posted Friday, Nov 10, 2017 | 01:54PM
On Veterans’ Day, we would like to spotlight Cavalier’s Facilities Manager, Sergeant John Dressing. John served as a member of the Ohio National Guard from 1987-1994. He was trained as a Cavalry Scout with the 237th Armored Brigade.
Favorite Beer: Duvel
Most difficult part of service: Basic Training in Ft. Knox, Kentucky
Best part of service: Repelling from a Black Hawk Helicopter
Proudest moment: Being awarded 1st in class at Primary Leadership Development Course in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.
Highlight of your service: The thing that stands out most about my time in the army 30 years later, is how much the Geopolitics of the world changed during that time. My unit was originally tasked with defending the Aleutian Islands near Alaska from a Russian attack. We trained in tanks and armored personnel carriers. On Nov 9, 1989, the Berlin wall fell. Operation Desert storm began in Jan 1991. When I was discharged in 1994, my unit had desert painted humvees.
Upon reflection of his service, John had this to say, “Some of the most influential people in my life have been war veterans. My boy scout troop leader was a WW2 Air Force bomber navigator who spent several years in a German POW camp after being shot down. During high school and college, I worked at a marina owned by a WW2 Navy vet who served on a destroyer in the South Pacific. The mechanic at the marina served two tours in Vietnam. It was the first job he had kept in 15 years after coming home. In the early nineties, I became good friends with Bob Kean. Bob served one tour in Vietnam with the Army. After Vietnam, Bob worked for the Veterans Administration. He worked tirelessly until his retirement for better mental health care for veterans.
“I feel the greatest way to honor our veterans is to ensure we do everything possible to prevent future wars.”
To all our Veterans, and especially those at Cavalier, thank you for your service.
