Tom ward
A Karamürsel Survivor
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then |
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2012 |
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When I left Karamursel,
I went to Charleston AFB for separation. I took an early out because I didn't
have enough time for another assignment and didn't want to extend to have the
required 14 months. Went back to my hometown of Tyler, TX and got a job as
advertising manager for the local Sears store. Lasted about 4 months (they
weren't paying me anything but expected me to wear a suit and tie and look
like a big shot.) Went to Shreveport, LA and enlisted in the Army. Why the
Army? It seemed like the thing to do at the time. Best answer I have been
able to come up with. The Army sent me to Fort Hood and I went through boot
camp again. I was then sent to Fort Sam Houston, TX and went through the
Preventive Medicine course there. Preventive Medicine is the Army's name for
the Health Department. Just before I was reassigned to Fort Campbell, KY, I
married my high school girl friend. I was at Fort Campbell for only 6 months
and they sent me to Germany when the wall went up. I spent 2 years at
Kaiserslautern, Germany (In charge of VD investigations). When I returned to
the States, I was discharged at Fort Dix, NJ. Went back to Texas and went to
college. Went round the clock (no GI Bill back then) and finished 4 years of
college in 2 years and 8 months. I majored in accounting. Went to work for
the U.S. General Accounting Office (the investigative arm of Congress) and
stayed with them until I retired after 30+ years. Did an awful lot of travel
all over everywhere; South and Central America, Europe and the Far East.
Tried retirement for a while but I wasn't too successful so I went to work as
an investigator for the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Travel got to be
too much for me so I retired again. Moved to Granbury, TX; a small burg about
30 miles southwest of Fort Worth, TX. Played golf and enjoyed the good life
until I decided to get my Realtors license and sold real estate for 5 1/2
years. I finally decided to give that up on April 1 of this year. My wife and
I have one daughter. She and her family also live here in Granbury. I have
two granddaughters (one is 9 and the other is 14). My son-in-law is a cop
with the D/FW Airport Department of Public Safety. I have been married 42
years to the same lady. Since the Air Force, I have put on a lot of weight,
lost most of my hair, but I still have my teeth. Tom Ward |