82nd-combat-engineer-members-top-1jpg.jpg

GUYS SHORT STORIES

82nd MESSAGE BOARD
GUEST BOOK
2010 REUNION MYRTLE BEACH
REUNION FUNDS
COMMANDERS CORNER
PHOTO ALBUMS
NEW PAGE THEN & NOW
LOCATED MEMBERS
WWII FIND
ORDERS PAGE
HQ CO ROSTERS
A CO ROSTERS
D CO ROSTERS
82ND HISTORY
82nd MEMBERS WWII
WWII Members Commander's Column:
CELEBRITIES WWII PROFILE
82nd MEMBERS KOREA
BERLIN CRISIS
82nd MEMBERS VIETNAM
CHAPLIN'S CORNER
MEMBERS PROFILE
MEMBERS YET TO BE LOCATED
OUR CELEBRITIES
SLIDE SHOW & VIDEO
HOW THIS ALL STARTED
82nd UNIT CREST ORDER
DECEASED MEMBERS WIFE
AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
December 7, 1941
WHY "TAPS" IS PLAYED
Star Spangled Banner
God Bless America
PATRIOTISM
INTERESTING STORY OF MEMBER
LINKS
GUYS SHORT STORIES
237th HISTORY
82nd SERGEANTS
82nd OFFICERS
82nd LAST CHAPLAIN
82nd & 237th HAPPY DAYS
Chaplain Carey 2009 News Article
D-DAY MEETING 2009
WWII 82nd June 10 to13 2010 Reunion
WWII Members 2009 REUNION & Minutes
WWII 2010 LUNCHEON
2009 WWII REUNION FL.
2008 LEONARD WOOD TOUR
2008 REUNION MINUTES & PHOTOS
2007 REUNION MINUTES & PHOTOS
2006 REUNION MINUTES & PHOTOS
FORT WOOD NEWSPAPER
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
LETTER HOME
TAURUS APR 13 1963
TAURUS APR 20 1963
TAURUS APR 27 1963
TAURUS MAY 4 1963
TAURUS DEC 21 1963
TAURUS JAN 14 1964
WEATHER PAGE
"THINK ABOUT THIS"
TERMS
Security & Privacy Notice
CONTACT US
TODAYS OFFICERS

zzzzzthinkingman.jpg

IF YOU HAVE A SHORT LIFE STORY  AFTER BAYREUTH, BAD KISSINGEN OR BAMBERG DAYS AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH ALL, PLEASE TYPE ONE AND SEND BY US MAIL OR  E-MAIL ONE  AND WE WILL POST IT HERE.

roland-joiner.jpg

ROLAND JOINER: SHORT STORY

I, SP-5, Roland Joiner, left the 82nd Engineers in late 1964 and went to Ft. Hood Texas to the 17th Engineer Battalion. I went back home to Iowa in January, 1965, long enough to get married. My wife, Phyliss, came to Texas a month later and we were there until March, 1966. My wife and daughter went back to Iowa and I went to Germany for 4 months with the 10th Engineer Battalion. I got out of the Army with 8 years, 9 months of service and went back to DeSoto, Iowa and helped build Interstate 80 from there to Interstate 35 west of DesMoines. I left that job in October, 1966 and went to work for the U. S. Post Office in Des Moines. I was there until August 3, 1999 when I retired. I have not worked too hard since then. You probably think I didn’t work very hard at the post office, but I did.

We have a daughter and a son. Our daughter is married and has 3 sons. Our son isn’t married but will be April 10, 2010.

We have attended all three 82nd Engineer Battalion reunions and have enjoyed meeting all the guys and their wives and talking about old times. Everyone should try to come to the next reunion this fall. Hope to see you all there.

Roland Joiner 2/23/2010

cargin.jpg

Gene Cargin: Short Story

I was inducted into the Army, December 2, 1960 at Sioux Falls, S.D. I received my basic training at Fort Leonardwood, MO before being assigned to the 82nd Engineers in Supply for permanent duty.

