Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace. We would like to honor the Veterans at Smart Fitness. Thank you for your service!
NAVY
LCDR Karyn Rinaldi
US Navy Civil Engineer Corps
1986-2006
“I still to this day do not know why I signed that dotted line to join the Navy back in 1986, but I do know that the next 20 years in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps turned out to be an amazing time! Most of my career was spent doing Facilities Maintenance/Facilities Engineering at various bases around the country. However, my favorite tour was 13 months as the Officer in Charge of Naval Air Station Midway Island, doing BRAC closure of the Island and turning it over to the Fish and Wildlife Service to become a wildlife refuge. I had so many incredible experiences, met many amazing people and made numerous lifelong friends. I’m proud to have served this country and am proud to call myself an American.”
Brad Rex
Brad is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, with distinction. He served as a Nuclear Submarine Engineering Officer onboard USS ANDREW JACKSON, a ballistic missile submarine, during his five years of service with the United States Navy.
ARMY
Larry Wagstaff – Army Adjutant General Corps Retired Colonel.
Larry served for 27 years. An interesting fact about Larry is that the flag flew over the Capitol for his retirement.
Career:
- Multiple commands and Pentagon tours of duty.
- Command and General Staff College.
- Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
- BMS.
- MA Mgt and supervision.
- MS Science Education
- Last assignment was cdr and deputy director of US Army Research Center for Human Behavior.
- Larry Retired in 1996.
Mike Murphy
“While attending Dartmouth College, I was enrolled in the US Army Reserve Officer’s Training Program (ROTC). At graduation in 1961, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps and designated a “Distinguished Military Graduate”. I spent two years on active duty, one in Texas and one in Korea (1962-1963). I was assigned as the Hospital Administrator of the 48th Surgical Hospital near the Korean capital, Seoul. At that time the 48th MASH functioned as a small convalescent and rehabilitation facility, with two doctors, three nurses, and about 50 enlisted men. That position was designated to be held by a Major, but there was a shortage of field grade officers in Korea at that time, which explains how it was assigned to a young Second Lieutenant. It was a great challenge for a 22-year old officer with no appropriate experience, but one I have always appreciated having because of the many substantial things I learned about “on the job” management.
In October 1963, I returned to the United States and was released from active duty. I then served six years in the US Army Reserve, during which I was promoted to Captain. I received my Honorable Discharge in April 1969, and received the Army’s Korea Defense Service Medal for that service. I also received the Certificate of Recognition which the Secretary of Defense extended to all U.S. military who had served the country during the Cold War (1945 – 1991).
Lee Cockerell
ARMY Reserves
8 years time of service
Private and Cook.
His Basic Training was in FT Polk, LA.
Richard Brown
1959-1967
8 years time of service
Army Reserves
E6 Staff Sgt Supply
Artillery supply Sgt
Ft Knox basic training, Ft Sam Houston for medic training.
Enjoyed my time, wrote home and asked my wife for money!
Richard Welch (Son of Lori and Billy Welch, grandson of Richard and Nancy Brown)
Army (ACTIVE DUTY)
2LT
2 years
Infantry Officer
Woody Mckeeby
Staff Sargent. 3 years active, 7 years reserves
“After training I spent a year in Vietnam and a year in Thailand as an Army Security Agency Traffic Analyst.
After being out for a year, I joined the Army Reserves and went back for a year of electronics training as an Electronic Warfare Maintenance Technician. I stayed in the reserves for 7 years.”
Our Way To Say Thank You
Thank you to our Veterans and Active Military Members. At Smart Fitness, we want to show our appreciation for Active and Veteran Service by offering 2 FREE weeks with any Fitness Package! This promo is offered all year long. THANK YOU
