Roy Sheldon was inducted into the Army on Feb. 8, 1968. Though “not very many members of my family had served in the military over the years,” he was steadfast in his determination to honor the commitment.
Sheldon was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for Basic Combat Training (BCT), during the harsh winter months. During the national unrest that followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Sheldon witnessed the Army’s response, including the mobilization of troops to control riots in various cities across the U.S. His time at Fort Knox also presented an opportunity to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), but he opted to fulfill his two-year active duty as an enlisted medic rather than extend his commitment.
Sheldon’s medic training led him to the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. Although this assignment was far from combat zones, it held significant importance. In August 1968, the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces invaded Czechoslovakia, placing the hospital on high alert as the Cold War threatened to escalate into direct conflict. Located just 70 miles from the East German border, the hospital was equipped to handle mass casualties should the war transition into an active confrontation. For his contributions in providing essential care to soldiers and their families, he received a National Defense Service Medal.
Following his honorable discharge in 1970, Sheldon used his G.I. Bill benefits, ultimately obtaining a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a PH.D. in English. He embarked on a lengthy academic career at Washburn University, where he taught for 32 years, retiring in 2015 as an Associate Professor Emeritus. He attributes his military experience with instilling the discipline and resolve necessary to realize his educational and professional aspirations.
Sheldon is a member of the American Legion, which provides him a sense of connection to those who served before, during and after his time in the military.
We honor his service.
Nominate a Veteran for Honoring Veterans
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s Honoring Veterans social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
TogetherWeServed
This ‘Honoring Veterans’ story was prepared with the assistance of Togetherweserved.com, an online community where Veterans can reconnect with those they served with and preserve the memories and photographs of their military service so that this may live on for their family and future generations. Find out more at https://togetherweserved.com.
Writer: Yosaida Santana
Editors: Endreyah Middleton, Kinsey Spratt
Researcher: Paola Negron
Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley
