Larry's Page

Basketball was the big sport at Potterville High. The gym was built as a WPA Project. The free throw circles intersected the center circle by over a foot. Thus, ya can - if ya had Mrs Mac - deduce the court was short. We played fast break ball. The coach's rule - if ya got the ball either shoot or pass. Trapping a dribbler on that small court was easy.

I attended Michigan State College, now a University from 1950-1954. Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Option was the course of study. College was fun. The commute from Potterville some 20 miles away was great fun in the winter time. I remained at home, family finances were not enough for living on campus. I know I missed part of 'college life', but know not what cause I was not there. I am proud that I graduated with 'Honor" and was inducted into the Engineering Honor Societies - Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma.

A college degree in Engineering lead to a short period of employment with the Engineering Staff of Ford Motor Corporation. I never completed the two year training program.

Military Years:

Michigan State, being a Land Grant College participation in Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) was not an option. The first two years were required for all able body male full time students. The final two years, were voluntary - I did. Choice was Air Force or Army - State did not have Navy. Army Ordnance was the choice. Engineering students were encouraged to take.

I graduated in June and was called to active duty in July with a report date of 6 Nov 1950. Hence, the short term of employment with Ford Motor Company.

While at the Basic Ordnance Officers Course at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, I went AWOL to Mid Michigan and met my pretty bride, Marva Bigelow.. Not liking the possible assignments from the Basic Ordnance Course, I signed up for a Courses in Guided Missiles at the new Ordnance Guided Missile School at Redstone Arsenal. Going there increased the active duty commitment from 2 years to 3. At the time Ordnance Guided Missile Maintenance Units were new. Graduates were either assigned to units being activated or to the Staff and Faculty at the School. I got the School. For many years I was Chief of the Ground Guidance Section of the Corporal Missile Branch. While stationed at OGMS, I once again returned to Williamston, Michigan to marry that pretty bride - Marva Jean Bigelow.

The Chief of Ordnance had stabilized (extended) selected assignments at the School. Either I was on that list or someone thought I was. Five years had passed and I was still there. I was advised to either go Regular Army or perhaps get out. A reduction of force was in the planning stage - reserve officers would be the first to go. I made the decision to stay. Becoming Regular, resulted in a change of Service Number. Otherwise no difference, except some job security and the requirement for a two year hitch in a Combat Arm. Going Regular did get me out of the Ordnance Guided Missile School.

The Army chose Air Defense Artillery, thus off to Ft Bliss Texas we did go. First order of business was attendance at the Basic Air Defense Artillery Course. Graduation from that course earn the first assignment ever in a 'field unit'. The duty as XO of B Battery, 5th Bn, 57th Air Defense (Hawk) was to interesting. In the Field Artillery the the XO is in charge of the mission. Not so in Air Defense the XO is in charge of Orderly Room, Mess Hall, Motor Pool, and Commo plus all other additional assigned duties that are not mission. Lots of 'get in the way' duties, but not much fun.

The Hawk Missile System had been in the field several years, but never been 'troop tested'. Someone, with great wisdom decided that one was required. Thus, not being needed for direct mission, in B Battery, I was assigned to the Hawk Missile Troop Test Staff. Mission to evaluate the maintenance procedures. The Post Ordnance Officer took exception to an Air Defense Officer evaluating maintenance and requested my return to the Ordnance Corps. That done, there was now an Ordnance Officer to evaluate the maintenance procedures.

The Post Ordnance Officer was planning ahead. He really wanted me for duties in support of the Field Artillery activity at Fort Bliss. This namely CO of the 506th Ord Det in support of the 1st Bn/40th Field Artillery Bn (Corporal). Their mission was to provide an equipment pool and other support for returning Corporal Battalions, primarily from Europe. The visiting unit had two weeks to fire 4 missiles at White Sands Missile Range. Two for practice and two for score. They best not be stateside for the whole two weeks. The CG of USAEUR did not like 1/4 of his Corps Artillery to be away. Support of the live firings was rewarding. While at Ft Bliss the Berlin Wall went up and we moved Troops through the Russian Zone. Both were to 'prove a point; on both sides in the 'Cold War'.

From Ft Bliss of to Aberdeen Proving Grounds once again I did go. This time for the Advance Ordnance Course. While there the Ordnance Department was inactivated. The Army Material Command was created to perform the the research development, procurement and support of the Army's Material. Strange AMC was organized much like the old Ordnance Corps. The new AMC did not have control over field units such as the Chief of Ordnance and Quartermaster General had in the past. The support pie was cut just a tad different. While at Aberdeen we had the Cuban Missile Crisis. There was a week we had no instructors they were at Ft Lee planning the logistical support for the invasion of Cuba.

