generation that my dad was brought up in, they want to prove themselves that they were loyal patriotic americans, and when i think about my dad and the sacrifices that he made to go and serve in uniform for a country that did not afford him all the rights and privileges that it did to others, and i will never forget when my dad said there is no greater honor than to wear the uniform of the united states of america. that's why i took my oath i took 31 july 1982 so seriously as i do today. >> were you a good kid before you went into the military? >> no, you know. my granddad nicknamed me a muchlt i was stubborn, hardheaded. i write about it in the book, my parents from the first grade through the ninth grade i went to private catholic school, and i toll them i want to go to the public school down the street. they didn't want to listen and everything, i ran away from home. mark: really? >> yeah.