In the fall of 1961 our unit was assigned to overseas duty in Germany. I went in the advance party to get things together in the barracks before the others arrived. I was with the unit for one year and eleven months and we lived in three different locations before I was discharged in November of 1962. I made a lot of good friends during those two short years and have wondered what became of everyone. While in the Reserves, I did meet a couple of the fellows during summer camp at Camp McCoy, Wis.

After discharge I returned to my former job at Cleghorn, IA as a mechanic of cars, trucks and farm machinery.

On June 18, 1966 I married my wife Donna and we continued to live in Iowa until moving to Worthington, MN in 1969. I worked for 32 years at a Chrysler Auto Dealership as an ASE certified technician for all vehicles systems.

Donna and I have two daughters, both married, and two grandsons ages four and one year. We spend many weekends visiting the boys watching them grow.

I retired on September 1, 2001 but have taken another job driving a county bus to the smaller towns in the area. I transport mostly elderly people into Worthington for shopping, medical appointments, etc.         Gene Cargin, June 12, 2006

schultz.jpg

Merlyn Schultz : Short Story
 
I left Germany in Dec. 1963 for New York. I can't
think of the ship I came home on but the name William
O. Darby sticks in my mind. It was the sister ship to
the David C. Shanks that brought me home from Hawwaii
in Dec. 1957. We had a great Christmas dinner of beans
and franks on the Darby in 1963. In February 1964 I joined the USAF as a Munitions Speacialist and retired June 1, 1978.
 
I met Louise Thompson and we were married July 17, 1964. We have three children Nancy age 41, Marty age 39 and Stacy
age 35. We have 8 grand children and the oldest one
graduated this year. We retired in Okeene, Okla. &
have been here ever since.
 
I went to work for Amtane Propane Inc. who sold out to Cal Gas Inc., then to Amerigas Inc.. Amerigas did everyone so dirty they had to shut down in the small towns do to lack of
employee's. I went to work for a oil company in Watonga,
Okla.(John Thompson Enterprises) until May 1998.
 
I found out two weeks ago I have lung cancer but they belive we have caught it in time. I feel great and my spirits are high. Had my first treatment of Kemo
today.
Merlyn Schultz  6/5/07

mcdonald.jpg

Robert MacDonald: Short Story
 
 I left Germany in December '63 for the US of A on the USNS Geiger. After 10 years of traveling the country with a parachute team went back to school on the GI Bill received  a degree in marketing. Shortly thereafter, started a construction business in the Boston area. Married a New Jersey girl I met at a drop zone in '73, settled down and had three boys. The oldest boy Scott works at the largest nightclub (Avalon) in Boston at night and a auto mechanic by day. The second boy is in school studying to  become a Physican Assistant.  The youngest, Brendan, was planning to make the Army a career but passed away at Norwich Military University. Last summer made 65 parachute jumps for my 65th birthday to raise money for military personnel at Norwich.  This year I plan on riding my Harley to Pepperall Airport and jump a vintage WWII B17 bomber to help raise money for military cadets.
That's about it for me.  Will receive my first Social Security check next week. Party time!!!
Robert MacDonald 5/06/07

lucy.jpg

Donald (Ben) Lucy: Short Story
 
We have one child, a son.  We have three grandchildren, two boys and a girl.  I have been in farming all my life.  We moved to Louisiana shortly after my discharge and spent four years there.  Then back to Missouri where I farmed for myself.  We moved to North Carolina in 1991 and are still here.  We lived in Edenton, NC on the East coast for a number of years and survived Hurricane Isabel in 2003 without too much damage to our home.  Our son and his family live in Archdale, NC so we moved to Statesville, NC to be closer to them when we retired in 2004.  However, I still work part time in agriculture.  I don't know when I will fully retire.  I am a cancer survivor, post 8 years since diagnosis.  We are active in our local church.  We love to go antiquing and exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway when we can.
Donald (Ben) Lucy 4/25/07

