James Lemker

Background

About James Lemker

1983 graduate of MHS and had joined the US Marine Corps Delayed entry program 9mo. 20d. prior to shipping out to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, CA. on Jan. Next set of orders out of bootcamp was Infantry Training School (ITS) but the location messes with me, I think it was on Camp Pendleton, CA. which is huge and ITS is a smaller part called San Onifray, CA. and I probably even spelled it wrong. Both during the infantry phase of bootcamp and ITS we were told Mount M.F.(Yes people, it's the bad word I probably shouldn't say here.) was closed. I graduated and then wasassigned to Fox Co. 2nd Bn. 6th MarDiv Camp Lejeune, NC as an 0311 Rifleman. Promoted up to E-3 L/CPL in under 6mo of my 4 year enlistment. We made 2- 6mo WestPac floats to Okinawa, Japan [(1984)(1985-86)] during the floats, traveled to ports and training fields everywhere from mainland Japan, Korea, south and west through the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. I earned a RE1A Honorable discharge on Jan. 20th, 1987. My first job out of the Corps was at a rent to own family business as a collector/mover and the business also moved into a 2nd being carpet and upholstery cleaners, I was certified and registered through the "BaneClean" system.About June of 1987 I joined the IA AR Nat. Guard on a "Try 1yr." to become a 25L Wire & Cable Systems Installer, learning done OJT. I liked it so I continued to enlist over the next ten years. 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year was great way of still serving my country. Attaining E-5 SGT came slowly but surely and I enrolled in college at MCC and was on the Dean's List for 3 semesters. Around my 9th or 10th year I had already attended NCO school, taken my tests, and did all of my boards to become E-6 SSGT. The thought of moving to the University of Iowa and quitting the Nat. Guard hit me all with the feeling of being overwhelmed when drill weekend was coming up. With outside forces threatening and nagging me the decision was easy to make but I hated quitting the Guard part of the move.