Let’s Go Back
To The Beginning
I was born and raised on a farm in Iowa. It was a great childhood filled with lots of siblings, family and outdoor life. We learned to work early in life but it gave us a strong work ethic and love for things like canning. During harvest season, our family and extended family would can, freeze and pickle everything we could grow on the farm. On occasion we even canned meat, to make sandwiches during the winter.
My fondest memory was with my Grandma making jam. She’d put me on a chair to stir whatever was in the pot to ensure it didn’t boil over. At the end, she’d let me lick the spoon.
These are pictures of my Great, Great, Great Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma is getting the horses ready for the wagon so Grandpa could haul the hay from the fields to the barn.
My Great, Great, Great Grandpa built this house with the help of his brothers.
This was a short distance from where I grew up.
My Great, Great, Great Grandpa and Grandma with their siblings and extended family.
Early years on the farm
I always remember growing up around animals. My favorite were always the puppies and kittens. When my brother and I were good, mom would fill up our “pool” so we could hang out it the front yard in the water.
US Army
1988-1992
Local newspaper article about my time in Desert Storm
December 24, 1990 – Leaving for Desert Shield from Frankfurt, Germany. We traveled in the cargo hold of a C141 and sat in nets for 9 hours
Liberation of Kuwait. Me with Kuwaiti soldier.
Me on a camel in Dharan, Kuwait
Basic Training, Ft. Dix, NJ
1991-1992
In June 1991, we left the Middle East and flew back to Frankfurt, Germany. Within days, everyone was on an emergency R&R leave. When I flew home into the Des Moines, Iowa airport, I had more than 50+ family and friends there to welcome me home.
Me in July 1991 on a tour to Berlin Germany. The wall was being torn down and I was able to chisel a large chunk of the wall away, which I still have today.
All The Goodies