They told me I wouldn’t live to be two years old because they found me starving on someone’s porch.... I’m 55 now.... They told me I wasn’t smart enough and that I didn’t need a higher education. I have an AA, BS, and MS. They told me I would never be part of anything worthwhile. I’m a member of MD-Military-Holding-Lodge No. 122 - MWPHGL of Maryland, The Monday Cub (Oldest Social Club for African-American Men in Delaware and maybe the Nation - 1876) recently resigned, The Drill Sergeant Association, and Bethel AME Church, to name a few. They told me the Army wasn’t the way to go, and I was wasting my time and the organization wouldn’t teach me anything. I was squad leader, platoon sergeant, detachment ncoic, cid investigator, drill sergeant, and an EO advisor for 5,000 soldiers and civilians, just to name a few. It has taught me a lot. They told me I couldn’t run a full marathon. I finished in the top half. They told me I was too small for martial arts - I received a second degree black belt in Hapkido and a Red Sash (Chamber 5) in Kung-Fu. They told me that I will fail in life. The Lord has blessed me with a lovely wife, four grown men (sons), a lovely stepdaughter, and six grandchildren. It was rough getting there, but I’m here.

(Started from the bottom.) They told me I would never, never find my bloodline. Well, I found my birth mother, father, sisters, and brothers and a host of cousins and combined my bloodline to my family that raised me and taught me everything I needed to know about life altogether into one big happy family. I now have two mothers and fathers. Thank you for telling me those things...keep your head up, and live your dreams. Make no excuses.