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By DAISY WASHINGTON / Community Columnist

“Boy, I’ve had some fun,” said 67-year-old John Pruitt on the opportunities and adventures made possible through his military career.

Pruitt served in the United States Army Military Police Corps from 1972-1979.

“I tried to take care of my ‘Joes’,” he said. “The motto is ‘Of the Troops, for the Troops.’”

Over a seven-year period, international ventures took him from Huntsville, Alabama, to Bupyeong, Korea.

He held variety of positions from desk clerk to SWAT team member to postal clerk to assistant administrative NCOIC.

Pruitt met his wife of 48 years ago during his first tour (1972-1973).

“We never go to bed mad,” he said. “Rather than argue, step away before it turns into a verbal fight. You can take a few words and destroy a marriage.”

They have two sons and a daughter, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pruitt was born in Hersfeld, Germany, during the period that his father, a Korean-era veteran, was stationed there.

He has lived in Carbon Hill, Alabama, since 1961.

Pruitt retired from the Alabama Army National Guard in 2010 after 31 years of service.

“It’s helping people … during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, the Guard worked to rebuild infrastructure,” he added.

As part of relief effort to storm victims, in 2005, the Guard manned the distribution effort of two tractor trailer loads of Tyson chickens.

He joined the American Legion in 2004 and is adjunct and finance officer, as well as with the Sons of the American Legion.

Pruitt was the outpost commander for Royal Rangers from 2001-2008.

Royal Rangers is similar to the Boy Scouts, except they are more religion-oriented.

He has volunteered with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) since 2007. “I have visited with employers and encouraged them to show support of their employees who are members of the National Guard and Reserve,” he said.

In 2017 while looking for a good internet radio station, Pruitt discovered Vietnam Vet Radio.

“I liked it right away. They play my kind of music,” Pruitt said.

Vietnam Vet Radio is a one-of-a-kind, internet-only radio station dedicated to the men and women who served in the Vietnam War, their families and friends.

With a few exceptions, all of the songs played are from the Vietnam War era.

The station also plays authentic jingles and public service announcements that were played on AFVN (American Forces Vietnam Network) Radio.

The welcome message on the Vietnam Vet Radio Homepage states its mission: “Our mission is to heal, not open old wounds.”