Sergeant Erwin L. Kuling, U.S. Army 1967-1978

Just before graduating from high school, Erwin Lee Kuling (Lee) and other seniors took a week off from school and likely did some things they weren’t supposed to do. It significantly irritated the administrators of the school who told Lee and group that they would have to go through their senior year again if they wanted to graduate. Lee talked it over with his Dad. The options were to get a job or join the Army.

His father drove him to Casper, Wyo. His father signed the papers approving early admission, and Lee was enlisted. Next was a trip to Denver for the physical examination and more pape...