Thomas Stoddert: Autobiography

The thought of living an ordinary existence after leaving high school in Milford, CT unnerved me. So when I joined the Army at eighteen and I volunteered to go as far as I could for Basic Training. This was during the “age of enlightenment,” the late 60s. After a year with an infantry section of the 17th Cavalry, 101st Abn., I went to Berlin, Germany and saw plainly that we, in this country,  take freedom for granted.

I did a second tour of duty in Landstuhl, Germany, but this time as a born-again Christian. A third tour left me as the NCOIC of the 5th General Hospital emergency room which included a side trip to Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm. I also worked in the Intensive Care units of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

A year after retiring form the Army’s Medical Department I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Except for the flash backs and nightmares, I didn’t take it very seriously. Eventually I completed a second degree in Information Systems Management and went to work at the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Rating Specialist. I got to see in person the real inside workings of this monstrous puzzle palace.

When I could no longer work around my service connected medical conditions, I was let go from the VA. I left on very good terms and still maintain relationships with a lot of very fine hard working people at the Seattle Regional Office. I now write and try to serve the veterans of this country, which I believe was ordained by God for a purpose, despite its many failings.