RETIRED FROM USCBP on 29 April, 2017, after 20 Years and 2 Days with US CUSTOMS/ USCBP. I DONT MISS IT! With my time at the VA, and the ative Navy years I bought back I retired with 36 years of credited Civil service.
I am now now a certified Baseball and Softball Umpire, graduating on 4-18-2017. I'm a Member of the Western New York Umpires Association.Â
Still married since 1976 to wife number one, and we're living in the Buffalo suburb of Kenmore, New York. We have three grown children, and three grandkids.
I worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Buffalo from 93-97. I was hired by the US Customs Service, at the Port of Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York as an Inspector in 1997. The agency merged into the new Department Of Homeland Security, as the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection (C&BP) in 2004. My last assignment was at our Buffalo International Airport office, located at the Prior Aviation Services (FBO) facility. In September of 2011 I completed a two week course at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for "Honor Guard" Training. I was proud to  be part of the local CBP Honor Guard Team, available for funerals, parades and Color Guard presentaions. I always looked forward to those proud assignments.
I'm the former President of the Buffalo Postcard Club. My collection of US Navy ship,military aircraft and baseball park postcards is huge. Im also an avid baseball fan, following the Cleveland Indians and my hometown Buffalo Bisons.
I am a longtime Outdoor Sportsman, enjoying hunting and fishing. I am an active member of the 3F Club ( Fin, Feather, Fur Conservastion Society) in Lewiston, New York. The group is dedicated to all phases of outdoor preservation, conservation and safe & ethical hunting and fishing activity.Â
I've been an avid Photographer since I was a kid, with a special interest in taking photos of historic sights and natural scenic beauty, airshows, baseball games and wildlife. Rarely do my photos include people, unless they are part of the "action" in a particular event or scene.
Â
Other Comments:
I was an ice hockey official for the local USA Hockey chapter from 1984 to 1998. I really enjoyed reffing, and it helped me stay in great shape for many years. The socializing with fellow officials after games, Refs Softball team, and group events were also fun. The new job with US Customs, and some long term nagging injuries finally forced me to give up reffing. Sometimes I really miss it.
And in October of 2007 I finally followed up on  my one of my lifelong ambitions by earning my NAUI certification as a SCUBA diver. It's something I've always wanted to do, and should have done many years ago. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time with as many dives as I can get in.   Hoping to add another "skydive" or two to my list of accomplisments as well. Don't ever give up on your dreams, and dont stop having fun!
I lost a pal in my Dad on 4-27-2012 at 0800. Cpl Frank Mottern USAAF (1943-1946) peacefully feathered his engines and "went west' He is loved and missed. He was given an nice sendoff with the Honor Guard from Niagara Falls Air Force Base, rendering "Military Honors'.Â
I have built an AF-TWS profile for him and became a "Family Member" at that side as well. Please look in on my Dads profile, if you are able as a "guest". its a work in progress as I try to dig up long buried info on Dads USAAF service.
I have recently assumed the "Administrator" role for the USS COD Unit Page here at NTWS. I have a long associoation history of visiting this decorated sub at Cleveland, Ohio. I hope to be able to update an decorate the page with photos. Please visit the CODS page as well as the other profiles Ive built for some special buddies and some Major League Baseball players.
I have enjoyed building 13 NTWS Profiles for WW2 era Major League Baseball Players.
Best Friends AQ2 Ed Coll, EN1 Ernie Fred, NCC Bruce Pallas, AW1 Gordon Stufflebeam, PN3 Mary Jo Green-Stufflebeam, NCC Larry Ream, ATC Sam Eades.
Played softball on the local all military team with Bruce, Gordon and Larry.
On Jan 7th of 85, I was Ernies' "best man" in his wedding.
Hunted deer with Larry and Sam.
Best Moment VERY FEW.....and FAR BETWEEN.
Being an extra as a Sailor for the movie "Best Friends" filmed in Buffalo in Feb 82. I was selected from a set of photos of recruiters sent in to the films casting director by the NRD. I was used as an extra in scenes filmed at Buffalos old Central Rail Terminal. I showed up in the final cut of the movie for about a full three seconds, if you know where to look for me. I am visible best, leaving the train platform via a tunnell, as stars Barnard Hughes and Jessica Tandy exit the same tunnell, to greet Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. In the film, Burt and Goldie have just arrived in Buffalo by AMTRACK on thier honeymoon.
Playing firstbase for an all Armed Forces member, fastpitch softball team sponsored by Joe Ryan, an ex USN SEAL LT, and owner of Ryans Pub. We won our division in 83, and finished second in a big tourney in Buffalos Houghton Park.
Also enjoyed doing Navy Color Guard details at Buffalo Bisons basball games.
Worst Moment Plenty, no end to them. This was miserable, rotten duty!
Chain of Command Assholes, all of them!
Best Quote by my Zone Supervisor: "They named this town Buffalo correctly, cause all these people here know how to do is eat and shit".
Other Memories In March of 82 we had an exceptionally warm Spring. We had unusual temperatures in the 60's and 70's. The NRD CO issued a uniform of the day policy stating we'd shift to whites on 3-17. The results were predictable, as a late Spring snowstorm hit the Buffalo area the morning of the 17th. I recall standing at the bus stop in my whites with a pea coat on in blinding snow. Needless to say we were back in blues the next day, untill May 1st.
This was without question the worst duty in the Navy, and NRD Buffalo among the worst of NRD's. I saw good sailors ( Myself included)mentally beaten up by an idiotic chain of command. There was no real reward for success, and plenty of undeserved grief for failure. I have nothing good to say about it, and I was even a very successfull recruiter.
