Gary Andersen Class of ‘68

After leaving Roosey Roads High in the winter of ’66, I graduated in ’68 from High School in Charleston, SC and headed out to Marion Military Institute in Alabama on scholarship. From there, I received an appointment to the Naval Academy where I started my navy career. After graduation, I did tours at the Naval Academy (sailing instructor), Pensacola (Flight School), Charleston (USS Joseph Hewes FF1078), Jacksonville (Camp Lejuene NC with USMC), and ended up in of all places back in Roosevelt Roads (AFWTF/Vieques Bombing Range).  I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the 60’s but when I came back to Roosey in the 80’s - what a great time I had. While still in the military, I dove for langousta every weekend and I ran a bar called the “BTDT” Bar for several years until one of our parties got out of hand and the police shut us down. At some point, I settled down and got married in the mid 80’s and although the marriage didn’t last, I was fortunate to have born and raised a wonderful daughter, Sandy. Sandy basically grew up on the golf courses of PR with me and is now a full scholarship athlete for the Jacksonville University women’s golf team. Somehow I retired as a CDR and managed to work at AFWTF for over 20 years.  It was with a great deal of sadness that I left PR just before they closed the base down in 2003.  At home now in Jacksonville (FL), I’m teaching business at the high school and college level and living on the golf course. It’s been a fun trip and I can’t wait to see my friends at the next reunion.