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Sgt. Joseph Berlin
I grew up in Detroit until I was drafted into the Army in 1969. I spent two years as a medic in Germany until I returned to Michigan in 1971. As I was going to college I needed a little extra money...view moreI grew up in Detroit until I was drafted into the Army in 1969. I spent two years as a medic in Germany until I returned to Michigan in 1971. As I was going to college I needed a little extra money, so I joined the National Guard. In 1990 I was activated for the Gulf War and served in Operation Desert Shield. Before I was sent overseas, my father had a stroke and died. I went home and did not deploy with my unit. I was in the last year of my time in the National Guard and was set to retire with twenty years in 2003. The Iraq War changed all that. I was activated in Feb. of 2003, on Valentine’s Day. I spent five months in Iraq until an injury earned me a trip back to Ft. Lewis. After rehabbing in Ft. Lewis for six months, I was finally discharged and retired out of the National Guard. I went back to my civilian career which was a school teacher. I have taught elementary and middle schools for twenty-eight years. I am now retired from education and live in Ocean Shores by myself. In total I have taught for twenty-eight years and been involved with the military for over twenty-one years.view less