A sunburn that almost became a court-martial, an M60 that felt heavier than the moment, and a van painted the wrong color because there were no wheels to move it—Gerard’s life stitches together grit, humor, and unshakable work ethic. We sit down with an Army mechanic who asked for Vietnam and got Korea, learned fast under air-raid sirens near the DMZ, and found a second home on a Korean Air Force base where Mohawks, helicopters, and better chow shaped his days.
From Detroit’s service stations to Fort Ord’s cold mornings, Gerard maps the transition from young wrench-turner to the guy who keeps the motor pool running when parts are scarce and inspections are strict. He opens up about culture shock, kimchi buses, off-base living with a sergeant’s family, and a village visit where strangers treated him like royalty. Returning stateside, the story turns to layoffs, strikes, and a tough lesson in corporate indifference—then pivots to reinvention: certifications earned, a Buick bay claimed, and decades of solving problems as the auto industry evolved from carburetors to sensor-rich diesels with particulate filters.
We talk shop—engine swaps then and now, why the backyard chain hoist has given way to scan tools, and how quiet, clean diesel systems changed the game. We also talk life: the uncle who survived an explosion, a father who helped buy a 63½ Galaxie, a daughter running the only pizzeria in her county, and the relationships that left marks both proud and painful. Gerard’s closing note keeps it simple and strong: be adventurous, stay in a good mood, go do the thing, and remember your country comes first.
If this story moved you, tap follow, share it with a friend who loves service or cars, and leave a review with the moment that stuck with you most. Your feedback helps more listeners find conversations like this.
www.veteransarchives.org
