Embedded Files
In his own words, Ron has too many interests and hobbies alongside his art. Take a look:
Sports:
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Kayaking; flat water or gentle rapids... I'm getting older, y'know?
- Sport Fencing (Foil please)
- Medieval armor and architecture
- History, particularly military (World Wars and armored tracked vehicles).
- Music. Knows enough trumpet and piano to annoy people, but listens to a wide range including:
- classical rock
- classical jazz and swing
- classical
- various other styles.
- Travel
- Much of Europe and US
- Scotland, Ireland
- Kuwait, Iraq
Ron enjoys meeting and getting to know people of other cultures. People are fascinating whether you're in a cafe in Paris or on the streets of New York City.
- Operating military vehicles:
Ron and his wife used to re-enact WWII tank crew duties for other vehicle collectors and the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor. Ron has operated or crewed over twenty different families of armored vehicles (US and foreign, WWII to present) and has lost track of the number of wheeled vehicle families he's operated.
Hobbies:
- Collecting Pickelhaube (Imperial German spiked helmets)
- Scale modeling (any media, several scales and subjects)
Work and Military:
Airport work was interesting, but not much fun during the hottest part of summer or deepest winter. While working in Racine, I was able to 'bum rides' quite often; which for a high school kid was great!
At the airports, I met a lot of famous people, including many 'rock n rollers', singers and two Presidents (Ford and Bush Sr.); plus one First Lady (Mrs. Carter).
Aside from my short career in 'aviation support', my military career with the Wisconsin Army National Guard and US Army Reserve was the best. Here's a short summary:
1975 - 1980: C Btry 1-126FA WI-ARNG
13B Cannoneer, M109 / M109A1 Self-Propelled Howitzers
1980 - 1986: E Troop 4th Cav. USAR
19E Cav. Tanker (Senior Gunner) M60 series tanks.
1986 - 1988: 318 Maintenance USAR
63J Quartermaster Repair
Break in Service to 2000
2000 - 2002: Co. A 632 Armor WI-ARNG
19K Tanker M1(IP) series tanks
2002-2003: Co. B 128 Infantry WI-ARNG
11B Infantry (Weapons Squad Leader)
2003 - 2007: A Btry 1-126FA WI-ARNG (home again!)
13B M109A6 (Paladin) Howitzer Section Chief / Platoon Sergeant
MOBILIZATIONS:
July 1977:
Wisconsin State Employee's Strike
I worked as a prison guard. Tower duty... not bad, a bit boring, but not bad...
Aug 2005 - Nov 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom:
(various duties)
- Hurricane Katrina hit us during train up in Mississippi!
-Kuwait Nov 05 - Feb 06
-IZ Feb 06 - late Oct 06
All in all a varied and interesting career. I've worked with some of the finest people in the military, as well as education, and am proud of each and every one of my associations.
Most Amazing Life Experience:
My nephew was an aerospace engineer on the Mars Project, which started me thinking about the long hours the astronauts would spend in transit between planets. Perhaps NASA would be interested in an arts program for these folks.
Unable to contact the space agency, a chance was taken in contacting the only artist / astronaut, Captain Alan Bean, who'd walked on the moon with Pete Conrad during the Apollo 12 moon mission.
An internet search netted results and an email was sent. Imagine my surprise when Alan actually called me at home! Being associated with this amazing person has been a highlight of my life.
By the way, he told me NASA didn't care what astronauts did off duty in space. It was up to the crew member to occupy the time. (sad face)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse