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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

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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HMC Clifford Schmidt, U.S. Navy (1975-1996)

HMC Clifford Schmidt, U.S. Navy (1975-1996)

Did You Meet Your Spouse while Serving? How Did Your Story Begin, and What Challenges Did You Have to Overcome in Adjusting to Married Life in the Military?:

It was in the year 1986. This young First-Class Hospital Corpsman (HM1), attending Independent Duty Hospital Corps School in Portsmouth, VA, who just happened to be part of a football team that won a game. To celebrate, he and his teammates went to celebrate at Doc’s Inn (the base club). They all sat together celebrating their victory! A couple of the team members saw a cute young lady sitting off to the side studying. So, they invited her to celebrate with them. She politely refused, but when they threatened to pick her up in her chair, she begrudgingly obliged.

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SSG Victoria Ryan, U.S. Army (1973-1988)

SSG Victoria Ryan, U.S. Army (1973-1988)

Did You Meet Your Spouse while Serving? How Did Your Story Begin, and What Challenges Did You Have to Overcome in Adjusting to Married Life in the Military?:

In early 1978, during my assignment to West Point, I began dating a fellow enlisted soldier, Rodney Helmers, whom I met while I was serving as Charge of Quarters (CQ) one evening. I had never had someone of Rod’s personality and temperament in my life. He was like a breath of fresh air. To this day, I can honestly say that his kindness, generosity and work ethic were above and beyond any expectations I’d ever had of any man. There was nothing that he would not do for anyone, if it were within his power. Rod’s laid-back, even-tempered and compassionate characteristics set him apart.

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HM1 Laura Schmidt, U.S. Navy (1980-1992)

HM1 Laura Schmidt, U.S. Navy (1980-1992)

Did You Meet Your Spouse while Serving? How Did Your Story Begin, and What Challenges Did You Have to Overcome in Adjusting to Married Life in the Military?:

Once upon a time… That’s how all love stories begin, isn’t it? Laura Grunst, a young servicewoman, was attending the Naval School of Health Sciences in Portsmouth, Virginia. She would spend her time studying with her classmate Angela at the base club. The bartender would let the two study in a private, quiet area with their books sprawled out on the table and pitchers of soda to keep them going.

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AGCS(NAWS) Terry L. Latham, U.S. Navy (1964-1992)

AGCS(NAWS) Terry L. Latham, U.S. Navy (1964-1992)

Did You Meet Your Spouse while Serving? How Did Your Story Begin, and What Challenges Did You Have to Overcome in Adjusting to Married Life in the Military?:

It was only 9pm but I was in bed as my 12 hour watch started at 0800 and that meant a 6am getup and hour commute to downtown London on the tube. A knock on my door woke me up. I shuffled in my robe downstairs to the door and opened it up to find two blokes who I had met at the local pub standing there. “We pulled a couple of dolly birds in from the pub and told them this Yank had a party going on so they followed us here…can we bring them in?” I have to get up early….but they insisted…so…I left the door open and went back into my bedroom cautioning them …”Don’t leave a mess…don’t drink up all my booze.” About 30 minutes later I hear yelling and doors slamming and I get up…throw my robe on and go out into the hallway. The two blokes are in the hallway knocking on the closed bathroom door…and I could hear the sound of a female crying from inside the bathroom.

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Sgt Jeff Welch, U.S. Air Force (1986-1990)

Sgt Jeff Welch, U.S. Air Force (1986-1990)

Did You Meet Your Spouse while Serving? How Did Your Story Begin, and What Challenges Did You Have to Overcome in Adjusting to Married Life in the Military?:

After Tech School, I went to Beale AFB to work on the SR-71 Blackbird. My first day at Beale, the Deputy Base Commander was speaking at a newcomers’ briefing and asked if anyone liked to sing. I raised my hand. He “ordered” me to come the following week to the “all ranks” choir practice. I showed up, and while singing, I spotted a beautiful 2nd Lieutenant, Sandee, on the other side of the choir. She came over to welcome me to the choir at the end. Over the next months, we talked after each practice. In the spring, we had a cookout for the choir, where I spent most of the time talking to her (we were not in uniform like we were at practices or events). We were together so much that day that the Base Commander (invited by his deputy) mistook us as “a couple.” Nobody there wanted to tell him that I was enlisted; he thought I was an officer. After that, I asked her out… “I mean, why not?” I said, “The Base Commander already thinks we are dating!” Very reluctantly, due to strict fraternization rules back then, she agreed we could meet at her apartment (off base) to talk more freely. I left the next morning as a contestant with my quartet, working our way up to the Air Force Worldwide Talent contest and trying out for the Air Force’s Tops In Blue entertainment showcase. We won 1st Place Vocal Group, and I was also selected to go on the 1987 tour of Tops In Blue!

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CPT Timothy Ford, U.S. Army (1982-1999)

CPT Timothy Ford, U.S. Army (1982-1999)

Did You Meet Your Spouse while Serving? How Did Your Story Begin, and What Challenges Did You Have to Overcome in Adjusting to Married Life in the Military?:

How a Disco, a Sergeant, and a Misaddressed Letter Got Me Married. I met my wife, Gerda, in the fall of 1985 while serving my first duty assignment with Delta Company, 2‑36 Infantry, 3rd Armored Division. I was a young private, still figuring out Army life, when I tagged along with my squad leader, Sergeant Dave, and a squad mate, Mike, to a Disco Tek in Wetzlar, Germany. I thought I was escaping the barracks for a night. What I didn’t know was that I had walked straight into what was meant to be a double date: Mike with Julie, and Dave with a young woman named Gerda.

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