This week’s Veteran is Richard Gilchrist, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1973. Gilchrist was in college before his enlistment, and served as a Dental Technician, which is a very important job, because everyone needs their choppers. For his first couple of years of service, Richard took two-hour Italian lunches, being stationed in Naples, Italy, the home of real pizza. He assisted in dental surgeries, which hurt as much back then as they do today. In late 1971, Gilchrist was transferred to the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, after it was refitted, where his duties included dental and medical care to sailors, as the ship patrolled in the waters off Vietnam’s Tonkin Gulf. The Coral Sea’s mission was to mine North Vietnamese ports, which coincided with a statement of President Richard Nixon noting the mining. Without Gilchrist staying on mission during that cruise by ensuring the pilots and air crew’s teeth were properly maintained, aspirin distributed and bandages maintained, the Vietnam War could have been prolonged even further. Richard noted some interesting stories about life on-board a carrier. At times, when sailors smoked marijuana below decks, the smoke would get in the air ducts, causing havoc in the ship. Following his service, Richard used the GI Bill to get a college degree in Biology, which came in handy with his Dental Sales and Equipment job. Later, since his father was a custom builder, he used that experience, while out west in the construction of dental offices, noting the placement and size of dental devices and equipment in offices under construction. He later followed his father to Texas, where he also was a custom builder until he retired. Good Luck Richard, and Congratulations on being MCNs ‘Veteran of the Week’.