Info Sheet - CW2 Ken Kloppel
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I was suspended from Univ of Colorado in early 1969, losing the coveted "2s deferment". All other branches of military required a four year degree to fly, except the US Army.
I graduated from flight school on my birthday in July 1970, off to RVN 28 days later. Flying slicks allowed me to both ETS/DEROS as I left Vietnam in Aug '70.
I went to A&P (Airframe and Powerplant mechanics School), graduating in May 1976; By September I was in Esfahan Iran with Bell Helicopter. By August 1978, Iran was in the midst of a revolution. Later I did two ADT periods in Hanau Germany, '77/'78, which allowed for a lot of travel thru Europe.
With both flying and a maintenance background, I was fortunate to live/work/visit in places thru out the globe. New York, Boston, Phoenix, Bahamas, Thailand, closing out the 36 year career,11 years flying tours on Maui, returning to Phoenix to retire in '2009.
From shortly after returning to Phoenix, I began volunteering to drive a van at the VA hospital, 15 years later I'm still driving.
Lots of aches/pains now but looking back, nothing I would change!!