biography
I was born and grew up in Coney Island in Brooklyn. I attended the NYC school system, graduating from Lincoln HS in 1958. In college, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, I studied engineering and earned a BS in mathematics. I participated in the ROTC program and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation.
I took basic training in Fort Belvoir, VA, and was assigned to the 547th Engineer Battalion in Schwetzingen, Germany in 1964. I participated in Operation Big Lift serving in Hohenfels. I perfected speaking German during my stay there and learned to ski in Berchtesgarten, Germany. In 1965, I was transferred to Fort Lee, VA and served on a special mission as Billeting Officer at the National Rifle Matches in Camp Perry, OH.
I left active duty in 1966 and finished my 6 year tour in the Army Reserves.
In 1966, I started a career in computers as a Programmer Analyst with Western Electric, and worked full time until I retired in 2016 from NYC Department of Correction on Rikers Island as their Director of Materials Management. While working there, I heard about the Vietnam Veterans of America and joined their Manhattan chapter. I also convinced the Commissioner of the Department to begin having military veteran employees marching in the Veterans Day Parade as did the Police, Fire and Sanitation Departments.
