I was born here in
Portland Oregon
, native webfoot that I am. Yes, I
went to grade school
(Robert Gray
Elementary), highschool,
(Wilson H.S.)
and college (U of P) here.
I currently reside in
Gresham, Oregon;
a town that once was many miles
from Portland and is now what most consider Portland's east side suburbia.
Though it may seem like I've been here all my life, I did get to see some
of the world when I was in the Army. I was stationed in Camp Carroll,
Waegwan South Korea and Schwabisch Gmund (Bismark Kaserne) in what was
then West Germany. (See below for more about me in the military).
During that time (unlike now) I was able to take vacations and see some other countries
as well. And yes, I traveled the U.S. a bit back then too...(N.Y., D.C.,
Boston). But that was a while ago...
After I got out of the service, I worked two different labor jobs over a
three year time span. (Owens Corning; roofing manufactuirng plant and Holsum Foods; food manufacturing plant)
Then I decided it was time to work my brain and not
my aching back.
So, I went to Mount Hood Community College
and it was there I learned about
Engineering. After two years there, I transfered to Portland State
University (PSU)
. But After a year at PSU I transfered to The University
of Portland (UP).
I finished my Mechanical Engineering degree in December('97) but had to wait
'till the cerimony in May to get the official piece of paper. Meanwhile I took
a few months off and relaxed.
Just when I started looking for an engineering position,
the Asian Market crashed. I held out as long as I could, kept looking, and did a
few interviews but nothing panned out. Out of desperation I started working as a
temp in a production job at Rundel Products (now bought out by
Ad Industries.)
I guess they liked me because after
they saw my resume, they asked me to stay on as a supervisor in the foil stamping
area. So, I was put in charge of the section that puts (non painted) gold/silver/or other
colored lettering and logos on ring binders, noteboks and book slip cases.
Well, as the markets got worse, and as technology has a way of replacing labor and labor being cheaper in Mexico...
I became unemployed in January of 2000.
I worked part time for a while as a laborer for Berry Plumbing and did some temp work.
And after a lot of ittermittent work,
I started working for another plumbing company in September of 2000 called
CSI Comfort Systems.
I was laid off in February of 2004 and ironicly the company is no longer in business.
I then went to work for Associated Plumbing in May of 2004 and am currently employed there.
In September of 2000 I started Plumbing Apprentice School (night school) and by
June of 2004 I was finished.
But (in order to accumulate enough work hours) I had wait untill February of 2005
to take my state exam,
Most of my family is scattered all over the U.S.
I have lots of family all over the place but most are not direct "blood
relatives." I could fill this page with names of those like my four
(technically) ex-step brothers, my cousins, aunts and uncles,
my step, and step-foster relatives. Lets just say, Christmas
was great when I was a kid. If you are really intersted in who
my family is email me.
I went in the Army as a "buck private."
I did my basic training at Fort Jackson South Carolina in
October - December 1984. I was in 2nd platoon of E-5-1 on "Tank Hill."
I then did my M.O.S. (Military Occupational Skill) training for 31M Multi-Channel
Communications equipment operator, at Fort Gordon Georgia. I was in
C-5-1 from January - April 1985, and was promoted to PV2/E2 during that time.
My first assignment was at Camp Carroll, Waegwan South Korea.
I was in D co 304th Signal Battalion from May 1985 - May 1986.
During that time (due to low promotion points) My rank grew from Pvt2
to PFC and then to SP4.
I was then sent to D co. 38th Signal Battalion at Bismark Kaserne in
Schwabisch Gmund Germany.
I was there form June 1986 - April 1988. During that time (due to high
promotion points and an influx of E5's) My rank stayed the same.
After Germany, I got out of the Army and did 4 1/2 years of
uneventful inactive reserve time.
Looking back on it all, the irony lies in the fact that both units I had
been assigned to have been deactivated. And, to make it even worse, my old
M.O.S. no longer exists.
Want to see pictures of my family, me (as a civilian and in the millitary), or some of my military equipment?
Then in March 2004 I became a licenced Journeyman Plumber in the state of Oregon.
My Family
I am no longer allowed to say which city they reside in because one viewer of my web page
decided to try and contact my sister and scared her out of her wits.
So if you want to contact them, contact me first.
My Military Experiance
While in Korea I filled out the paperwork so I could be sent to Europe
for my next assignment.
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