royp.jpg

Roy Petska: Short Story
 
 Left the service came back home and married my only girl friend (Donna) ,went to work on my old job at mirro alumin, Didn't want to make a living there, Was just about ready to go back in and Anheuser Busch, called me so I went over there and stayed for 38 years, I'm retired now but Donna is part owner in a realestate company, do a lot of traveling Been to Ireland last year, this year going to germany. Been to hawaii mexico, Donna was to India. So We keep pretty busy. Well thats my short story                
Roy Petska 4/18/07

murphy1.jpg

Lloyd Murphy: Short Story
 
After I got out the Army I went to work as a Welder. I worked on bridges and dams for a  few years, then went to work in maintenance at aircraft plant. I went to work For the U.S. Airforce in 1970 and retired from there in 2000. I was the deputy chief of Operation and maintenance in the Civil Engineering Squadron. I got married in 1964 and have one daughter,one son, and one grand daughter.
Lloyd Murphy 4/18/07 

lamer.jpg

Don Lamer: Short Story 

3 years (March, 1962 thru March, 1965) in the Army Corp of Engineers (spent 30 months in Germany September, 1962 thru March 1965)   35 years (March 1966 thru October 2000) with the Auto Club of Michigan: (AAA Insurance Company)       Positions held:      Claim Rep, Claim Supervisor, Regional Staff Assistant, Assistant Branch Manager , Branch Claim Manager, Regional Supervisor, Special Assignment to expand Structured Settlement Program, Special Assignment as the Claim Technical Editor/Communications Coordinator,  Claims Examiner and Prepared Training Manuals & conducted numerous seminars involving ‘Survivor’s Loss Claims & Self Employed work loss claims & usage of CPAs

Took advantage of an Early Retirement offer from AAA in October 2000

Up until retirement was a past President and served on the board of directors for the Michigan Adjusters Association for over 10 years

Up until retirement served as an Arbitrator for over 6 years with the Arbitration Forum

Following retirement from AAA have been "contracted" by AAA to prepare a Survivors Loss training manual and conducted a training seminar

In 2003 and 2004 have conducted 2 separate special Claim Audits for AAA involving survivor’s loss & work loss claims and more recently catastrophic medical "No Fault Losses"

In 2004 up until May 2005 was an Independent Contractor and handled computation of Medicare Set Asides to facilitate settlements in Worker’s Compensation claims

In May 2005 "Retired" and spend most of my time getting on my wife’s nerves!

On a personal note: I was married in Bad Kissingen Germany on November 14, 1964 to a local Bad Kissingen Freulein. We are still married (that say’s a lot for her tolerance level)! We have no children; however, our two puppies keep us rather busy! (They like to start our day and go for walks between 3 and 4 A.M.).

Don Lamer  2-3-07

davis.jpg

 CLEO (BUTCH) DAVIS 

Hi Guys, I’ll try to tell you a little bit about me, since Army days. I married a girl from KY. Her name is Julia Ann. We’ve been married 44 years. We had a son born 2/6/63. His name was Terry Alan. He passed on to be with the Lord 7/20/96. What a great loss it was for us. We live here in KY. Been here since 1984. We both are retired trying to take care of each other and growing older together. HA! HA!I have gone so far over the hill now that I don’t remember the hump. HA! HA! HA! I have been disabled since 1994. I would love to hear from any of you. All I’m good for now is to talk. HA! HA!

