John Miskowiec:
CLASS OF 1977
Northwest High School 723Class of 1977
Indianapolis, IN
Willard J. Gambold Middle School 108Class of 1973
Indianapolis, IN
Carl Wilde Elementary School 79Class of 1971
Indianapolis, IN
John's Story
Life
I lived away from Indianapolis along time. After graduation I joined the Army and left for what I thought was going to be a four year enlistment, and it would have been, I mean I really didn't care for it too much. A very different lifestyle than I had become accustomed to. Not that I had it so good, I just didn't apply myself much to that kind of work: hard, dirty, late at night out in the rain freezing my tail off wondering what the heck we are doing out here kind of work, and I mean, they cut off all my hair too (it seemed like a big deal at the time). Then an amazing thing happened, I was promoted (and maybe grew up a little) and found out I was pretty good in the leadership role, or that I just didn't have to scrub the floors anymore. So I stayed in for 21 years and retired in 1998. During that time I served as a Scout squad leader, Platoon Sgt., Drill Sgt, and Operations Sgt., mostly in Cavalry Squadrons. I lived in Europe for 8 years, got married in Georgia to a girl from Oxnard California. I lived in Southwest Asia for a year or so and spent time in lots of places stateside. I retired from the same place I got my start, FT Knox KY. After I left the Army my wife and I moved to her home town in California where she had property (her dad's) and we set up working in property management and real estate. After 13 years (only 9 of them while I was in the army) the marriage failed. So after 4 years in California instead of setting up new digs there I came on back home to Indianapolis. I kept in touch with friends and family over the years and the transition went very well. I just had to leave all my stuff behind in California (easy come, easy go). Since moving back home in 2002 I have gotten remarried (Sept 06) to a Northwest girl, LeeAnn Horner or Gresham depending on when you knew her. I don't have any kids, Too much moving around in my life but my wife has lots of sons and Grand kids. My sisters kids are having kids and I am part of all that now. I live in Avon IN with my wife, her Mom, and we still have a teenage boy at home. He is off to college at Arizona State next year. I am an industrial HVAC tech working at Wishard hospital and I am going to school studying manufacturing technology(using some VA benefits)and paying a little back for not doing so well in school back when I should have. Algebra makes my hair catch on fire. I had to go back to Northwest to get a copy of my transcripts (funny the University of Maryland in Europe didn't ask for them). Well any way I had some flashbacks. I was here during the 25th and 30th reunions and I am sorry I missed them. Since I have been back in Indy I have also found faith in Christ and consider myself borne again. I prayed for these things. Life is good but not always easy.
Military
I am not sure why I chose to join the Army at 18. I enlisted months before high school graduation and left almost right after I received my ...Expand for more
diploma. I guess I just wanted to get away. I adapted pretty fast to life in the military. My first duty Station after basic recon training at Ft Knox was Ft Polk LA. and we were still living in open bay WWII barracks. That was hard to get used to let me tell you. I liked physical training and staying fit (not so much when I was a kid). I definitely enjoyed being a 19D cavalry Scout. But Army life didn't seem at first to be for me. I questioned everything too much. I was arrogant and maybe a little lazy (OK a lot lazy). I did excel in some areas. Land navigation, Organization, and I cared about the guys that worked for me and the guys I worked for too. I was mentally fit and made my body fit. This helped me to discipline myself, which is a must to be successful in the military. Some areas were I did not excel are, I was a smart ass and a know it all (sometimes) and I liked to party way a lot (I know, that shoots some of that discipline right down). So after I fixed all my faults(just ask my wife, or not) the rest was gravy. right? Lots of things touched my heart. East Berlin was still a shambles in 1982, The first time I was there. The East German and Checkoslovakian border patrols and the almost empty towns and empty looking people I saw through my binoculars while a communist border guard looked back at me through his. I saw all that end in 1989 while patroling the border trace. The East German Gov. disintegrated over night and the USSR soon followed. It truly was an evil empire with a failed ideology. They knew it, that's why they didn't fight for it, but they would have if they thought they could have won a quick victory over the west. We were too good and they knew that too. they saw us out there every day. Then (out of no where it seemed) it was time to go to the Persian Gulf for awhile. The Iraqi army wasn't sure where they were suposed to be so we showed them where to go! I had an opportunity to serve in the opposing forces at FT Irwin CA. That was really hard duty out in the scorching Mojave dessert but going to war every month against various Army units to prepare them for combat was not boring and the technology behind all that to make it a real as possible learning experience was fantastic. I retired in 1998 and was not as successful as I could have been. I didn't get promoted to SGM E-9 but I think in 98 I was ready to go and do something else. I like to think that if I were back in the Army I would have much to offer the soldiers today, But I think they are doing just fine without a 50 year old scout. I'll never forget the places where I served, The guys I served with and the terrific job we did. Today's war fighting is a lot different than the cold war strategies and tactics that where rapidly changing when I left the Army. I wish my brothers in arms Gods speed, safety, and yes... victory. I don't think it is politically incorrect and I know what it feels like.
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