Page 72 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Special people you met? and a fellow dietitian recruited me. We had recently
My First Sergeant was Sergeant Patton. He had been moved to Lubbock from Guam where my husband went to
raised to the rank of Major in World War II. He came back flight school.
into the Army to fulfill his 20 years and get his retirement.
When I took over Company B he said, “Lieutenant, I have Bootcamp?
been a Supply Officer, a First Sergeant, and a Company I never went to bootcamp. At the time I joined, I came in
Commander. I have had every job there is in an infantry as an (03) Captain with direct experience, so I didn’t have
company. If you have any questions, bring them to me.” to go to bootcamp because I came in with enough rank. I
He was a great soldier and a great help to me. did have to take online classes.

Best and worst meals? First assignment?
The food was great. My Mess Sergeant cooked the best I was a dietitian with 829th Station Hospital in Lubbock,
fried eggs I have ever had in my life. He may have been TX. I was responsible for the food service for the hospital.
cottoning to me because I was the Mess Officer. We also fed everyone during drill weekends, summer
camp, and other units assigned to us from time to time.
How does your military experience affect your life today? If I was ever called up for active duty, I would have been
I had a lot of responsibility as a young Lieutenant being responsible for patient care.
the Company Commander of a basic training company of
250 men at the age of 23. I leaned heavily on my non- Favorite post?
commissioned officers. If you supported them, they I had two favorites. One was at a combat support hospital
supported you. in Tampa, Fla. I got to go to Germany for exercises with
them. The other was a medical command in San Antonio
Last year I got to go to Washington, D.C. on the Honor where I spent my last ten years of service. I was the chief
Flight. What a wonderful experience! If you are a veteran, dietitian responsible for all Reserve dietitians. I learned a
I would encourage you to do two things. lot about what was going on in the medical field within the
1. Sign up to go on the Honor Flight. Army and about the policy and planning process. I had a
2. Sign up to help with Lubbock Meals on Wheels. hand in determining training and policy.
You will be very happy that you did both of these things. I
have been volunteering at Lubbock Meals on Wheels for 20 Special people you met?
years. Col. Jessie Brewer was the Corp Chief that determined that
I could come into the reserves as a Captain.
Audrey McCool – LMOW Col. L. Sue Standage was the Chief Dietitian and even Corp
volunteer since 2014 Chief, at one time. She was very innovative and forward
thinking. Col. Richard Lynch was a Chief Dietitian who
was very good about thinking ahead and planning for the
Branch and rank? future.
Army Reserves, Army
Medical Specialist Best and worst meals?
Corp The best was anything that my cooks and I prepared.
(06) Bird (full) We went to a couple of competitions. We also had the
Colonel best coffee. I had a Senior Sergeant who was good at
Joined in Lubbock ‘procurement’.
-829 Station The worst was anything that others prepared.
th
Hospital
How does your military experience affect your
Motivation to life today?
join the military? It helped me understand my husband of 50 years and his
I was frustrated with career. I learned a lot about commodities and government
all of the red tape, paperwork and policy which has helped me in my career. I
paperwork, and regulations that I was helping my husband learned how to manage people which helps with my family
with in the Navy. I decided to join the reserves to better of 24 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
understand what I was doing. A position became open,

72 Lubbock Senior Link