May God bless you all Cleo (Butch ) Davis

tedcarr.jpg

bell.jpg

             CLINTON M. BELL (SHORT LIFE STORY)
"Clinton Bell joined the Regular Army as a high school dropout in July 1964.  His first assignment was with the Army Security Agency where he attended Morse Code Interceptor training at Ft. Devens, Mass.   Private Bell departed CONUS in January 1965 for his first permanent party assignment with Co A, 82D Engr Bn in Bad Kissingen, Germany.  In this assignment he was a RTO and Jeep driver for the 2nd Platoon Leader, with subsequent assignment to the Commo Section.  During this assignment Bell applied for WO Flight Training and was accepted.   After promotion to SP4 he attended the 7th Army NCO Academy in Bad Toelz, Germany graduating with honors and received 7th Army allocation promotion to E5 as part of this achievement.   He continued to serve with Co A as assistant squad leader and training NCO in BK and later on when the company moved to Bamberg.  In September of 1966 he departed Germany for assignment to WO Flight School at Ft. Wolters, Texas.   He and several other "prior service NCOs" resigned from flight school for personal reasons and Bell was assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO as assistant squad leader in the 5th Engineer Battalion, where he performed many different duties.  Bell volunteered for duty in Vietnam and arrived in-country May 1967 with subsequent assignment to the 86th Engineer Battalion as 12B40 Asst Squad Ldr in Co B. After his promotion to E6 in October 1967, he was assigned as Team Leader and NCOIC of the war's first Rome Plow Team and was dispatched to several long term field assignments including deployment with 11ACR and 9ID during the 1968 Tet Offensive.  Upon return to Ft. Leonard Wood in June 1968, he was assigned as Career Counselor and 5th Engineer Battalion  Re-enlistment NCO.   He attended the Army Recruiting and Career Counselor Course in April 1969 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana graduating first in his class as honor graduate.   Subsequent to this training, he was contacted by the Sergeant Major of the ARCC School and offered an instructor's position with the school.   He accepted and arrived at Ft Ben in July of 1969 where he served at the Adjutant General School until September 1972 when he entered College to pursue under-graduate studies finishing his BS in Business Administration December 1973 graduating Cum Laude.  He was promoted to E7 while attending college in November 1973 and subsequently assigned in January 1974 to Ft. McPherson, Georgia as Installation Career Counselor at FORSCOM Headquarters.  Bell sought and received a direct appointment to the Army Medical Service Corps and was commissioned to Second Lieutenant on July 2, 1974...being a Senior NCO one day and the most junior officer in the Army was an experience !  Bell attended Officer Basic Training at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas with subsequent assignment to Ft Lee, VA in September 1974 to Kenner Army Hospital.  During this assignment he served as Ombudsman, Chief of Personnel, along with several additional duty assignments, completed the Adjutant General Personnel Officer's Course, and also completed a Masters in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. Bell was reassigned to the 56th Medical Battalion at Ft. Ord, CA and served as Commander of the HQs Company and Battalion S-1.  During the first 60 days of his assignment, he led deployment of the unit to Germany under auspices of REFORGER and remained deployed for 6 weeks in a field environment supporting field medical training and active delivery of medical care to REFORGER units.  During this assignment, Bell was promoted to Captain, attended the Adjutant General Senior Personnel Management Officer Course, and using several criteria including leadership and other accomplishments in course of military duties, was recognized by the Division Commanding General as being in the top 3 of 150 company grade commanders at Ft Ord in 1979.  Bell arrived at Ft. Sam Houston, TX in December 1979 to attend the Army Medical Department Officer Advanced Course.  Upon completion in June 1980, he attended the Military Comptroller Course at Ft. Ben Harrison, Indiana with subsequent assignment as Comptroller of the Frankfurt Army Regional Medical Center serving in this capacity until May 1981 when assigned to the 196th Station Hospital at SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium.  Here Bell served as Chief Financial Officer for the SHAPE Medical Center supporting all member NATO nations until August 1985; achieved Regular Army Commission; and selected for promotion to Major.  He was then assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center serving in serial assignments as Force Development Officer, Adjutant General, Director of Information Services, and finally Administrator for all non-clinical services of Madigan's large Surgical Department including 190-beds, ICU, outpatient services and surgical residencies.  During this assignment he completed a Masters in Health Care Administration subsequently retiring from active duty December 1988.   Civilian Bell then joined a Blue Shield Plan in Bellingham, Washington as Vice President of Operations, becoming their VP and Chief Information Officer in 1997.  He left this company in December 1998 due to his spouse's illness and stayed with her until her demise in 1999.   He then joined a Third Party Administration company specializing in Medicare services as Vice President of Operations and remained with them until December 2005. Clint remarried in January 2005 and has found peace and happiness after the death of his long time wife and friend of 32 years; he is now learning to play the guitar all over again after 40 years, considering options for the future, and just enjoying life.  He and his wife Wendy will be touring Italy in September and October of 2006 and will unfortunately miss the upcoming 82nd Engineer reunion due to this pre-planned trip to Europe.  They make their home in Bellingham, Washington."
 
