JERE SIKORSKY

If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans for the future!!!
 
Going into graduation, I was looking at attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now VA Tech) with a major in Animal Science in their College of Agriculture.  I thought, maybe Air Force ROTC since I would be in the Corps of Cadets there - a requisite for being in the Regimental Band.  Looking back, I'm constantly amazed that I was admitted to VA Tech and that I could become a Highty Tighty!! Highty Tighty is a name given to the band and used for the members as well.  As is often the case, what seems strange at one point becomes normal at another.  That silly sounding name, an old Virginia word for "Showoff", came to be something I wore with pride long after my days at Tech and carry to this day.  Just a few years ago, one of my former classmates pulled me into the VA Tech Alumni Association and the Highty Tighty Alumni Band.  I have attended several homecoming weekends and have marched with the band in both homecoming parades and the pre-game performance at the football games.

To say I was a poor student would be kind and, during the summer between my sophomore and junior years, I felt I needed to change my major and had no idea what I wanted to do.  I was having serious doubts about a long term career in my major.  Feeling that I could skip a quarter and get my act together, I stayed back in September '67.  In 1967, that was not even something that should have been considered.  Before I could even miss registration for classes, I received my draft notice and orders to report.  I went to Allentown to enlist in the Air Force, almost wound up in the Marine recruiters office and since the Air Force recruiter was out to lunch, had a nice chat with the US Army recruiter and wound up enlisting.  After all if you enlist, you get more choices, right???  Well, I chose my occupational field and got a delay on my report date but, that was all the choice I got!!  After basic training and schooling, I reported directly to Vietnam and spent a year over there.  While my classmates at Tech were graduating and being commissioned in their respective services, I was counting the days 'til I got home.  I spent another 14 months in the Army and then separated, going back to a job at Sears.  God is still chuckling at this point!!!

After Vietnam, I met a girl who I eventually married after separation from the Army and had two amazing daughters.  After Vietnam, my only goal was to settle down, have a job and raise a family. God is still laughing.  My marriage failed and, after ten years at Sears, I moved to a career at Kraft Foods in Fogelsville where I held many different food production jobs.  I retired after almost 29 years with my last position being that of an Operations Coordinator.  Sometime after my wife and I split up, a friend stopped to visit and talked me into joining the PA Army National Guard.  I thought it would be something to do to fill in some empty time.  Again, God is chuckling!!  I retired from the National Guard in 1999 with the rank of First Sergeant after serving 23 years in The Guard and achieving almost 27 years combined service.  I have two amazing daughters and four wonderful granddaughters.  My older daughter, Jodi, lives in the Tampa Bay area in Florida and Gena lives in suburban DC, giving me ample opportunities for great visits. There was another broken marriage in the mix as well which has convinced me that I am much better at being a father and a soldier than I could ever be as a husband.

I am currently, fully retired from two fairly successful careers.  I wouldn't say they were fantastic but, they were emotionally rewarding and gave me a good income and benefits along with ample retirement and, that's a good thing!!  All in all, I think it's been a hell of a ride. I had the chance to lead a pretty interesting and rewarding life full of a lot of twists and turns.  Some experiences were great and others, not so much.  I have a great family, many wonderful friends and I managed to give God a really good laugh.