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We have talked a lot through the years, but for anyone that may not know, let’s start with a little background on time served, branch, why the navy, etc.

I served in the US Navy from 1984 to 1993(9 years, 10 months). I chose the Navy because i really liked the opportunities that it offered me more than the other branches of the military.
You more than anyone else know that “Freedom Isn’t Free”. You wrote this article on your brother-in-law who was kidnapped and murdered and made national news. How do you detach yourself from that stuff and still keep having faith in the red, white, and blue?

In a lot of ways I couldn’t detach myself from it. I went through a period of 2 years, where my families name was in the news EVER SINGLE DAY. The only distraction from everything was my job. It gave me a nice quiet place to go and not have to deal with everything that the outside world brought. I always had faith in the red,white and blue. It was a rock that I was able to lean on, and use for support.

Being part of the military, you are interjected into a life few understand, you have bonds that are hard to describe, was it hard adjusting to civilian life?

I would say even to this day, some 17 years after getting out, it is still hard in some ways. In the military, when your told to do something, you HAVE to do it. In the civilian world it doesn’t work like that at all. I am still rather regimented and gruff, in my supervisory role at work, and the petty B.S. that goes on drives me absolutely mad.

My daughter, who went thru basic training in Lackland, still has stories, still misses her squad. Anytime you had wondered during BT if you had made the right choice? Getting off the bus? Getting the haircut? Any lingering memories?

I never doubted the choice I made. I remember getting off the bus the first night, and getting to bed around 2 am, only to be woken up around 5am, when a metal trash can, came flying down the center of the barracks I was staying in. The first haircut wasn’t to bad, i kept my hair short(although not THAT short) at the time. I still have my bootcamp graduation pictures, and cruise book.

When you look up and see a flag flapping in the wind, what runs through your mind?

I think of all those who sacrificed so much so that myself and others could live in freedom.I wonder why more people take this freedom for granted.

One time you most afraid?

Probably when running through minefields in the Persian Gulf in 1987

One time you were most confident and proud:

Pretty much every day of my service. Knowing that what I did actually made a difference to someone back home.

What advice can you give anyone maybe considering joining a branch of the armed services now?

I would strongly encourage it, it will allow you to grow up in ways that you will not see or understand until years later. I wish our nations was like Israel, where everyone has to serve in the military, no matter what their income or status.

We see little sayings all the time on “Support Our Troops”, etc. What can we as Americans do to REALLY support our troops and make a difference?

The biggest thing Americans can do, is just think about the job that service men and woman do each and every day. If you know someone that is in the military or a veteran, go up to them and shake their hand, and say “thank you for your service”.

IF you had to do it all again, would you make the same choice?

I would make the same choice, It was the most rewarding job I have ever had.

What will this Memorial Day mean to you?It means the same as every other one, it is a day to remember and reflect on what sacrifices have been and still have to be made to keep us free.

The people I know in the military, and those that have served…one thing they always seem to say is…Don’t forget us. Think about us. Did you ever feel that way?

Of course, we are such an apathetic country in so many ways, and with the 24 hour news cycle, it is always here today and gone tomorrow.

If you have served, are a poster, or a vet, and you feel like answering any of these questions sent to Jon, we invite you to do that as well. Never forget.

Thank you Deb for allowing me to be the spotlight Veteran on this Memorial day. We have so many great Vets on here at Sportsjabber, that I would be remiss by not closing by saying to each and every one of them “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE”.

It is an honor being your friend Jon.

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