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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1972)
1 Try it o o you 11 lik elf ( o K I 11 1 r, IWtgcftt Wh ft Uh fitdui Col. Norman Hemingway is Professor of Aerospace Studies and Chairman of the Department of Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC). by Col. Norman Hemingway Life Begins at thirty-or does it? That first line is misleading-it is intended to be. I could have said fifty-two or even twenty-three. It makes little difference at this point in time. However, you may ask yourself-"What will I be doing when I'm thirty?" For most students at the University it would mean looking down the path of life for eight to twelve years. Why this subject???? Foremost, I think every student looks into that deep unknown-the next few years. They wonder, sometimes quite bewildered, what lies in store beyond the horizon-at least three to five years hence. I say this because I very well remember when I was age nineteen. The year was 1939. I too was a student. I faced the same frustrations students face today. I found it difficult to find answers to such questions as-"What kind of grade will I get this semester?" "should I drop out of school now, or wait until the end of this semester?"; "where can I get enough money for a date this weekend?"; "what will I do next summer?"; "will I be able to afford a car next year?". These are typical, but important questions. They are still important today. One question that bothered me most was something new to my generation-military draft. The word draft scared me. Does that sound familiar? I probably had more fear of being in the Army than any student on this campus today. To me, the Army represented a place for misfits and guys that could not make a living elsewhere. To me, the thought of staying in the military service for a career was totally unthinkable. In fact, as I write this article I feel knots growing inside me for I still vividly remember the fear I had of military life. Today this fear is a different one, a new type of fear for me. Many students today find difficulty in perceiving and understanding what lies ahead on that bumpy path of life. For those that do I would like to share my fifty-two years of experience with them. You may accuse me of having 50-50 hindsight, or Monday morning quarterbacking. However, if it helps any-By my guest if it doesn't -Forget it! First, I'll tell you how I overcame my fear of the draft. I volunteered. That beat it! Fifty percent of my fear was licked. Next I looked around in the Army and found they had something I had always wanted to do fly! So I applied for pilot training and, much to my surprise, was accepted. I helped close out World War II doing something I really liked-flying. At the end of World War II the job market was similar to what young people experience here in Lincoln today-hard to find what I wanted. So I remained in the military flying business. I enjoyed flying because the pay was good and I got to see a large part of the world while serving my country. I saw Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, Far East, South America and a few places I don't even care to talk about. I did have a few dislikes, though. But for the most part I have enjoyed it. I am proud of my experience with the military and find that I have many attractive offers from the civilian job market today because of my varied experience as a military officer. However, all is not roses. Because today I face another fear. Yes, I face the fear of leaving the Air Force and returning to civilian life. This fear is equal to, or perhaps even worse than, the fear I had before joining the military. However, the fearful journey out into the civilian world is different in many ways from the trip into the military. It is different because past service for Uncle Sam has its rewards. For example, my wife and I retain entitlement to free " hospitilization and medical care for the remainder of our lives. We can still enjoythe privileges of any military installation, we can fly (no charge) to many places in the world on military aircraft. And to make the exit trip a bit more attractive (I hope), Uncle Sam will retire me at a salary of $17,398.80 per year. This salary is adjusted by the cost-of-living index. Not bad for a guy that feared it-huh? You may say-"Money isn't everything." If so, I ask you-"Ever try to live without it?".. Retirement at age 5 2 is relatively young. Now I plan to go out into the world to do my thing. My only regret is that I can't remain in the military on active duty. This is not possible because Air Force requires me to retire and vacate my rank of Colonel so that young Air Force officers can be promoted. Life in the military today is O.K. It isn't at all like it was in World War II. It's a good place for young people. I will encourage any young man or young lady today to try it, because I think you will like it. So, now I ask you-"Does life really begin at age thirty?" I say no. Not for everyone. One may just be getting started at . age fifty-two. Think 1 11 try it. Why don t you take a look. We wish to thank you for your past patronage. Hope to see you in the future. Our hours are 9 pm-4 am Mon.-Sat. DON AND MILLIE'S 1823 "0" St. DISCOVER EUROPE ON A DIKE a INDIVIDUAL ECONOMY JET FARES OK CROUP INCLUSIVE TOUR PACKAGES . OVER IS MAKES OF TAX FREE MOTOR -CYCLES FROM 50CC - TSOCC a LICENSE. REGISTRATION INSURANCE INCLUOED - RETURN SHIPMENT FROM ANYWHERE IN EUROPE TO THE Ui. OR CANADA TitMl Eur up. the ImimI. aouM. and mart citini my - by Euro - From ir dv vow land and PC UP vow bAo tl Scmphol. Airport, AmoMfdM, until Iht dry you and your bikt re turn homt. your trip win bo ono pt continual dvanuirt and tociumant. EUROBKE INC. Vi7 EURO tIKC. I pin ion. Cm. ai tp Buia. Htl WaaNnpton.D.C.20001 J02) J47-S7M The College Plan for The College man o IIIIIIMMIl mmmmmtpmrni- bo 1 in College Sales the "Husker" Agency WE'VE MOVED 1 125 "R" St. I Suite 200 Lincoln A division of Fidelity Union Life Insurance CAR WON'T START from COLD. . . II i!1 or HEAT ?? CALL US. ALL WEATHER Q STARTING SERVICE 475-1577 if no answer call 434-4881 RADIO DISPATCHED 24 HR SERVICE AVAILABLE 7 Days A Week, MONDAY. JANUARY 31 197? THE DAILY NEBRASKAN PAGE 5