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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

LCDR Curtis J. Smothers, U.S. Navy (1990-1999)

LCDR Curtis J. Smothers, U.S. Navy (1990-1999)

Subject: Personal Reflection on the Impact of the GI Bill and Military Transition. To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to share my personal journey regarding the transition from military service to civilian life, specifically focusing on the pivotal role the GI Bill played in my professional development. My transition was not a traditional one; when I left the United States Navy, I did so as a single parent with the responsibility of raising four small children. While the challenges of balancing parenthood and a new career were significant, the educational benefits I earned through my service became the cornerstone of my family’s future.

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Sgt Darrin Green, U.S. Air Force (1985-1989)

Sgt Darrin Green, U.S. Air Force (1985-1989)

One of the reasons I joined the Air Force in 1985 was to earn money for college. I signed up for the GI Bill, which required me to invest $1,200 and receive $10,200 later. Before my initial four-year service ended, my unit at Norton AFB shut down, and I was relocated to McClellan AFB. This was considered a change of station and required me to extend my service, which I did. However, I was allowed to separate early for college. Box 28 of my DD214 states my reason for separation was “ATTEND EDUCATIONAL FACILITY”.

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LCpl William R. Carter, U.S. Marines (1994-1998)

LCpl William R. Carter, U.S. Marines (1994-1998)

College was a quest for me that started in 1998 and ended in 2011 due to breaks in service, deployments, and family situations. Where do I begin? I had the Montgomery GI Bill from my Marine service, which covered 1994-1998, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill because I served in the Army and National Guard for OEF from 2003-2006 and again from 2009-2012. I went back into the National Guard for 3 years, the last time just to finish my last year of college to complete my bachelor’s degree.

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Maj Stephen Kobelas, U.S. Air Force (1951-1971)

Maj Stephen Kobelas, U.S. Air Force (1951-1971)

When I retired from the Air Force in 1971, after twenty years of service, I thought I was closing one chapter and opening another. Real estate seemed like the right fit — civilian, practical, and full of possibility. As it happened, the local community college, Trident Technical College, North Charleston, SC, is just a short walk from our home, and I’d already taken a handful of night courses while in uniform. Those credits transferred neatly, and with the GI Bill in hand, I enrolled and chose Accounting.

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SP5 Larry Clark, U.S. Army (1967-1970)

SP5 Larry Clark, U.S. Army (1967-1970)

Yes, I used the GI BILL to complete my Bachelor’s Degree after receiving my Draft Notice in 1967 while attending a 2-year college program with only a short time before graduation.
I enlisted in the U.S. Army “90-Day Delay” Program, which allowed me to complete the remaining days of my last college courses and attend the graduation ceremony.
After Basic Training and before my AIT Course was available, I completed a 4-week Beginner Typing course.

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Cpl Rippy Williams , U.S. Marine (1996-2000)

Cpl Rippy Williams , U.S. Marine (1996-2000)

I had gotten out of the Marine Corps on August 12th, 2000, after 4 years as an 0481, Landing Support Specialist. I soon went home to Gallup, NM, and got into a car accident the very next day after I returned home. Which now had me stuck in my hometown. I met the Director of the hemodialysis unit in my hometown at Church the Sunday after the Friday I had gotten out of the Marine Corps. He offered me a job in Dialysis, which I knew nothing about at the time. So, I started working as a certified hemodialysis technician(CHT). I had to take classes and pass a test in order to work in Dialysis. After a couple of years of working as a CHT, I realized that I was doing everything the registered nurses were doing except giving medications and doing assessments.

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LCDR Curtis J. Smothers, U.S. Navy (1962-1986)

LCDR Curtis J. Smothers, U.S. Navy (1962-1986)

Did Any of Your Children Follow Your Footsteps into Military Service? If so, Which Branch Did They Join, What Career Path Did They Take, and What Were Some of Their Most Notable Achievements?:

A Navy Father and an Army Son. Yes—one of my children did follow my footsteps into military service. My son, Mark, chose a different path, but one just as meaningful. After growing up for 20 years as the son of a Navy man, he decided the Army was the right fit for him. I was serving as an active-duty Navy officer when Mark made his decision. One of the proudest moments of my life came in 1981 at an Army Recruiting Station in Fresno, California, when I had the honor of administering the oath of enlistment to my own son. Watching him raise his right hand and swear to serve our country was a powerful reminder that service is not only a profession, but a legacy.

