True Grunt*

He was raised in South Portland, Maine. He was the third oldest child in a family of thirteen. His father, Dr. William J. White, was a beloved family practitioner, and his mother, Mary Francis, was truly a saint. He graduated from Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine. He then attended Boston College for two years. After leaving college, he was drafted. During the period of October 1970 to October 1971, he spent seven to eight months on the front lines in Vietnam as infantry, “grunt,” where he earned both the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and an Army Commendation. Later in his tour of duty, he worked in the finance office in Chu Lai. After Vietnam, he came home to his wife and baby of fifteen months. Using the GI Bill, he graduated from University of Massachusetts at Boston. He would then spend the next thirty-five years selling hydraulic components and designing hydraulic systems to manufacturers throughout New England. He also taught hydraulics classes for over twenty years. He has raised four children in Medway, Massachusetts. And now has eleven grandchildren and a great grandchild. He is very proud of his service and of those who served in Vietnam.