Author: Corey Banks

Hello Family. In 1983-84 I was a senior at Port Huron High, all hope for an athletic scholarship had faded due to being hit by a car as a child resulting in 9 knee surgeries, 5 for the left & 4 to the right. But I had a joker (little one) in my hand, an A- minus student in electronics class second to Matt Frazier. Mr. Naplin (R.I.P.) informs me that DeVry University is looking for the top 10 in our class. My joker was that my oldest brother lived in Chicago so room and board covered, but how soon did I forget that I was from South Park. Cost for DeVry $19,000.00 a year. Dad gone (passed away) mom forced to disability due to an on the job injury and surely my counselor isn’t going to tell any child from the hood about grants or loans. Graduated and now searching for the next best thing a JOB, city of Port Huron hiring sanitation worker salary $9.84 an hour, I got this my dad worked for the City for 27 years before his death, not even an interview, Mueller Brass nothing, New Haven foundry after looking at my knees no you’re a liability.

So one the U.S. Marines called and after explaining my situation, he replied Thank You for your honesty could I give your name to the Army recruiter, laughing inside I replied sure, not knowing that they were in the same building. Three days later the Army recruiter called, a week later I took their exam he stated that I could do anything that I wanted in the U.S. Army, and asked me would I go to Detroit next week with to the MEPS station were they could screen me, inside (OF COURSE, YES!!!) yes I replied. Mid July 1984 after 13 1/2 hours and duck walking to ensure that my knees could take it I am in the lobby crying cause my knees were burning. And that’s when GOD stepped in, the doctor came back shook my hand, stamped passed on my paperwork. The recruiter said Congratulations you can do anything that you want to. I looked at him and said, I want to do something that IF I am unable to make this a career that I could land a great job somewhere and he replied to me, I know just the thing…. 63 bravo light wheel diesel mechanic. Yes, that’s it I replied and raised my right hand that day and swore to Protect and Serve my Country. When telling the news to my family my brother tells me that I should wait a little because Detroit Edison is about to hire. I told him thanks but I am going to do this, go and see the world. I enlisted 4yrs with Europe as my no# 1 choice, might as well they paying & paying me to as well.

After serving 2 years C6/56 Air Attack Defense Artillery, next assignment Fort Stewart Georgia, 91st Chemical Co. Love it so much I reenlisted for 3 more years. After being here almost 3 years orders come down that I could be off to Korea…..RATS overseas again, so I decide to go home for 10 days leave, see Mom friends & Mt. Olive Baptist Church. After day 3 I call my roommate Dale Williams, to brag about getting tickets to see Michael Franks, and that’s when life changed, Dale replied B I don’t know man WE are on alert people that are married can’t leave the base! WHAT?? I said and then Bill Bonds Channel 7 action news broke in, Sadam Hussien has sieged the country of Kuwait. Now mom is listening to me to here our phone conversation. Ten minutes after talking with Dale, my unit calls me SPC Banks you are hereby ordered to call in every 4hrs and do not leave your location. Two hours my first call, you are hereby ordered to Report back to Ft. Stewart ASAP, The next day I returned, the Army recruiting station informed that they would have a car at my house at 6am to return me to the airport should I need it. Three weeks later on August 26, 1990 we were in flight to Saudi Arabia for Desert shield/Storm.

Well today I am Privileged as a member of the then 91st C.C. and to represent in their absence the motor pool, Cornelius Street Clark Bradfield, Dale Williams, Joseph Martin, Adrian Woodward, Kenneth Drain, Richard England, Jim Sheets, Roger Mitchell, Simeon M Nedlic, Cliff Devo Brown, And the rest of the Dawgs of 91st Chemical Co. ( We ride together, we die together), True Bad Boys for life, as I go to witness the retirement of a great friend that served 30 yrs Honorably CSM Tory Hendrieth in Miami. So one day I will Thank All those that didn’t think that I wasn’t able. God thought differently and allowed me to see Germany, London England, Florida, Alabama, North & South Carolina, & Georgia while serving the 7 years Honorably in the U.S. Army as well as 28 years active service with the State of Michigan………

God I am Blessed and Privileged for this day, grant me safe travels to and from Miami and please watch over my queen (mom) in my absence…….Love You All….Rejoice in this Blessed day!!!!