Gary L Hermes

After high school I did a few odd jobs then enlisted in the Air Force in 1971 because I didn't want to be drafted and go to Viet Nam. Spent my 4 1/2 years enlistment stationed in Germany as a Medical Service Specialist working my last 2 1/2 years in the ER as shift leader. Loved it there and got a European discharge in 1975 hoping to find work there and stay in Germany. After not finding work and my funds running low I came back to the St. Louis area and got a job as an EMT for Medco Ambulance in Wood River Hospital. Worked there for 1 1/2 years with Sky Mills till I started at GM in 1977. Worked a little over 2 years before I got laid off in 1979. For 5 of the next 6 years I drove a semitruck cross country till GM called me back in 1985. In 1986 I transferred to the GM truck plant in Fort Wayne, IN and worked here till I retired Nov 1, 2011. My desire now is to travel when the bug hits me to and see all those places I drove by but could not stop and see when I was driving a semi. When I was stationed in Germany I had the opportunity to travel and made the most of it. I saw Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxenbourg, Belgium and Holland. During my truck driving employment I drove in every state but six. Since then I have also visited Canada and Jamaica. This country has so many wonderfull sites to see I want to make the most of my retirement and see what I missed driving a semi. Even though I did poorly in school (I think it was an undiagnosed ADD problem) on a whim I took the MENSA test in 2012 and passed! Still have the problem of ADD but I found ways to put up with it.

Horace Mann Elementary
East Junior High School
Alton Senior High School