Tim Glass (Bear Clan) is only 16, and if the appellation of veteran could be applied to him it would be in reference to school. But if his plans work out, Marine will be added to his name in two years’ time when he graduates from Manlius Pebble Hill.

“Both of my parents were in the Marines and it seems interesting with the traveling and all,” said Tim. “It will make me more sturdy as a person, and I think I’ll come out knowing a lot of stuff. It’s a great learning experience.”

Mom Mandy John understands her son’s motivation for joining the military. She credits her time in the Marines as character building, teaching her valuable life lessons that began in boot camp.

“Getting through boot camp was the most memorable thing I did in the service,” said Mandy. “I learned how to endure everything; it made me stronger as a person.”

The generational pull toward the military began with Tim’s grandfather, Ron John (Seneca), who was in the Air Force. As for his grandson following in his footsteps, Ron believes it’s the best thing for anyone to do, crediting the military for teaching enlistees discipline and how to care for others.

Serving for 50 months, Ron taught air crews how to shoot pistols and defend themselves.

“I was a marksmanship instructor,” said Ron. “I liked being a trainer, and liked the training the military provided. I like the idea of Tim going into the service.”

Twenty-one year Navy veteran Harry Brummell (Turtle Clan) served from 1966 to 1987, noting his most memorable moments as a sailor revolved around travel. Harry said he journeyed all over the world except South America.

“I went to Africa, Asia, Europe and to Iran when the shah was in power,” said Harry. “Hong Kong was the best. We’d go there for R&R (rest and relaxation) from Vietnam. We’d go to Hong Kong for three days, then back to Vietnam. So, Hong Kong always looked great to us.”

Harry’s sister, Laurel Parker (Turtle Clan), named off a multitude of other family members who served in the various branches of the armed forces, including her husband Dale, who is a disabled Vietnam Army vet.

“We have a lot of military in the family, from my father to nephews,” said Laurel. “I’m very proud of all of them.”

When Carl Fogelberg (Turtle Clan) thinks back to his 20 years in the Army, his thoughts turn to the camaraderie the service spawns and of Germany. Carl spent seven years in Germany and has a decidedly romanticized version of his stay.

“The food, the beer, the cleanliness, even the air smells differently in Germany,” said Carl. “Going down the river in a boat and seeing all the old castles, traveling on the train, it was wonderful.

“But when I came back, it was so good to be back in the United States.”
Carl’s aunt Brenda Bush (Turtle Clan) feels a surge of patriotism when she thinks of veterans. She said she truly appreciated the military, adding, “It really makes me sad some don’t make it back or are wounded. It makes you realize how they lay down their lives for our freedoms.”

Brenda’s daughter Melissa McCann (Turtle Clan) always remembers her dad when thinking about the military. Her father, Carl Sprague (Potawatomi), served in the Pacific during World War II, and Melissa is proud to recall her father’s job in the Army, countering Japanese propaganda.

And she said she would be remiss not to mention her husband, Denis’ service, as well. He was in the Navy during the height of the Cold War and part of a surveillance operation tracking Russian vessels.

Norma Fera’s (Turtle Clan) thoughts also relive the past military service of a relative – in this case, her brother Robert Johnson (Turtle Clan).

Robert served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, as a member of a helicopter crew that was disabled while picking up injured and dead Vietnamese. The helicopter was hit after the pick up, but managed to land. They were rescued several hours later after reinforcements secured the area.

Following Vietnam, Bob became a crew chief for a helicopter training unit and went on to become the number-one crew chief on the detail that maintained Marine One, the helicopter used by the President of the United States. Bob served under three presidents.

“Where the President went, we went with him. All kinds of hours. Always had to be packed to go,” said Bob, who served under Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

“Bob had quite a career in the Marines,” said Norma. “He liked everything about it. He was a good Marine.”