Peace to you and yours Eddie,
 
Clint
 

jim.jpg

JIM OTTEVAERE (SHORT LIFE STORY) 

After I was discharged in late June of 1964, I spent most of the summer bumming around with good friends and fellow 82nd Hq Co alumni, Jim McHugh and Bob MacDonald.

Between 1965 and 1972 I attended college (Indiana University), got married to Marilyn, (wife of 40 years). Had two children, Jim, (an MD) and Dawn, (a PhD).  They have blessed us with four grand children, (two boys and two girls).

I started my business career working for Kaiser Jeep, later called AM General, in international contracts and marketing, selling U.S. military vehicles and hardware to friendly foreign governments. In 1978 I formed my own company to design and manufacture weapons systems for the U.S. and foreign governments. By the early 1990s the company had grown large enough and successful enough to attract attention from several major defense contractors. In 1994 I sold the company to Lockheed/Martin, and retired.

Since then I have spent my time pursuing several of my life-long hobbies and avocations. We spend our winters in horse country at our home in the Palm Beach Polo Club in Florida and the summers are spent on our small horse farm in Michigan. Too many horse related injuries and a bout with cancer have retired me from competitive riding, but we still keep and train a few “pet” horses. I also spend as much time as I’m able at my cabin on the Manistee River, near Grayling Michigan, fly fishing the AuSable water shed, a pursuit that started back in 1952. Jim McHugh, Bob MacDonald and I have remained fast friends. We are usually able to visit several times each year. Even after all these years we are still able to tell new stories of our experiences and to remember more names of our friends and acquaintances. Admittedly, the stories have become more vainglorious, and some of the names may well have come from an old war movie, but all the same, we have maintained an affectionate connection to those coming of age years in the “Old 82nd”.

turner.jpg

David C Turner (Short Life Story)

I was discharged from Fort Hamilton in Jan. 1965 and returned home to Lansdale, Pa, approximately 18 miles west of Philadelphia.I met my first wife and got married in 1966.We had two girls, Lisa, born in 1967 and Michele, born in 1972.

I was involved in our local ambulance squad and went on to become an instructor in both firefighting and rescue services. I taught courses for many years at our local fire academy. I am still a volunteer firefighter and have 30 + years of service.

I was hired by Merck & Co. which is a large pharmaceutical company, in 1969. I held many different jobs at Merck, until I retired at age 55 in Dec. 2000.

I was divorced in 1993 and remarried to my present wife, Sue, in 1996. Sue and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary in April of 2006. We purchased a 1962 Corvette in 2003 and have been restoring it since then. It is now complete and we take it to many car shows in the area.

David C Turner 5/6/06

nathan.jpg

NATHAN STOUT’S (SHORT LIFE STORY)

Just to let you know who I am.

When I left Bad Kissingen, Germany I went to a unit that was going to Vietnam so I went with them in Oct. 1965 and was there until Jan 1967. From there I went on leave for 30 days and then I moved my family to Ft. Leonard Wood. Was only there a year and went back over seas, but this time it was to DMZ in Korea. Was there 13 month and then went back to Ft Leonard Wood.

From there I was sent to Alaska so we moved up there for 4 years. Boy that was the best duty that I had in my 21.5 years and after that we moved to Ft. Hood Texas. 13 months later I was back in Germany and we were there 3 years.

From there we moved to WA. State. I was 1st Sgt of A Company 15th Engineers for I was on the E-8 list, however in Aug. 1980 I said its time to retire and I didn't make E-8. That’s ok for it was time to go. I retired as a E-7 PSG.

