I grew up in Battle Creek, MI. I graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1982 and in 1983, I left home for the US Navy where I was trained to be a Aviation Electronics Technician. I was at San Diego for Boot Camp, Millington, TN for my Aviation training. I was in two squadron that were sister squadrons and had a unique mission. One was VQ-4 in Maryland and the second was VQ-3 in Hawaii. I was discharge and attended college to become a Emergency Medical Technician and then a Paramedic. I met my wife at my first EMS job, and we married in 1994. Jan 2026, she suddenly passed away. One of my bosses got me hooked and genealogy. Since 2000, it has kept me out of trouble.