A native of Ohio, the author joined the U.S. Marine Corps in May of 1965 and completed his boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. Following boot camp and specialty training, he joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542, the Flying Tigers, in Chu Lai Republic of Vietnam for his first tour of duty. Completing a successful tour with the Flying Tigers, he was selected to participate in the Enlisted Commissioning Program, ultimately commissioned as a second lieutenant in early 1968. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam at the completion of officer training. During his duty with the 3rd Battalion, he was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, a Navy Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart for service during 1968–1970. He completed tours of duty on staffs and unit command following the years after 1970 until retirement in June of 1988. He matriculated from Park College in 1976 as part of a service program to ensure that officers commissioned from the ranks had an opportunity to complete their college degrees. Graduation in 1976 with a GPA of 3.96 satisfied that requirement, and he moved on to other duties, seeing duty in the Far East and around the nation.