I’m proud to say that Hotel
Equities kicked off our company-wide military recruitment initiative this year.
Through the process, I was happy to learn that HE already has many great former
service members working with us. Active duty, veterans, and military spouses,
you are all uniquely qualified for this industry. After all, that’s how I got
my start…
I joined the United States Marine
Corps Reserves during a time when the Vietnam War was expanding. I served a
total of six years. I went to Parris Island for Boot Camp and then, after Basic
Training, went to Advanced Infantry training and Jungle Warfare
training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The recruiting sergeant told me
that my reserve unit would be activated and would spend approximately 13 months
in Vietnam. I was also told that following a two-year tour of active duty, I
would be re-assigned to my reserve unit, have the opportunity to return to
college and, upon completion, would have the opportunity to apply for Officer’s Candidate School.
Upon completion of our
training and just prior to my unit being shipped out to Vietnam, 10 members of
our unit, including myself, were given orders to return to my hometown of
Boston to help ready equipment and supplies to be shipped alongside us
overseas. After the completion of the readying of our gear and while we were
still awaiting our Vietnam assignment orders, we were given permission by our
commanding officer to look for temporary work as long as we stayed in shape and
called in to the base every day. We were assured by our CO that we could be
leaving any day. Because I was honest in saying that I might be leaving for
Vietnam soon, no one would hire me.
My uncle Al, who worked for
Sheraton, helped me get a job interview at the Sheraton Boston Hotel and, while
still awaiting my unit’s orders of deployment, I worked at the hotel as a mail
and information clerk. For some unknown reason, our orders of assignment to
Vietnam never came. Here I am 50 years later, still excited about the hotel
business and enjoying the hospitality industry as much as I did at the start. I
am forever thankful that the General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Max Dean, took a
chance and hired me.
Hospitably Yours,
Coach
