All I did was type

All I did was type

I think we all remember the day we raised our right hand and took our oath. After turning 18, I enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 20, 1975 and left for Fort McClellan, Ala. As a 71L - Admin Specialist, I didn't do anything extraordinary or heroic. I just typed and answered the telephone, and was stationed at Fort Bliss and with the 71st Signal Battalion (Provisional) in Okinawa. However, I was proud to have served in some way.
I have been a member of the William W. Fahey American Legion Post 491 in Kennett Square, Pa., for about 17 years now. My son and daughter seemed to have grown up in the Legion and had the opportunity to attend Keystone Boys and Girls State; my son and husband are members of the Sons of The American Legion. Since we were a Scouting family my husband and I started Boy Scout Venturing Crew 491, chartered by my post. This crew is very active and the youth are enjoying the program. My father-in-law served in the Navy for 8 years, was a Pearl Harbor survivor, and was in all the major battles in the South Pacific. We have his military records and look at them every so often and wonder what it was like for him; he never talked about this with his family. My father was drafted during the Korean War, but was missing an eardrum and did not pass the physical. He said he tried every which way to convince the Army otherwise, but they said no. He and my mother were happy to be present during my swearing-in and graduation from basic training.
Enlisting in the Army was a good decision as it allowed me to serve my country, see the world and get an education.