Class of: 1957
Brick: yes

I did 2 tours of duty in South Vietnam. First, let me note that the Vietnamese people were wonderful to us. My first year (1965) there was as an Advisor to the Province Intelligence Officer. Most of my time was spent with the Province Military Intelligence Officer and the Chief of Police. (As an aside I spent most Thursday Evenings teaching English to Vietnamese youngsters.) That action broke the routine of spending days, etc., in the field working with their Reconnaissance Platoon (Wonderful people and Soldiers). My years at Stetson ranged from 1952-1957 (had to work off campus once in a while so fees could be paid — Stetson insisted on payment occasionally). Thus a 4 year span stretched into 6 years (with “time out” to raise a little money for another semester (starting in 1952 and finishing in 1957). At graduation I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the ROTC program – – so, I entered the Army as a Junior Officer in the Armor Branch and was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for the Basic Officer’s Course. My first overseas tour of duty was working directly with Vietnamese Army units – the second year (1960) was as a Staff Officer (Chief of Intelligence Collection). In spite of all this I was invited to teach English to the children of the only dentist in the province. We still get letters from some of those wonderful people–plus 2 personal visits from one of those “English” students! I also spent 3 years in Germany in the 3rd Armored Division. I was awarded the Bronze Star and other decorations

I cherish my time at Stetson, the ROTC program, and some wonderful Professors who took extra time with those who worked outside of school to help us through. Stetson was, and is, a blessing in the field of Education of its many students. I served 27 active years and am grateful for every one of them — in addition to Stetson’s tolerance of a student who spent 6 years there (4 academically and 2 earning enough money to support those other four!)