David West

After graduation I joined the Navy, was sent to Vietnam in 1969-1970, was in security division for awhile, then sent to Mekong delta. Came home, worked at Boardman Sparkle for 10 years. Ended up moving to Tucson Az. for 14 years. Moved to North Carolina to become store manager for Food Lion. Retired at age 52 after serious back injury/ surgery. I like to fish, like birding, oil painting.

I quit school on my first day of kindergarten. When my teacher, Mrs Flannery was busy I left the class and went home. Boy did I get spanked! My mom marched me right back. It was all downhill from there. Ended up in prison from first grade to 8th in catholic school, often beaten and tortured by the nuns! The experience left me with a unfavorable aspect of God/religion. Was told I was going to hell at least 1,000 times. When I arrived in Vietnam years later, I was sure it came true. I Was in Hell for sure.
Although I had the G.I. bill, I never went on to college, and spent the 1970s-1980s pursuing the art of Getting SMALL & to be comfortably numb To kill the demons of war from my head. Thousands of gallons of alcohol helped the cause for many years, too many. Now, with only 15 active brain cells left, I just spend my days drinking tea, listening to music, and oil painting.