Now meeting others from many different nationalities, races, and religious beliefs was nothing new as we had an exchange, and foreign students study program at our local High school, with special dormitories for the students that attended, as well have coming across many culturally different individuals throughout my early service years.  But what I was about to experience and be exposed to could not have entered my mind in anyway prior. I had completed phase one of psych school and was to move on to phase two, the final phase of training. Well I managed to get myself shipped off to San Diego, California. The beautiful sunny west coast. Now there was an eye opener… If you could possibly fathom it...it’s there in Cali. Everything imaginable was available out there, men, women, drugs, poor, rich, anything and every type of human, mechanical, supernatural, spiritual, attribute present and accounted for. I had been exposed to many things never imagined while growing up in small town New England. Even having been somewhat traveled prior, things there were just blowing me away. I was stationed at San Diego, attended didactic classes and such at Balboa Hospital complex. Meanwhile taking full advantage of unscheduled class time and other misc. military duties. Occasional trips into TeJuana, Mexico... Up the coastline to the vineyards, and other destinations, gaining as much cultural diversity I could handle. It was during this time, I had become close to an individual in my class. This person, shall remained unnamed…was of Native American Nationality. The closer we became, and the more conversations we had, I was becoming more aware of my own curiosities and spiritual beliefs. We seemed to have shared much the same with one another. At one point I was offered the chance to partake in a ceremonial event and at the acceptance of the tribal elders, agreed. This event triggered many questions and many of them left unanswered.

I had been granted a four day leave around the half way point of phase two training, and had decided I wanted to get in some hiking and see the Oregon coastline and other spots of that area. My new acquaintance and I decided it would be great to go see Crater Lake and get in some trail hiking in and around the area waterfalls. Well I was sure up for that notion, and didn’t take me long to pack some gear and we were underway. We made travel with a rented car, had anticipatory conversations, and looked forward to a great time and reprieve from classes. For those four days were ours and ours alone.

We got underway and set to some serious hiking. The area was awesome. Never had I seen such insurmountable beauty before. Crystal waters, flowing falls, rocky and roughest terrain, sights for all the senses to endure. Up to that time my hiking adventures had been limited to what I had been accustomed to from my time in the Boy Scouts and the occasional day trek I would take as a youth. Never before had I seen things like this before and in such vastness. This was almost a spiritual event; in fact I would categorize it as such for me. This had become a major focus in my life. I was in total bliss, sleeping under the stars in some of the roughest terrain I had ever experienced, the sights and sounds, and pure exhaustion at times all just seemed to overwhelm me.  Conversations had begun to swing toward the creation of such beauty, and I being with a Native American began questioning his beliefs, and confirming what I had been feeling and thought all along. I was sure I was of Native American heritage though never confirmed before.

Now I had four main focuses in my life and a short time to confirm and accomplish what I had desired. Marriage, Military career, Ancestral Heritage, and finding my niche. When I had assumed the role of an adult, I had not foreseen all that would be associated with such an undertaking. Time had passed, and we were due to return to classes the following day, I hesitantly packed out, remembering I really did not want to return to the chaotic military lifestyle, cramming classes, etc. I just wanted to remain where I was for a lifetime. As things go, I was the responsible adult, and did return to complete the tasks at hand, though never letting go of my experience of those four days.

This was the point in which I began to question my heritage and pre adoption being. Was I of Native ancestry, who were my natural parents, did I have siblings, and so many more. Upon returning to my home on leave, I put forth some of these questions to my then adoptive parents. They were really hesitant and not forthcoming with information, which in itself just fueled my belief and determination.

The subject just seemed to always go by the wayside and another replaced it as fast as the questions were asked. It would take almost another full ten years before the slightest information was to be released and obtained. More on that later though…

Successfully graduating phase two of psych school meant that I now had a chance to choose my next duty station, given the options of three. My destination was as close to Vermont as I could be, pending the upcoming marriage to Leanne. So I opted for NRMC. Newport, Rhode Island. A brief visit in between San Diego and Rhode Island was the opportunity for Leanne and me to confirm our commitment to one another, and begin the laying of plans for our future. About this time it would have been February or March I don’t recall, as she was due to graduate that June in 1983. Commitments made, and plan in motion; I returned to full active duty at NRMC Newport and waited that coming day.

In the interim, this is when all our plans began changing. The US. Had been engaged in skirmishes abroad, and with the Field Med. Training and designation of NEC-8404, that put me on the 24 hour standby list for deployment with the Second Marine Division to at the time, was Lebanon and Beirut.

 Now at this time all plans had been laid and confirmed dates, times, etc .for all the ceremonial stuff associated with the wedding. Now came the notice of 24 hour deployment standby. I had requested a special hearing with the Base Commander to plead my case, as this would have been the third time having to reschedule and it was the last attempt I might have at making this marriage at all. As always, the government does not see the need for accommodating personal needs especially during a crisis. After much debate and shared concern, the commander agreed to assist in my endeavor. He granted me a forty eight hour leave under conditions of contact, which meant I was to have a phone and contact number at all times during my leave and I was subject to recall without hesitation, or punishable by court marshal. Having accepted mutual terms, I was off to Vermont. We held our evening wedding party dinner and get together on a Friday night after having traveled from Newport to St.J. Held the wedding ceremony on Saturday AM. And had the shortest honeymoon ever Saturday night, only to return to Rhode Island the next afternoon on Sunday. That was it for wedding ceremony number one.