Paul Balge:  

My name is Paul Balge. I really did not graduate from Manitowoc Lutheran High School. I went there the first year when it started. At that time I never did well in school. After the first year, I did not quit school completely, but went to Manitowoc Vocational Technical Adult School. I went there until I was 18, and then started to work. After about a year and a half I went into the U.S. NAVY, so that I could learn something, and because I wanted to finish High School, not just a "GED." I did get my "High School Diploma and the GED Both." After basic training, I went aboard the "U.S.S. ORISKANY CVA-34." I went on with a number of other new recruits, into the Air Department. There were about seven of us, and I was the only one given the choice of which air division I wanted to go into. I chose the most dangerous and technical out of five. I was in the Catapult Crew, launching the planes off of the carrier. Very, Very dangerous job. I did not stop there though. That was not my rate. You see you take test to advance in rate, and I did...Expand for more