We now make our home in WA. State. After I got out I did a little of this and a little of that. I didn’t get rich but I sure as hell had a lot of fun. My wife, Peggy, and I have been married 45 years in June of this year. We have 2 kids Frank & Debra and 5 grandkids now.

Retirement is great, but I still do some clowning around as Whiney The Clown for Hospitals and Retirement Homes. It’s a lot of fun to see the people smile and forget about all that pain they are in and I forget just how much pain that I am in from this arthritis I have. Arthritis is one bad boy!

Thank you for your time. As for me, time is all I got.

Nathan Stout   01/04/06

jackson1.jpg

DON JACKSON SHORT STORY
HI, JUST A NOTE TO  LET YOU KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT ME.  l LEFT THE ARMY IN  NOV. 1963 HAVE BEEN AN OPERATING ENGR. SINCE, FOR OVER 40 YEARS NOW RETIRED. KAY AND I HAVE 5 CHILDERN AND 8 GRAND KIDS, THEY WILL BE HERE FOR THANKSGIVING EXCEPT THE  ONE THAT LIVES IN L0UISIANA. KAY ALWAYS MAKES A GREAT DINNER. I'M GOOD AT THE EATING PART. 
DON  JACKSON   11/22/05 

aaathomasburrows.jpg

THOMAS BURROWS SHORT STORY
That is correct, I was assigned to "A" Company,82nd Engrs down in Fort Leonard Wood after I returned from a tour over in Germany with the 10th Engr. Bn. 3rd Inf.Div I was assigned to the motor pool and was the company dispatcher under SFC Hazelgrove. I used to go home to chicago every weekend that I could get a pass to see my girl who is now my wife and has been for the last 43 years. Two weeks before I was suppose to get out (Oct 1,1961) I was extended and we all shipped out to Germany. No need to tell you that was a big kick in the ass. Ended up in Bayrouth with V11 Corps driving a truck and mostly field duty in Graf. Came back to the States 4 months later (by ship)  and got out Jan 1962. One of my Pals while in the 82 Engrs who was also from Chicago was a guy named Ross Anthos, he was also in the motor pool and drove the low boy that hauled the TD-18 dozer around. Lost touch with Ross over the years. My closest friend was a guy named Eddie Waun, we went thru basic togeather, went to germany the first time togeather and when we came back to the states and ended up in Fort Leonard Wood I went to the 82 Engrs and he went to 921 Group HQ down the road from us. He didn’t have to go back to germany as we did. I have been trying to remember you but the memory isnt what it used to be. I don’t even remember which platoon I was in while I was with A company, 82nd engrs. If you go to classmates.com to the school listings..go to Chicago Vocational High School, class of 1958 and look at my profile, from there you can go to photos, I have a few posted from my Army days, let me know if I look familiar to you.
You know, I must have been in 1st platoon also as I believe Sgt Gagnon was my squad leader. I don’t remember who my platoon leader was as I had so many over the 3 and a half years I was in. The Sgt I remember the most was Sgt Hazelgrove who was my motor sgt and the guy I worked for every day and also was very instumental in getting me a pass every week that I wasn’t on the duty roster so I could go home to Chicago to see my gal. Usally Ross Anthos would make the trip with me and I would drop him off on the northside of chicago where he lived and proceed to go home to my place on the south side. Yea, back in those days it was Route 66 all the way. (two lane blacktop) Took 8 hours to get from Leonard Wood to Chicago. Had an old 52 Merc at the time that finally gave out and a few times Sgt Hazelgrove let me use his 57 red and white ford which was like brand new since he never went anyplace. I seen my old Pal Ross Anthos name and phone number on your listing and plan to call him this afternoon, havnt talked to Ross in over 40 years, hope he remembers me. Thanks for the E mail.
                                           Tom Burrows

