My first Navy experience was to join the Navy V12 program on the University of Oklahoma campus. Each week I attended classes and drills to qualify as a Navy officer at graduation. I earned my college expenses that way and the V12 program served as my springboard to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

After an intensive two years at O.U., I noticed my congressmen were offering competitive exams for Annapolis. I grabbed the opportunity to get more education, to become an “OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, BY ACT OF CONGRESS” and to enlarge my horizons by seeing the world.