Gary Flavin

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Segment Synopsis: Gary Flavin was born in 1954 in Joliet, Illinois, to a large Irish Catholic family.

Keywords: Irish/Catholic; Joliet Illinois; Large family

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Segment Synopsis: While education was important, Flavin preferred sports while in school. Looking back he feels that training for his varsity basketball team in Chicago was more strenuous than his basic training for the Air Force. The hard work that it took to be a part of the team helped prepare him for the military.

Keywords: basic training in airforce; basketball

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Segment Synopsis: Flavin went to an all boys high school that prepared the students to go to college. Flavin's father was transferred to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Flavin moved with his family and entered McNeese State University, but he grew bored and began looking for something else.

Keywords: All boys highschool; Lake Charles, La.; McNeese State University

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Segment Synopsis: After high school, Flavin had trouble finding something that he enjoyed learning about. He tried going to college but working and go to class was difficult. He started leaning towards joining the military. He knew he had a love for planes from picking his father up from O'Hare airport, so he eventually decided to join the Air Force.

Keywords: O'Hare Airport; School

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Segment Synopsis: Upon entering the Air Force, Gary dreamed of being a pilot but was happy to enlist as a munitions maintenance specialist. He spent his first two years in Tuscon, Arizona, where he enjoyed being stationed. Running became one of Gary's favorite pastimes.

Keywords: munitions maintenance specialist; runner; Tuscon Arizona

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Segment Synopsis: Gary Flavin spent two years station at RAF Bentwaters in England. During his time there, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and lived off base in Suffolk. He was stationed at Bentwaters during the famous incident at Rendlesham Forest, in which Mad Cow disease broke out. Flavin remembers the Iranian hostage crisis and seeing "Jolly Green Giants" leaving to rescue the hostages.

Keywords: Iran hostages; Irish Republic Army; Mad Cow Disease; RAF Bentwaters; Rendlesham Forest; staff sergeant; Suffolk England

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Segment Synopsis: After his enlistment was up, Flavin returned to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he discovered a bad economy and realized that the skills he acquired in the military did not translate to the civilian sector. Not wanting to be a police officer, he went and talked to a recruiter. Flavin reenlisted and went to Tuscon, Arizona. Here he learned how to ski, which became another enjoyable pastime for him. He lived on base and worked eight hour days.

Keywords: Economy; Mt. Lemmon; skiing; Tuscon

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Segment Synopsis: While living in Tuscon, Flavin was in a car wreck that left his car totaled and his body battered and bruised. The next day he decided not to go to work because of how sore he was. His commander was a full bird colonel and court martialed him. Flavin listened to advice from his father and did not fight the discharge.

Keywords: car accident; colonel; court martial; staff sergeant

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Segment Synopsis: Flavin has no regrets from his military career. He feels that his time in the Air Force gave him a discipline and a way of thinking that has never left him. He also developed friendships that continue to this day.

Keywords: discipline; friendships; No regrets

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Segment Synopsis: After being discharged, Flavin returned to Lake Charles, Louisiana. where he worked with his father in real estate. He received his real estate license, and in one year he sold a million dollars worth of real estate in Lake Charles. Flavin says that he and his father ran the apartments like a Marine boot camp and that the principles he learned from the military are applicable throughout his life.

Keywords: Lake Charles, La.; Real estate

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Segment Synopsis: Flavin went back to school and earned an Associate's degree in computer science. With this degree, he began a job in the oil field industry. He worked with wonderful companies and enjoyed his job. It was around the beginning of fracking, so the oil industry was booming.

Keywords: Associates Degree; fracking; Grant Pride Co.; National Oilwell Varco

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Segment Synopsis: Gary looks at his time in the military as great memories, many of them travel memories. He feels positive about his military experience. Today he works at the VA hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, providing help to those that need it. Flavin gets a deep satisfaction from his work here.

Keywords: positive; travel; working with the VA