When and why did you decide to join the military and where were you located when you made this decision?

1976 NYC. Poverty and too much madness in my home. Had to find something better.

Where did you serve during your time in uniform?

NC - Camp LeJeune, Hawaii

What were some of your key memories during your time of service? 

I got trained as a Marine. Got to travel a lot.

What is an important value that you took away from your military experience? 

Being honest about anything in life. I dealt with a lot of prejudice being black. They called me a "backwards Oreo" - now I don't look at color, I look at the person's heart.

 What advice would you give someone interested in joining the military? 

Have to be ready for a lot of discipline. I was very introverted growing up. Military changes your whole way of thinking. They put you down and then build you up.