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A little about me
I was born and raised in central Illinois. I began writing short stories and poems in junior high school and have continued to write throughout my life. Because I tended write primarily for myself, and not a specific audience, I remained unpublished until I entered college and worked on the school's newspaper, which broadened my perspective and view of my goals.
Immediately after graduating from high school, I joined the U. S. Navy and spent four years as a radio operator. I served aboard the USS Hunley AS-31, a nuclear sub-tender, for two and a half years. Having studied war through books and watching documentaries on TV throughout my youth, I volunteered for duty in Vietnam. Many of my ancestors have served in the military, one, Jesse Mumbert, died of his wounds in the Civil War. Also, I knew many of my high school friends had been drafted and were/had served in Vietnam and I felt an obligation to join them.
In Vietnam, I served aboard the USS Colleton APB-36, a barracks ship which housed 9th Infantry Division soldiers in the forward section of the ship. Various armored boats, e. g. Tangos, Alphas, Monitors and "Zippos" (flame throwers), were used to ferry the troops up the rivers and canals on search and destroy missions. The entire flotilla was called the Mobile Riverine Force, a group of our nation's finest men with whom I am proud to have served with during my tour in Nam.
No matter how much you read, how many documentaries you see, or have listened to stories from family and friends who have been in a combat zone, NOTHING replaces nor educates you more than experiencing the tragedy of war in person. Every second of the day you have the constant knowledge that you are there, in a war zone.
A year after being discharged, I started attending college in Pennsylvania, earning a degree in English. Furthering my education at other universities, I now hold a MA degree in sculpture and an MFA degree in ceramics. Throughout my life, though, writing has been an outlet for my thinking, getting something down on paper allows one to review one's thoughts and I believe that makes a person stronger.
Immediately after graduating from high school, I joined the U. S. Navy and spent four years as a radio operator. I served aboard the USS Hunley AS-31, a nuclear sub-tender, for two and a half years. Having studied war through books and watching documentaries on TV throughout my youth, I volunteered for duty in Vietnam. Many of my ancestors have served in the military, one, Jesse Mumbert, died of his wounds in the Civil War. Also, I knew many of my high school friends had been drafted and were/had served in Vietnam and I felt an obligation to join them.
In Vietnam, I served aboard the USS Colleton APB-36, a barracks ship which housed 9th Infantry Division soldiers in the forward section of the ship. Various armored boats, e. g. Tangos, Alphas, Monitors and "Zippos" (flame throwers), were used to ferry the troops up the rivers and canals on search and destroy missions. The entire flotilla was called the Mobile Riverine Force, a group of our nation's finest men with whom I am proud to have served with during my tour in Nam.
No matter how much you read, how many documentaries you see, or have listened to stories from family and friends who have been in a combat zone, NOTHING replaces nor educates you more than experiencing the tragedy of war in person. Every second of the day you have the constant knowledge that you are there, in a war zone.
A year after being discharged, I started attending college in Pennsylvania, earning a degree in English. Furthering my education at other universities, I now hold a MA degree in sculpture and an MFA degree in ceramics. Throughout my life, though, writing has been an outlet for my thinking, getting something down on paper allows one to review one's thoughts and I believe that makes a person stronger.