From the Advance Course I was assigned as the XO of the 69th Ordnance Company. The 69th was at that time the Special Weapons, a nice word for Nukes, storage unit for the Southern European Task Force. SETAF was the US Army Command for units in Italy. A nice assignment, provided one was not the CO. Three were relieved because the unit failed Technical Proficiency Tests - the famous TPI's. When the 99th Ordnance Det was activated from assets of the 69th and assumed the functions of Guided Missile Maintenance, Conventional Ammo and Missile Storage to include transportation of same, I was given Command of that unit. While there the two Corporal Artillery Battalions was replaced by a single Sergeant Missile Battalion. About the time that transition was completed the tour of duty in Italy had come to a close. One never really got use to the at least monthly alerts. The 'Cold War' was such that when the bell rang it was perhaps the real thing.

At Mid-Career there was two options to be in the running for promotion. First was to be selected for Command and General Staff School. Positions for "Tech Service' Officers was very limited. Of course, one could take it by Correspondence. Many were trying, but the course content would change so fast they never got done. The second option was the Civil Schools Program. For this, one had to make application and if selected, most likely even if one was on the list for CGS his name would be removed. I made application for Civil Schools and was accepted. Thus, off to Tulane University for a degree of Master of Business Administration with a Major in Operation Research. Almost eighteen months as a civilian seemed strange. I, of course was still on active duty, but no uniform or any of that military stuff.

'Civilian Life' did not last very long. The next duty assignment was back at Redstone Arsenal with the Combat Development Command. The mission of this outfit was to plan for and design doctrine for the Army some 15 to 20 years in the future. A very interesting assignment, of course any proposals was judged by those with 'blinders of the present'. Such comments as it won't work, we never done it that way - oh well - so much for long range planning.

While at CDC, I was 'selected' as the CDC REP on the Department of Army Hawk Missile Support Study Group. At that time the probability of pushing a the fire button on the Hawk Systems and hitting the target was 6 percent -- not very good. Thus study group took a long hard look at the 'system'. The recommendations stepped on a lot of 'old ideas and procedures' The briefing group spent some 6 weeks on temporary duty in the Pentagon waiting to brief the Army Chief of Staff. Never got to brief the Chief the DCS Log and DCS Operations implemented the plan, his direct approval was not required.

Not soon after my return from the Pentagon a set of orders arrived. It seems my services were required in Korea as CO of the Hawk Missile Support Element. If one helps to design a 'special supply system' one should reap the benefits of success or failure. HMSE was located inside The US Army Depot (ASCOM). The CO there said there was room for only one CO inside the fence, hence the title was changed to Director. There went command time at a Battalion level. No never mind it was one of the best assignments in a 20 year career Fill from stock was in the mid 90% range. The four Hawk Battalions supported passed their annual readiness tests with flying colors.. The CO of the Depot thought HMSE was the greatest and brought most of his visitors over to hear the 'standard briefing'. Given my charts, I most likely could recite the good news.

The US Army Tank Automotive Command in Centerline Michigan was next. Now that is an Army Command some 5000 civilians and less than a hundred soldiers A very interesting assignment as XO of the Management Information Directorate. I was given the job of overseeing the conversion to the 'New Army Material Command' data processing system. Not an easy task- most folk resist change. After all the Ordnance/Tank Automotive System had done quite well for many years. One bright spot, however was the implementation of and electronic/mechanical nightmare of a system to assemble drawings. Real nice input the stock number for say a generator on a jeep and out would come all the drawings on 35 mm slides which were used to made prints automatically and print out an offer for bid. This had all been done by hand and the 'little ole ladies' did not like doing 'just the final inspection part.

The assignment at TACOM was much too good. Someone discovered that Ordnance Officers with Special Weapon backgrounds had not been sent to Vietnam. Well being on that list, caused orders to Nam. Assignment XO of the US Army Material Command Logistical Support Office (Southeast Asia}. What a title for the old Ordnance Corps Tech Assistance. The LS0 had tech assistance personnel from each of the AMC Commodity Commands, such as the Tank Automotive Command or Missile Command and all the others. They came under loose control of the Chief of the Office. The Chief also represented the Commanding General Army Material Command. The retrograde movements underway did not really require much 'tech assistance'. The Chief, however would report problems to AMC and then take credit for solving the problem that never was. When I replaced him as Chief, I did not play that game. Not a very good assignment. I did get several nice trips to Thailand - it was in our area of responsibility. I did get to visit the Depot in Northern Thailand which supported our then secret war in Laos.

