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Dick left for
LaCrosse State University, where he majored in women and beer (not
necessarily in that order) for the fall semester. When
the grades came in, Dick decided to change directions and
headed for Minneapolis where he attended Brown Institute during 1966 and early 1967. Uncle Sam came
looking about that time and Dick joined the U.S. Navy
rather than be drafted into the Army and headed for boot
camp at Great Lakes. From there it was on to Pensacola
for "A" School to become a CTR (affectionately
known as a Ditty Chaser). Dick then headed overseas to
the Philippines to a Naval Communications Station in
Barrio San Antonio. While he was here he used his radio
training to do a rock and roll show on AFRTS. That was
great until his big mouth got in his way (again) and the
Executive Officer made it clear that his broadcasting
days in the P.I. were over. During this time, Dick
continued to correspond with several people of the female
persuasion back in "the States", and after
18months he returned to Wisconsin, dated Norma, and
before heading for Viet Nam, they became engaged. It was
a very romantic engagement?.Dick and friend, Dan Higgins
had been sipping a few beers when Dick reached a
milestone in his life, called Norma on the phone and
announced :I've decided we're getting married". Talk
about romantic!!! Dick left two weeks later for San Diego
where he spent the next month going through Survival
Training before heading over to Viet Nam. For the next
year Dick headquartered out of Camp Tien Sha (DaNang) and
Monkey Mountain, and spent time near Hue (actually a PBR
base near Tan My), near the DMZ (Cua Viet) and the Mekong
Delta area (Vung Tau). Dick returned to Wisconsin in June
1970 after his discharge from active duty and he and
Norma made wedding plans. |