Local veteran narrative: Doug Jorrey

By Talon Logan
Mrs. Troftgruben
English Reading 3B
 
America is country that is built on sacrifices. Veterans Day is a day where people need to envision what it is like to make the type of sacrifices our soldiers have made. Every day many Americans go off to war to protect the freedoms we are given. Nov. 11 is a day to honor those who have sacrificed everything. On this day, it is the people’s duty to honor and thank those who have given everything so that we the people have an opportunity to have everything. Veterans, or soldiers, are the fuel for America, they power our freedom. Without them, America would lose so much and would inevitably fail. 
Doug Jorrey, a veteran, was born in upstate New York in 1949. Doug’s parents were Bob and Shirley Jorrey, Doug’s father was a veteran in World War II, and his grandfather was a veteran of World War I. Out of two siblings, both brothers, Doug was the only one to pursue a career in the military. Before entering the service, Doug was still in high school. Upon graduating high school, Doug volunteered, and was chosen to go to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. West Point is the army’s version of college. After four years at West Point, Doug was commissioned a lieutenant in the army. Doug’s choice for the army was influenced by the World War II veterans he had known while growing up. Doug went through two training cycles. The first was the initial training at West Point, this was like basic training for the army. After being commissioned, Doug had to go for branch training. Doug was an armor officer; armor officers deal with tanks and armored reconnaissance. To be an armor officer, Doug was trained on operation and maintenance of tanks, and other various armored vehicles. Doug also completed airborne, specifically to be a paratrooper, and ranger training, which was small unit leader training. All of Doug’s instructors were tough and fair, but equally tough to everyone. The instructors expected you to perform, and there were punishments if you did not, and many people who could not preform “washed out,” got kicked out or gave up and left. Doug adapted to his military life pretty well, even though he is not to big on authority. In the beginning it was such a rush, there was so much to learn, to do, and everything was new, he never had to time to think about whether he wanted to be in the military or not. 
Doug served in the army for 21 years in many various places. He served in West Germany two times before the wall came down. Doug’s first tour in West Germany he was stationed along the east-west border in an armored reconnaissance unit. During Doug’s second tour in West Germany, he was in a unit that had 70-ton M1 tanks. The Berlin wall was built to separate East and West Berlin. The wall was built to keep the westerners out and keep them from undermining the East’s socialist government. Doug was stationed there to make sure a war would not break out. The wall came down in 1989, but the reunification of East and West Germany was not until 1990 (History.com).
Doug also served at Ft. Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division. While in the 82nd, he was in a light tank outfit, these were tanks that would be parachuted out of the back of low altitude aircrafts like C130 airplanes. C130s are used by the military most commonly to drop bombs, retrieve satellites and to attack ground targets (Lockheed Martin). Doug was also stationed in Washington, D.C., Korea, Japan, and in the Middle East. During his tour in Korea, Doug was manning heavy tanks, at the time they were using M48 tanks, these tanks were utilized by the U.S. during the Vietnam War and for a while after (Military Weapons). After 25 years in the army, including his time at West Point, Doug went on to be a military contractor in Saudi Arabia. He helped teach the Saudi Army how to operate and maintain M1 tanks. During his 10 years doing this overseas, the guys he worked with, many of them being military veterans, all had a high level of attention to detail and a disciplined approach to training, and all the other things the military teaches making his time in Saudi Arabia very similar to his previous experiences. Doug worked his way back into civilian life by coming home a couple months and then back overseas until he finally retired in 2002.
While serving abroad, Doug made many memories. To begin, during his free time he never really went home. Instead, he used this time to visit the surrounding areas or just to see the country he was stationed in. Doug visited places like Spain, England, and France to see the sights. Doug realized he would never have a better opportunity like the one the military offered to see or experience those things. Even though he spent his free time visiting surrounding areas, he still kept in contact with his family. He often wrote letters home. Communicating was way different back then. Doug says in the army, “never make the cook or the postal clerk angry.” Doug did go home to see family every so often. He said that when he went home, it was different than when he left, all his friends had formed their own lives and were off doing their own thing, so returning home for him was strictly to visit family. Doug’s career was focused on people, teamwork, and a common goal. When Doug thinks back on his military days, he remembers the people, not the events. Doug formed close friendships, especially in his first unit. Doug keeps in touch with many of the people he served with on a daily basis. Not only did Doug form close friendships with the people he served with, but he also spent his Sundays in Korea driving around seeing the area and meeting the Korean people. One of Doug’s favorite relationships came from serving. Doug was stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., when he met his wife who was also stationed there. When she had finished her service in the army in 1977, she and Doug got married. Doug says she is probably the best thing that he ever got out of the Army.
Doug Jorrey, an American veteran, is a great man. He has served over 25 years in the military in countless locations and has so many positive experiences to share. He’s traveled the world, made friendships, and even met his wife all while being in the military. My interview with Doug has opened my mind about the military, before I would consider joining but never has it been a huge option for me. Doug has showed me that it is not a bad experience. I will have so many opportunities, and experience many things, and maybe I will even form friendships like the ones Doug has. Getting to know Doug was an honor. 
 
Works Cited:
“Berlin Wall.” History.com, 15 Dec. 2009, www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall.“C-130 History.” Lockheed Martin, www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c130/history.html.“M48 Patton Medium Tank - United States.” Military Weapons, www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=29.