Well I was born and raised in Mattoon, IL which is 196 miles south of Chicago on I-57. I was in J.R.O.T.C. all four years in high school. I joined the IL. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD where I was an infantry soldier. Then I joined the U.S. NAVY. I spent 8 years in the NAVY in engineering. While in the NAVY I was a member of STARFLEET assigned to the USS SOVERIGN chapter while there I attended a convention in Philadelphia where I was security for Johnathan Harris (Lost in Space) and Wil Wheaton (TNG) I also worked security for a weekend long Frank Zappa tribute concert. I co-owned 2 bowling centers which we have since sold and I currently am a stationary engineer at Eastern Illinois University. I am very pleased to be part of this excellent crew on this fine ship.