In my second year of Army ROTC, a cousin’s brother-in-law was killed in Vietnam. He had been commissioned into the Army at UGA and went into artillery. I married that summer and thought I had rather go to Vietnam as a private, if called. When my number came up at 100 I decided I would rather go into the Air Force. Meanwhile I was pursuing a Masters of Accountancy degree, so I went to see the ROTC Air Force Colonel. I explained I would need six months after commissioning to finish my graduate degree. He told me I could delay reporting for one year.

Just prior to commissioning in June 1972, all who had not yet been taking flight training were offered, as an alternative to four years of active duty, 90 days active duty and six years of inactive reserves subject to being called to active duty. We were told we would have to be very impressive to stay more than four years, because many officers would be moved from flight status to "desk jobs."

I graduated in December 1972 and started work for then Haskins & Sells, now Deloitte & Touche, in Atlanta. From March 1 to June 1, I reported to the Auditor General office at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. Each year I received a letter from AF Personnel in Denver asking if I wanted to volunteer for active duty and promptly sent my no thank you letter. My honorable discharge was dated March 9, 1984.