VA Military Memories Competition
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.