Hello,
my name is Gary King and I went to Cleveland High School around 1961 than
moved to Renton. I actually dropped out of Renton High School and joined the
Navy when I was seventeen.
I was not a very good student; I was the class clown and always seemed to
get in trouble. Once in the Navy I realized my mistakes and wished I had the
chance to go back to school. My ship was one of the first ships to go to Viet
Nam. My ship continued to go back & forth between Viet Nam and different
ports for two years. I saw way more death than anyone should see at that age.
Even though our ship was fired on many times, I feel lucky to have been in
the Navy and on a ship rather than running through the jungle as were the
Marines that we took down there. I did finish high school and went on to college
afterwards.I am now an electronic component engineer, and own and run a recording
studio.If I visit Seattle in the future I would be willing to talk to a class.
Other than that maybe someone can just share my story with them.
I can't go back and have that time over, and neither will they. Enjoy your
high school days and work on your future careers. Your quality of life depends
on it. I thought I was funny and did not need or have to do homework or class
work. Well, the laugh is on me, cause I have been struggling ever since. Every
day, life was hard when I didn't have the foundation of reading writing and
math skills. Once married I was embarrassed many times when I couldn't even
help our daughter with her homework. She was in grade school doing what I
did in high school when I dropped out. At the work place in meetings, there
were times I had a good idea but could not get the nerve to speak up, thinking
I would sound stupid or people would laugh. If I did speak up, I did not have
the skills to convey the idea correctly, so even though it was a good idea,
it would be tossed off to the side. I still feel like I am still me, the guy
that was there at Cleveland High School, playing my trumpet in the band, just
older. Yourself never changes, you are still you, not some old person once
you grow older. But I know when I was sitting there the last thing I wanted
to hear was some old guy telling me how important school was. That use to
make me go the other way and say to myself "Well that is you buddy not
me, I am just going to work on cars, I don't need this crap." Yes, that
was pretty much my attitude. I hope there is a class clown or someone who
just feels lazy that listens to this.
I was happy to serve my country in Viet Nam, and it did change me forever.
Cleveland High School is where all my friends that I grew up with, graduated
while I was in Viet Nam.
Thank You to all the teachers that tried to set me on the right path that
are probably all dead and gone now.
US Navy Viet Nam 1963-1966
Gary King
8 Appomattox
Irvine, Ca. 92620