What Joining Post #287 has meant to me, James Fonder.

I joined the army in 1971 during a time when no one wanted to talk about the war. I enlisted, not drafted. I needed to find myself for I was so confused at this time about my Faith, Protest and War. I wanted to join so bad that I had to stand on two books during my physical in order to pass the height limits. This was a big change and challenge for me as I preached door to door as a youth minister, whom was taught not to believe in "killing our fellow man". But I chose to enlist. And because of that choice, I was disfellowshipped from my church for choosing the army over my church. On leave, my older brother wanted to 'show me off' to his buddies for he couldn't join with a disability. He was so proud of me and through me, he could show his pride. But that night going out, I got beaten up for wearing my uniform in my hometown in a bar by my high school classmates. Plus the bartender grabbed me by the neck and threw me out of his bar only allowing me back in if I took off the uniform. I had to wear the uniform for I was too young to be in a bar by law, yet old enough to serve for my country. And I don't even drink! I remember my brother asking me why this happened! I didn't wear my uniform the rest of the time I was home on leave. Or any other time I was home on leave. I was to leave for Vietnam after training, but at the last minute a group of us ASA soldiers were reassigned to Okinawa with the Army Security Agency Torii Station and for the 18 months I was stationed there, I planned on staying in the army. I was important to the military and felt good about whom I was. But when a bunch of us soldiers coming home were attacked by protestors at the San Francisco Airport, I had enough of blame and shame. We weren't allowed to get off the plane as the civilians. We had to go out the back of the plane down below and get out of our uniforms due to protestors waiting for us in the depot. I was short and baby faced, so I looked like a 14 year old teenager. But my friend, even in civilian clothes, still looked military and stood out in the crowd. We were told not to stop for any reason for our protection and just get to our next flight. If anything would happen, keep walking and the police and military police would handle the situation. Don't get involved! Just keep walking! My friend and I were going to have our final drink together, but the protestors grabbed him, forcing him down to the ground. I stopped to help, but my friend waved me on, as the police and MP's came to his aid. I reached my next flight. And walked into the men's room, put my uniform back on in defiance to the protestors for what they had done and I never saw my friend ever again after that. No good-byes, address exchanges, phone numbers, nothing. I decided then I was going to get out of the service and refused to volunteer anymore for jobs I was qualified for. Because I was good in my MOS, I was the only one sent to join the Special Forces with the understanding I had to make the choice to sign up for four more years. I didn't reenlist, so I was only with the Green Berets for three days and had myself transferred out to become an instructor for my MOS at Ft. Devens. My dreams of to re-up was changed and I got out of the army in 1974. I put my uniform in the closet and kept my mouth shut about being a veteran. I felt like I had no country. I wasn't important nor did I care to be anymore. I logged in the woods with my brothers and father for years hiding from the world. My Dad kept telling me I was wasting my life in the woods. I went to college from 1977 to 1980. I wasn't a good student due to not having faith in myself. Also I believed being good at something, even in education, was a safety hazard and meant nothing in life anymore. I got a Associate Degree and only needed a few more credits for a Bachelor's Degree, but I didn't push it. I got back into logging once more. And once more, my Father told me I was wasting my life. In 1991, with my Top Secret/Cryptic Clearance from the army, I took a job at Homme Home For Boys as a Counselor. I worked with AODA, Sexual Offenders and disruptive offenders. Then in 1992, I got a job as a Youth Counselor/Prison Guard at Lincoln Hills School and retired with a pension in 2006. With the job for the State, also courses I had to take for the jobs, I had enough credits for the Bachelor's Degree, but I never followed procedures to have the credits transferred. I had no love or respect for myself since getting out of the service from what I witnessed from Protestors and also from my own home town. In my job, I seen the worse in this world at times. There were many times I thought of suicide. I didn't even have faith in myself in doing that right! My weight got up to 300 pounds and before my father passed away in 2005, he talked to me into going to VA for help. My Father was a World War II Navy Veteran receiving the Purple Heart, Silver Star and suffered from PTSD, but handled it himself. My father never told me about his war experiences till I was about 25 years old, also hiding from the world. I was with my father taking him to VA Hospitals for his disability till he was put in an MRI forgetting he had scrap metal in his body. He died within 24 hours. When they handed my mother all the scrap metal from his body after cremation, I was more depressed. But I promised my father to go to Veterans for help. I went to VA meetings for controlling my weight and diabetes. In 2012, VA sent me to Jesse Jackson's in Chicago where I had Bariatric Surgery due to I was going blind from diabetes. I lost weight dropping from 50 waist to 36 waist. My eyesight was saved. I started exercising and became a spokesman for veterans on the bariatric surgery. I changed my whole prospective of life and felt I meant something once more. My final act for my father was to have his ashes taken up to Spooner to Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery entombed in a Wall with his name, rank and service. Mom will rest with him when she passes as I also will go with my wife. I was approached by a Post #287 member to come visit at one of their meetings. Though I wasn't that interested in joining, I decided to and never regretted it. For now I'm helping my fellow veterans and community, my family is proud of me and I'm making a difference for the good in everything I do. Before I had the bariatric surgery, a phycologist asked me how I felt at that time and later on after the surgery. My answer was this. "I have a lot of living to do yet in this new life and a lot of people to still piss off". He just smiled and said I'd be okay. Never judge others unless your ready to be judged. Have an open mind for all that you will encounter. And most of all, love yourself for you can't help others if you can't help yourself. Famous quote: IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN OR BELIEVE YOU CAN'T- YOUR RIGHT! It's all up to you!