We are so thankful for the men and women who have served our country and defended our freedom!
In the leadup to Veterans Day, we asked veterans across Sagora communities to share their experiences with us, including the lessons they learned and their favorite memories from their time in the US Armed Forces. We’re so thankful for those who shared their experiences with us. Here are the stories from veterans at Waterview the Point Independent Living in Granbury, Texas.
Travis M. served in the Army from 1964-1970, where he worked as a helicopter mechanic. “Hard work and determination pay off,” he says.
Glen W. served in the Air Force from 1955-1961, working as a Crew Chief aboard a KC-97 refueling aircraft. The time he spent in the Air Force was his first time away from home. “It helped me grow up and become independent,” he says.
Jessie S. served in the Navy from 1955-1958, working in a communications role. He spent time in the Pacific and learned disciplinary and supervisory skills. He enjoyed polishing the plaque on the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – an important site in Naval history.
Henry “Hank” S. says he used to get in a lot of trouble. So much so that he was sent to a military high school. After participating in ROTC in college, Hank became a pilot in the Army. “It changed my life for the better,” he says. “I’m glad we spent time serving the greatest country in the world.”
Gerald I. was in the US Navy from 1954-1957, where he served as a navigator and signalman. He is proud of his service in the military and says that it’s a great place to develop skills. “I gained a better appreciation for teamwork and the ability to accept and get along with different personalities,” he says.
Paul L. served in the Army from 1959-1962, where he handled nuclear missiles and other special weapons. Working with potentially dangerous weapons taught him the importance of accuracy and safety.
Bob K. served in the Army Security Agency from 1958-1962. The agency worked in military intelligence, specifically signals intelligence. In 1962, the United States and USSR squared off in the Cuban Missile Crisis. “[I want to reiterate] how close the Cuban Missile Crisis brought us to Nuclear War,” he says.
Clayton “Ike” C. served in the Navy from 1952-1958. He learned the importance of doing what had to be done and appreciates the discipline that his service instilled in him. His fondest memories came from trips to Cuba.
Kenneth D. served in the Army from 1958-1969 as a paratrooper and helicopter pilot aboard gunships support special operations in Vietnam. “My greatest accomplishment was saving the lives of Americans and our South Vietnamese allies,” he says. Later, he would go on to become a helicopter pilot for oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico. “My experiences in Vietnam gave me the confidence I needed as a civilian to fly to a burning oil tanker in the Mississippi River and rescue seven crew members from the water around the ship,” he says.
Ted D. served in the Navy from 2016-2018 as a musician in the Philadelphia Navy Band. He once played at Valley Forge, the famous site where George Washington’s troops quartered for the winter during the Revolutionary War.
In the mid-1940s, Don W. served as a pilot in the US Army Air Force. When the Air Force was founded, he became a part of the new branch in the same role. He would go onto serve from 1946-1977, becoming a unit commander. While a pilot, Don flew U-2 spy planes, sometimes going as high as 90,000 feet. “Be thankful that we have women and men dedicated to a career of military service protecting our great country!” Don said.