DPC Bruce N. Wheelock, USN (ret.)

[Brucewh]

1973 DP "A" school, NTC San Diego
1973-1977 LANTCOMOPCONCEN [renamed LANTCOMOPSUPFAC] (WWMCCS) FAU CINCLANTFLT, Norfolk, VA
1977-1980 USS Constellation (CV64), S-7 Div., San Diego, CA
1980-1987 NAVMMACPAC [renamed NAVMECDET San Diego], Data Processing Dept., San Diego, CA

First tour of duty was at the WWMCCS facility in Norfolk (computer ops.; I/O Control; Technical Assistance Group), where I made DP2. After reenlisting, went to Supply Data Processing (S-7 Div.) In USS Constellation (computer operations; software development; collateral duties: DCPO, Safety PO, Training PO, Career Counselor; Repair 3A unit locker lead), where I made DP1. Then I transferred to what would be my final duty station, Navy Manpower and Material Analysis Center, Pacific, in San Diego, where I went from software QA to programming to MIS manager, and initiation as a DPC in 1986. Unfortunately, in 1985 I was on the losing side of a bicycle vs. car incident that pulverized my right ankle; two years later, the Orthopedics Department at Balboa Naval Hospital decided it couldn't be fixed. The Navy insists everyone be able to run and to climb ladders -- and I couldn't ever again -- so I was given a medical discharge.

I had picked up my BS in Computer Science and my MS in Software Engineering while on shore duty; I immediately found a job as a Senior Programmer with a Navy contractor. About two years after the sudden death of my first wife, I moved to a company producing commercial software products. After that company failed, I relocated to Washington (state), where I took a position as a Software Test Engineer at Microsoft Corporation. I remained there until my 2003 retirement due to medical disability.

My world has been turned upside down four times. The first was the accident that ended my Navy career. The second was the sudden and unexpected death of my high school sweetheart, exactly 16 years and 10 months after we got married, just five days after her 36th birthday. The third was the abrupt onset of multiple sclerosis, which gradually did so much damage that I was compelled to retire permanently. The fourth was the deterioration of my second marriage into a domestic violence situation; I finally escaped the repeated attacks in 2007, got a no contact order for my protection, and my annivorsary is October 22nd.

The VA neurologists who took over my case determined from medical records that I had begun exhibiting unrecognized symptoms of MS all the way back before my medical discharge, so the condition was designated to be service-connected. The VA rated me 100% disabled; I'm basically considered to be medically retired now, but because of the way the law works, my medical care belongs to the VA, not the Navy.

Long, rambling dissertation, but that's me. Today I'm living a quiet retired life, working on my novel, puttering around with computers, avoiding all contact with my ex-wife, and learning ASL. I also became a friend of Bill W. at the beginning of 2008, for those who know what that means.

[DPCSDan]

Bruce,
Welcome aboard and good luck with the book.
Life's been rough but your attitude sounds right...
Merry Christmas.
-dan