I am writing this book to tell the story of a kid from Everett who joined the Army in the early 1960s and served in Korea, Asia, and West Germany. As a young man, I believed then as I do now about service above self. I hope that this story will be meaningful to the reader. I am inspired by my experiences with the Army; the US Postal Service; the Franklin Institute of Boston; the University of Lowell; the Massachusetts Department of Public Works; Saint Michael Parish; the town of North Andover, Massachusetts; and numerous other institutions. I've had my share of life's ups and downs, but the downs have been few, so I guess you can say I've been lucky and will add that it's all because of you, the people I have known. As I write this, my life's story, between each line of pain and glory, I want you to know: the town of North Andover--you are the best thing that ever happened to me!