Doggett Construction Company, Alabama

HQDA detailers received complaints from commanders concerning placements, quality for Training and Combat Development Directorates at Fort Rucker. They wanted CGSC graduates. I found it interesting that they chose a passed-over Major to solve that problem. And DA told me this was my only promotion opportunity, but by now, I realized that what they said was not what they meant. But the options were scarce, and I was within three years of retirement. Enterprise, Alabama was a low-cost area, and I might be able to get a flight instructor or a maintenance officer job after retirement. We went to Enterprise in December 1982, found a lot, designed a house similar, but even better than our Fresno house, and began building. It was on a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking a small lake. The neighbors in the cul-de-sac were dentists, so it met the “build where the doctors live” criteria. Doggett Construction Company assured us the house would be ready for us to move into in June when we arrived, and it …show more content…
Sarah and the kids were not getting their fair priority. I had met people from Boeing, McDonald Douglas, Bell and Sikorsky in the process of this job, and because defense programs were growing, businesses were looking to hire. One night Larry Sanders from Bell invited me over for dinner. A couple people from Bell were there, and he wanted them to meet me. We had a relaxed dinner and after dinner discussion, but it turns out this was more than that; it was a job interview. Soon after that Larry told me that he had never recommended hiring anyone before, but he had just done that with me. I was flattered but told him that I would only receive Major pay if I retired before the 3-year commitment was up. He said; “Sometimes you have to take a fleeting opportunity when it comes along.” Sarah and I were ready to move on from the Army, but knowing a job was waiting made the decision