Orlando Sentinel (Sunday)

More than 2 centuries of military service

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As a senior in high school in 1973, I knew I wanted more than what my small community near Hialeah could offer. I wanted to see the world, and I wanted to continue my family's tradition of military service. This tradition began before the American Revolution and included a member of my family in every war or conflict in which the U.S. was involved. It also included all branches of service from the foot soldier in the Army (my paternal great-grandfathe­r in the Civil War and my father in the Korean conflict) to the sailor in the Navy (my maternal grandfathe­r in both World War I and World War II).

So on Dec. 11, 1973, at age 17 ½, I walked into the local Army recruiters office and enlisted under the delayedent­ry program. I served from July 1974 to July 1977, including a deployment to Korea. My chosen field was military intelligen­ce. I attained the rank of Spec 4. While in Korea, I learned how to rappel and also parachuted from a helicopter.

After my enlistment was completed, I used my G.I. Bill to secure a bachelor's degree in elementary education. My children have continued that tradition, with two sons in the Marines (serving four tours in Iraq) and my daughter as an officer in the Navy (serving one tour in Afghanista­n). In addition, my husband served in the Air Force during the mid-1970s. We are all proud veterans. Lyn M. Fallucca Winter Garden

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