While in Nam I made the decision to retire with 20 years service. Major problem, I still had about a year and half to serve. Thus, out came the 'dream sheet' for next assignment. I selected the US Army Tank Automotive Command, Centerline Michigan. Heck might just has well go back where the family was waiting. That would save them a move, no school changes and all that good sort of stuff. Lucked out and got it. Thus back to TACOM I did go. I was greeted by the CG with the comment - my Command is getting a 15% cut - tell me where to do it and then I will tell you where I am going to assign you. He further said that I was his only senior officer at that time that was not in the 'save my empire mode'. Once I reported my recommendations, the CG assigned me to the Command Research Directorate. This Directorate was much like CDC - long range planning. A nice assignment. I worked on improving the supply system in support Depot Rebuild. Briefed on the study status about once a month. Each time the staff agreed it would work, but was to revolutionary and thus did not give approval to implement. Oh well - folks sure do not like change.

The 'Cold War' ended while I was at my final assignment at TACOM. When the last helicopters departed the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon the 'war' was done. The USSR did not take over new territory, the 'dominos' did not fall. They were bankrupt, and we nearly also. From the Berlin Air Lift till the fall of Saigon was an era of Mutual Assured Distruction(MAD). ThankGod that neither they nor we had a 'first strike policy'. Thank God that the 69th Ordnance Company and others like them never issued their stores.

Retirement day arrived 30 November 1974. It was a great life. Not bad for a small town kid: retiring with the rank Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army, with some Awards and Decorations.

Big Change of Pace

Many a weekend the last months or so of active duty we shopped for 'our retirement home'. Central Michigan, namely Grand Ledge was the choice. Almost like newlyweds the family moved into a brand new house. It was a very nice double wide, very nice our very own. No it did not have Early Quartermaster Furniture - we had our very own. After many resumes a job was found with the Michigan Department of Public Heath. A nice job using computer skills learned in the Army. It was nice to have a job where seeking advancement or holding one's position was not required. Nice to go to work - do your job and and go home. Civilian life did not mean alert bells and long hours waiting for something to happen. Nice to be at such a level that one need not worry about next years budget or staffing.

Way back sometime during our first assignment at TACOM the travel bug bit us. Our first travel trailer was a 16 footer pulled by a Datsun. All over Michigan we did go, almost every weekend. The next rig was a 26 foot pulled by a Chevy Suburban. That rig even went on some temporary duty trips for the Army. It too, went all over Michigan, almost every weekend. We liked the travel and living 'on the road'. The next rig was a 32 foot 5th Wheel pulled by a Ford Heavy Duty Pickup.

Now that was the rig. I quit my job at the Heath Department on a Friday afternoon late in 1981. On Monday, with a 'For Sale" sign in the window of our house we hit the road. That very first winter we ended up in Gulf Shores Alabama. Nice, camped 50 yards from the Gulf of Mexico.

Late each Spring we would return to Michigan. Mainly we were hosted in the yard of our many friends. It was great fun to be Grandpa and Grandma in person. But, come early Fall off we did go to a different winter location. Prime Directive, not where we went last year.

Along the way we wore out the first Ford PickUp. We got back to Michigan late that year, because we had to wait for the delivery of a replacement truck. Hard to take, we waited, for six weeks, on the East Coast at Wilmington NC.

After six years of doing loops from Michigan to the Southland we had wore out the 5th Wheel. It was replaced by a 34 foot Motorcoach. For ten more years the North - South loops continued. Each loop was a new experience. The Southeast was our winter home. Florida, as far South as the Keys, a winter in Georgia at Savanna, not mention the Florida Pan Handle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, the hill country of Texas and the Rio Grande Valley at Brownsville. The States, between, of course, laid out their Welcome Mat. A favorite the Mountains of North Carolina. Our last winter home out was Cajun Country.

Meeting folks, on the road, can be rewarding. One October day on the way South we ran into a bearded gentleman. In conversation he asked if I worked for his company. The response was, ‘No, I am fully retired and don’t work for anyone.’ He then asked if I would like to be a Santa Claus. He told me a little about the task. After talking it over with my pretty bride, we told him yes. He forwarded our names. Mom is Mrs Claus, to the Photo Company. After an interview with The Military Circle Mall in Norfolk VA, the next November we were in fact Mr and Mrs Santa Claus.

What a rewarding experience. The little ones are wonderful, full of joy, full of excitement, and at times very wise. They also are quite insistent as to what they want, and Mr and Mrs Santa had better pay attention. For eleven years, from mid Nov to the first of the year, our ‘home’ was the parking lot at the Mall. They provided, water, sewer, and electric. Grass was sort of hard to find, but being within walking distance of the children was great.

A great life style. We found a house not a home make. Home was were we parked it. Home was were we hung our hat. On the Road was almost as long as the Military Years.

The Here and Now

Home is now the Home Station. You are welcome. Return to the Home Station via the web. There you can learn all about life at the Home Station. The Home Station is a great place, it took may adventures to get there. The trip was enjoyable as is the stay.

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