aaamoney1.jpg

WIllie (Money) Monelyon short story
Hello All
Whats happening I have been trying to find some of the fellows from my time in different times,and places in the military,but was never succesful.My wife went in to google search today,and typed our name in she was at work and a little bored,and up popped the 82nd.
engr.website with my name their.I was never so surprised in my whole life. I had contact with Jody Potts until the late 70s.He was stationin Aschaffenburg,But lost contact after he moved.I also had contact with Willie Neal we were in Vietnam in the
19th.Engr.together.65/66
We also met again around 1977or1978 he was stationed in Dexheim 12th.engrs.He was a  1st sargent their,But they had to cut off his left arm just below the shoulder.He got in a
fight and hit a guy in the mouth,And it became infected,because he waited to long to go to a doctor.They shipped him back to walter reed,and I never heard from him again.
I got out of the military in 1974 and stayed in Germany.I started working for the government as a civilian.I just retired last September with 31 years 45 total with military time.  i am a cetified chef cook.but i retired as a club manager for the air force at rhein main airbase.
Now i am just living the good life and enjoying myself. I go back to the states every year for about 4 weeks for vacation say hello to everyone and come on back.
Money Monelyon 8/16/2005

aaaeddie2.jpg

EDDIE J. COZART SHORT LIFE STORY
Hello All
This is a little story of me after I left the Army Sept. of 1963.
Was discharged in New York City and road the bus home to Oklahoma. Man that was a long trip the slow way.
Got a job at a helicopter plant here in Frederick in Oct. of 63 and worked there till May 64. Didn’t like that job to good due to being inside and no cooling system in the plant. A friend of mine Dad had combines and went on the wheat harvest and they asked me to go so I said bye bye to the helicopter plant. That was a miss take  due to it was so hot on the harvest that summer.
Got back home in Oct from the harvest and there were no work around here so thought it best to get out of Oklahoma and go to Texas. Wound up in Ft Worth in Nov. of 64 and went to work at White’s auto centers as a salesman. Worked at White’s till March of 66 and got on at General Dynamics that was an airplane plant that built the f-111  in Ft Worth. I was a crane operator  there that moved the planes down the line in the plant. Got Married to my first wife in 66  and had 2 girls with her. Worked at G.D. until there was a large layoff in 1972. Went back to work at White’s Auto centers in 72 as a manager of one of there departments. I new this guy that had 5 Curtis Mathis T.V. stores in the Ft Worth Metroplex and he asked me to come to work for him as his General manager in 73. So I took him up on his offer. The owners son grew up and was starting to give me headaches so I saw it was best I move on to something else. That was in 1980 when I left the Curtis Mathis Stores.
My Brother-in-law and I were in the Car Bs. Part time from 1970 to 1980 in Ft Worth. We leased ½ of a car lot there and the owner  of the lot would sale our cars while we were not there for 1/3 of the profit.
I got a divorce from my first wife in 1979  and them I re married in 1980 to Maurine my wife now. She had 2 children. We have all together 16 grandkids now.
  So by this my X Brother-In-Law decided it best we part  on the car lot so I sold out to him in 80.
Went to work for Kelly Springfield Tire Company in 1980 and can an Area Sales manager for them. I had most of Texas as my sales area. I just sold to larger tire dealers in my area and worked a lot with large trucking fleets for national account bs.
Goodyear owned Kelly Tires and in 1995 they offered a bye out and early retirement to all sales reps. and I took it.
We were still living in Ft Worth when that took place so I needed a part time job so in 96 went to Work driving a school bus in Arlington Texas (that’s next to Ft. Worth) Worked there till 2001 and they had teachers retirement an was vested so get a little retirement check from them…WOW…That’s when we moved back to Oklahoma to take care of my folks. My Dad passed away 2 years ago but my Mom is still kicking and seems to be doing just fine. My Wife is from Oklahoma also so didn’t have much trouble on getting her to come here.
Since being here in Oklahoma don’t do much but mow lawns for us and my Mom. Also was mowing the church lawn till this year . I told them I had had enough of it. So we have hired a guy to mow there now. Thank God it was a large lawn.
That’s about all…………Eddie J Cozart 
DATE JULY 18th 2005

Website Best Viewed By 800X600 Pixels On Display Settings

82nd-engineers-webmasters-1.jpg