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SrA Diana Davis, U.S. Air Force (2002-2006)

SrA Diana Davis, U.S. Air Force (2002-2006)

Did Any of Your Children Follow Your Footsteps into Military Service? If so, Which Branch Did They Join, What Career Path Did They Take, and What Were Some of Their Most Notable Achievements?:

When I reflect on my family’s journey through military service, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. Our story is one of commitment, resilience, and a shared belief in serving something greater than ourselves—the United States Air Force (USAF). My own military chapter began when I enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned to Services—not by choice, but by necessity. Though it wasn’t the career path I envisioned, I embraced the role wholeheartedly during my four-year enlistment. Those years taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of teamwork. They gave me a deep appreciation for every function that keeps our Air Force mission-ready and instilled in me the core values that would guide my life: integrity, service, and excellence.

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MSG Michael N. Caldwell, U.S. Army (1994-2015)

MSG Michael N. Caldwell, U.S. Army (1994-2015)

Did Any of Your Children Follow Your Footsteps into Military Service? If so, Which Branch Did They Join, What Career Path Did They Take, and What Were Some of Their Most Notable Achievements?:

As a Soldier parent I never wanted to pressure any of my children to join the Armed Forces. I stressed education or just a trade. My oldest son needed no persuasion. He was Army or nothing from probably around the 5th grade. When the time came for him to start the exciting process of enlisting, he was hit with an almost impassible obstacle. When he was about seven years old he had an allergic reaction to some fish sticks that he ate. Just slight itching i the throat, but we chose to take him to the emergency room just in case. There was no treatment necessary, but the doctor prescribed an EpiPen. This EpiPen was never used and honestly forgotten about until the Army Recruiter reminded us. Instead of being a lifesaving device, this thing nearly killed my son. When the Recruiter told him that he was medically disqualified my son went into a state of depression that was extremely scary for his mother and I. We didn’t know how to help him.

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ATC Jerry A. Burkholder, U.S. Navy (1974-1994)

ATC Jerry A. Burkholder, U.S. Navy (1974-1994)

Did Any of Your Children Follow Your Footsteps into Military Service? If so, Which Branch Did They Join, What Career Path Did They Take, and What Were Some of Their Most Notable Achievements?:

Let me start by acknowledging my family’s service. My father retired from the Navy having served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Both of his brothers served in the Army. My mom’s brother served in the Army. Two cousins on my mom’s side served, one in the Navy the other in the Air Force. I, myself, was born in a naval hospital at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. I was destined to serve. I retired from the Navy after Vietnam, the Cold War and the first Gulf War. Service is in my family.

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SGT Mark Evans, U.S. Army (1971-1977)

SGT Mark Evans, U.S. Army (1971-1977)

Did Any of Your Children Follow Your Footsteps into Military Service? If so, Which Branch Did They Join, What Career Path Did They Take, and What Were Some of Their Most Notable Achievements?:

My Son, CW2 Mark W. Evans, Jr. started his military career in the Navy as an Aircrew Rescue Swimmer, he had been to Afghanistan and Bosnia in the Navy, and was one of the first to respond when the USS Cole was attacked. After 7 years he decided he wanted to be in the front of the helicopter and switched to the Army, went to Warrant Officer School and Flight School. He chose to fly the Blackhawk. The most notable flight he said was, he got to fly the Washington Redskin Cheerleaders around in Iraq. He had been scheduled to fly Sadam Husain after he was captured but he had accumulated to many hours so he had to hand that flight off.

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CDR Marie Lambert, U.S. Navy (1980-2002)

CDR Marie Lambert, U.S. Navy (1980-2002)

Did Any of Your Children Follow Your Footsteps into Military Service? If so, Which Branch Did They Join, What Career Path Did They Take, and What Were Some of Their Most Notable Achievements?:

My husband and I both served on active duty in the US Navy. Jim was on active duty from 1974 to 1994. I was on active duty from 1980 to 2002. Little did we know that our son would apply for a Navy ROTC scholarship in 2005. Our son, CDR James Lambert, served as a Surface Warfare Officer on USS Bulkeley, USS Kearsarge, USS Mason, and USS Carter Hall, all home ported in Norfolk, VA. CDR Lambert is currently the Commanding Officer of the Navy Talent and Acquisition Group Mid America in St. Louis, MO. In 2016, our daughter, Elizabeth Lambert, applied for a Naval Commission through OCS in Newport, RI.

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