I’m originally from Astoria, Oregon. As a child I lived in Central America, in Honduras (Tela and San Pedro Sula) and later in Costa Rica. I experienced first-hand the life of an ex-patriot American in a poverty stricken third world country. I attended college in Texas and California as an English major, with a strong interest in journalism.

I joined the Naval Reserve because my Dad served as a medical doctor in the reserves and I wanted to serve my country too. I attended AK “A” school, Instructor Training, and spent time both as an active duty sailor and as a weekend reservist at NAS North Island and later at NAS Whidbey Island. I served as an Aviation Storekeeper in Helicopter Squadrons and as a repairables expeditor in Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Facilities. I became a Leading Petty Officer (LPO) with responsibility for the training and welfare of junior sailors.

In 1985 I became a USNR recruiter so I could stay on active duty. Several years later the Naval Reserve Recruiting Command was formed and they brought in professional advertising people to establish a career recruiting force. Pressure built to succeed at all costs and they came into our detachments to re-train us. I had been a recruiting QA inspector in San Diego and an auditor in Alameda, so I stuck by the rules. In 1991 I requested to get out of recruiting. In 2003 I received a letter asking if I’d consider returning to recruiting duty. I declined because I objected to the run-up to the Iraq war and I could not in good conscience participate in selling the war to anyone.

I joined IVAW to try to ensure the government keeps its promises to our wounded veterans and to help put an end to the illegal occupation and war in Iraq.

Email: 844mas [at] gmail [dot] com
Blog: http://aliberaldoseofsand.blogspot.com/