at their Palm Coast Plant. Worked for 6 years at Sea Ray. I saw some scarry things done there as far as building boats. I even owned a 25 Ft Sea Ray and it was nothing but trouble. Poor work ethic for the most part. "Make it last long enough to go through the warrenty period"! I quit Sea Ray in Aug 2000 to go back to college. Went one semester. Trying to go to college and raise a young boy was next to impossible. In 2001 I started driving commercial trucks(Class-B)for different mom-n-pop companies. In 2002 I went to work for a security co. as an armed guard. I later worked at Orange Park Medical Center as a security officer. Moved to TEX Oct 2003 and went to work at "Home Improvement Store" driving their flat-bed trk with a forklift. 2004 drove for a concrete co. which is where I learned what to look out for when you have anything made of concrete, ie; drive-way, house foundation, sidewalk, patio, etc... I saw concrete poured into a foundation that was like water when I was in my training week. I am glad it was not my house. My Texas
relationship ended badly and my son and I returned to Fla Jan 2006. I moved to Orange City Fla.,where oldest son works. I met my future wife when she moved into our complex. We moved about 40 miles from Ft. Benning, Ga. in Nov 2006. I had a heart attack on 10 Feb 2007. My wife and I got married on 17 April 2007. We live out in the country now. I am a home body now. My wife works part time. We take it easy and spend time together. Our children are in Fla., Ga., Va., and Guam(the Island in the pacific).
Well, thats my story and I am sticking to it. I may go back and add some things, or take some out, but thats about it till now.I can be found on fb, if you want to say "Hi".
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