Ronald Danielson:  

with a teaching degree. It had taken me nine years and 15 semesters. I had about twice as many credits needed for my degree. I met many friends in college with whom I still keep in touch. I was active in intramural sports, and the Veteran's Club. I also became a world class sheepshead player (no brag, just fact) Workplace I have had very few jobs. I worked for my dad building houses, remodeling jobs, etc, during high school and college. I worked a summer at Pressed Steel Tank Company driving a forklift. Not a bad place to work; it was my only factory experience, and was my last job before the Sheriff's Department. I worked on the Sheriff's Department from June 16, 1975 to December 15, 2000. I worked third shift for a few months, then 4pm to midnight for 15 years. I worked mostly patrol, in a squad car, all over the county, but mostly in the southeastern part, my 'home' area. I did work in the jail 3 months, one of the last deputies there before the civilian correctional officers took over. I worked the desk once in awhile. I did prisoner transports for about 2 and a half years. But patrol was my love. I had many partners over the years. When I had a good partner, it was fun to come to work. With a poor partner, I would rather work alone. I was a training officer for a few years on 2nd shift. Many of the Captains and Lieutenants, I trained. My last ten years, I was on day shift. Over my career, I handled countless nasty calls, calls the average citizen can barely imagine. I saw things too horrible to describe. I never allowed myself to dwell on them, but they are still with me. I worked for 13 years for a sheriff that I didn't respect or like. When he finally retired, I did get some training opportunities. I became a traffic accident reconstructionist. (that is as complicated as it gets, trying to piece together an accident with no living witnesses, using only training and physical evidence.) I was 49 years old when I was sent to the National Police Motorcycle Academy. Two weeks of very demanding physical work, but I passed and got to ride as a motor officer. I was in the Harley 95th reunion parade as a cop, and it was a blast. I don't miss police work one iota. If I could do it all over again, I probably wouldn't. I miss the people I worked with, but not the job.. Some guys can't seem to live without the badge; I can and do. I have done some dumb things in my life, but the smartest may have been retiring when I did. I got to retire young. The pension is good, but the real rewards are inner. It was a constant challenge, but I know I made a positive contibution. Military I was number 5 in the first draft lottery. I got my induction notice on January 26, 1970, and I immediately enlisted in the US Army for 2 years (the change in status from draftee to enlistee probably helped me down the line) I started basic training on January 31, 1970 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After initial testing, they asked me if I wanted to go to OCS. I knew that life as an officer would be better than as a grunt, but I also knew that 2nd Lieutenants went straight to Nam. I declined. Because of my test scores,the drill sergeants asked me to assist some of the slower recruits with their reading skills. While I had to do all the physical training, I didn't have to do any more academic testing in basic. I asked to have a band audition, and after basic training, was sent to the Armed Forces School of Music, at the Naval Amphibiious Base, in Norfolk, VA.(honest!) I have had a life long problem with cold sores. The constant practicing on a brass instrument in the humidity of Norfolk was murder on my lips. I became the only known medical drop from the music school. But the staff liked me there, and I was later made a member of the staff as a woodwind instructor (this would be perfectly clear to any of you who have served in the military) I spent my military career keeping training records at this school. There were several hundred Army, Navy, and Marine Corps students at any given time at the school. Many were among the finest players in the country. I was the only short timer and the only Army in my office. My office mates were career military people, all Navy Senior or Master Chief Petty Officers (a couple of Commissioned Officers, too), and the nicest guys I could have ever hoped to meet. Most of them had enlisted in WWII, and were in the last years of their careers. (they certainly WERE the "Greatest Generation") I was promoted to Specialist Five within 14 months and would have been promoted to E-6 had I reupped. I would have stayed in, and gone to OCS, but I hadn't finished college, and I had to do that first. I spent my army time living on the beach (Virginia Beach). No guard duty, KP, or anything else really distasteful. I did have to pull CQ, and I did pull Shore Patrol 2 or 3 times, but that was a piece of cake. After leaving active duty, I returned to college. I did join the Army National Guard for a year, big mistake, and took the tests for Navy Flight Officer School. I was slightly overweight at the time, and was at the upper age limit for entry into the program (27). Those two factors made up my mind not to rejoin active service in the Navy. I often wonder what would have happened had I gone back in...