Rolf Caldwell:
CLASS OF 1966
Grosse Pointe South High SchoolClass of 1966
Grosse pointe, MI
Rolf's Story
"My name is Rolf Caldwell and this is my basic life story before and after high school, I was born in Frankfurt, Germany after World War Two. When I was 18 months old, my family moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky. We moved again when I was 4 years old, moving to Fort Bliss Texas and I lived there for one year before moving to Drain Plains, Michigan then to Pontiac, Michigan again to Southfield, Michigan then to Detroit, Michigan. That was life as an Army brat. Always making new friends then saying goodbye, and never seeing those friends again. When my dad retired from the Army, we moved to Grosse Pointe City. I went to Grosse Pointe High. After high school I join the United States Marines. Within six months, the President of the U.S. gave the Marines orders to send more troops to the Republic South Vietnam. That was me young and dumb. In September of 1967 a sniper shot me. The bullet went through my left lower back, my spleen, through my left diaphragm, my left lung, exiting out under my left arm pit and through my left arm. A Marine helicopter flew me to NSA Naval Hospital in Da Nang. Were I had multiple operations performed on me. It took two weeks for me to be send from Vietnam be to Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Always stopping at different Hospital along the way to stabilize me. I spent 10 months in Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Went from 175 pounds of bulk mussel to eighty-five pounds of skin and bones, I laid in bed for three months, sleeping my life away. I had to learn to walk again and force myself to do things that were extremely hard physical but all along I knew it was good for me, so I did it. The Marine Corps gave me an early release, so I stayed in California; and I wandered around California not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. Then I came back home to Michigan. All along taking college courses both in California and in Michigan. Then I got involved in the construction business, and when there was no work, I started my own construction company. I Met my first future wife and gave up my construction business, and we moved back to California. I learn you had to be a multimillionaire to live in California or you were poor even if you had a six-figure income. Both of us moved back to Michigan and got married and I went to work for Ford Motor Company....Expand for more
Had two wonderful children and life was good for 7 years until something happened and the marriage was over. I ended up having custody of my two daughters, raising my two girls while living in Grosse Pointe Park for the next seven years. I met my second future wife. We married, and moved to Troy, and we built two houses in Troy, and then moved to Birmingham, we tore down two houses and built another two houses before getting a divorce after 17 years. I moved to Shelby Township and met my third future wife. She moved in with me and we got married but that marriage fell apart very quickly and lasted only one year. Now I was living on my own for the next couple of years until I met my fourth future wife. We both sold our houses and bought our house together. Again, life was good for 8 years until things happened and we divorced. I never planned to be married so many times, it just happens that way. In my life I have been able to travel to every State in our Union, and travel to different countries in Europe for pleasure. We have a wonderful country, with many wonderful things to see and do. Now I find myself single again and a person who is highly active, who still loves to travel. love having plenty of fun, doing things with my family and friends. Over the years I have learned to be my own person and make my yes means yes and my no means no and be honest and truthful to people. To me, life is short, and I do not have time for drama and games. I have learned to take full responsibility for my actions, and I expect everyone else to do the same. I do not have the time to tell someone what to do or how to act. At this point in life, I feel you should know what to do and how to act with people. I still believe in working hard and playing hard. I love going out while doing different things. I still enjoy music, going to concerts and clubs, dancing the night away to good classic rock. I still love the arts, museums, art galleries, symphonies, plays and more. Love to travel, see new places and try different foods, while doing different things. I am just as comfortable at a black-tie event as I am in my jeans. After forty seven years I still work for Ford Motor Company and enjoy what I do. I'm having fun with life, and the beat goes on. This is my basic life story.. Rolf
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