Paul Willis:
CLASS OF 1963
Conley Elementary SchoolClass of 1963
Taft, CA
Taft Union High SchoolClass of 1971
Taft, CA
Lincoln Junior High SchoolClass of 1967
Taft, CA
Roosevelt Elementary SchoolClass of 1965
Taft, CA
Taft Elementary SchoolClass of 1963
Taft, CA
Paul's Story
Life
It's been a long and winding road. Ten years in Germany and travel in about 38 of the 50 states (including two weeks of frozen delight in Alaska at 65 below).
Marriage for 25 years and 3 kids. Phyllis died of breast cancer and I've remarried, to a beautiful woman, Karin, with three kids of her own (shades of the Brady Bunch).
My oldest is on active duty with the Navy, Jessica is a trainer at the naval school in Norfolk, VA. Kyle is married and living in Bremerton, WA. He and his wife Sarah just added their fourth child and first daughter. My youngest Katie is living and working in Orange County CA as a manager for Macaronni Grill.
We retired last year, sold everything in California and bought our piece of heaven, a home on 20 acres of forest in northern Idaho. We are about 80 miles from Canada. We wake up every morning and it's like being at summer camp (or winter camp as the case maybe...they have these things called seasons up here). Needless to say we feel very fortunate. Bring your skis or you boat or both...there are perhaps 30 lakes within 30 miles. Our door is always open for friends traveling through.
College
Southern California College what a great beginning even tho I couldn't seem to take advantage of it. Fond memories of pool at the Price's and late night Rook in the Student Union. We miss you Arty.
I finally finished my BS in Education at Cameron University while still on active duty. Your tax dollars at work.
Wrapped up my Master in Special Education in 2003 at CSULA. I'm the poster child for the Lifelong Learners club.
Workplace
After leaving the military I worked as a branch manager for Terminix. About all I can say is, the car was ...Expand for more
nice. Left there after three years to pursue more money with a company called G & K Services. They do industrial laundry service pronounced "uniforms". I worked as an account manager (fancy title for problem solver) for them and the money was good but it was airing dirty laundry (pun intended).
When I remarried, my new wife was a teacher for Los Angeles Unified and suggested I look at teaching as a second career. So it was back to school for a new credential and into the classroom with students with disabilities. And like the Army says...it's not a job....it's an adventure. Well it is at least a career that feels like a career. It also has the added benifit that you can begin collecting retirement at 55 which is high on my list of "Things to Do".
Military
Basic training from January to March 1974. "We can always run Delta Company!"
05C Radio Teletype with Morse Code training, Ft Gordon, April to Jul '74.
A Btry, with CPT Adkins, 1SG Barrios, and CPT Walker. Commo section and NCO Academy May 75.
Bad Toelz, FRG with the 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Best assignment without peer. Great guys, great training, great location. Ski school. Jump school. Jumpmaster school. Mountain marches in the most beautiful part of Europe.
Officer Candidate School, Ft Benning GA. Commissioned 2LT, FA
Field Artillery School Ft Sill, OK
Directorate of Training Dev, Commander B Btry, OSB, FA Advanced Course, Degree Completion at Cameron University.
Frankurt, Germany, V Corps Artillery, Collin Powell Corps Cdr.
Babenhausen, FRG 2/83 Field Artillery, Svc Cdr and Cdr HHB 41st Bde.
OIC/Asst Professor Mil Science CSUSB.
Retirement...a whirlwind 20 years and 17 days.
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Reunions
Photos
