Martin Yannaccone:  

Life After college, I joined the Marine Corps to avoid the draft, never intending to make the military a career. However, I adapted well to the life style & moved up rapidly in rank. By my 10 year mark I was a Gunnery Sgt. when I was selected for commissioning to become an officer. During my 25 years in the Corps, I served all over the world, including Southeast Asia (Viet Nam), the Western Pacific, Nato Europe, North Africa & 3 tours of duty aboard Naval war ships at sea. Some of my duty assignments included that of a Avionics/Weapons Officer for a tactical gun squadron, a Training Officer at a Naval Avionics School, a Line of Duty Investigator (for the JAG), & a Courts Martial Officer, just to name a few. I have been to some great places & some not so great places, but I loved every moment of it & can't imagine my life's work going in any other direction. During my first tour I married my home town girlfriend. We stayed married for 20 years & had 3 wonderful sons. But life was tough for the families at home. I was assigned to the air element of a "first responce" amphibious brigade. We deployed to hot spots all over the world, never knowing when we would be called out or when we would return home. Almost half my career was spent seperated from my family. However, I feel I was blessed to be part of an organization steeped in history, tradition and comradery. Best of all, I had the chance to work for, work with, & command some of the finest men & women our nation has produced. Upon my retirement from the Corps, I traded my Marine uniform in for that of a Deputy Sheriff for Shelby Co., Tenn (Memphis). Following graduation from the Police Academy, I was assigned to the Patrol Division driving a district car around the county. After a year or so on patrol, I was transferred to the Fugitive Warrents Apprehension Unit. For the next 9 years I ran around the county chasing bad guys and dragging them off to jail. I worked with another deputy, my partner, who was also a former Marine and Nam Vet. We were like brothers & had a great time together. We were never seriously hurt & we never lost a prisoner. It was during this time that I met my current wife (the former finally had enough & said "goodbye" when I decided to become a cop). Jane, a true southern belle (Tennessee born, bred & educated) was a trauma nurse (RN) for the University of Tennessee-Memphis ER. She was also with the Emergency Services Unit of the Sheriff's Dept, which is how we met. Jane did such a good job patching me up when I got injured that I decided to marry the girl, so in 1997, I d...Expand for more