Well hello to everyone from the
435 SPS. Talk about a trip down memory lane. After attending ABGD
(Air Base Ground Defense, remember that?) in Camp Bullis, Texas
I was stationed at Rhein-Main AB from 1986 to 1988. I was a member
of B-flight the entire time and have some of my most fondest law
enforcement memories there. While stationed there I met my future
wife, Vickie Burns, who I will have been married to for 20 years
this August (2008). I was a member of the infamous group "John
Kerrigan and the Motown Monsters", a group which won every
lip synch contest we entered with the song "Reach Out I'll
Be There" by the Four Tops. The original group was John Kerrigan,
Dave Ponce, Bob Vickers and myself. This led to an in-house lip
synch contest which occurred at our 1987 Christmas Party against
the "Fem Fatale", four female SPs from the squadron, Sue
Wild, Jackie White, Diane Thrailkill and forgive me I can't remember
the fourth. I was on the squadron "Broom Ball" team the
Choir Boys, how I didn't get killed running around on ice with a
pretend broom while half in the bag is beyond me and I don't recall
if we ever won a game. I left Rhein Main and was then stationed
at McGuire AFB,New Jersey with the 438th SPS (MAC Base). While stationed
in New Jersey, Vickie and I were married and I attained the rank
of Sergeant. Before leaving McGuire I did meet and briefly speak
with CMSgt. Martin who was the chief at Rhein Main, he was the chief
for ABGD which at that point was moved to Fort Dix, NJ. I separated
a couple of months early due to the Graham Rudman Bill, I think
that's how you spell it, in May of 1989.
I returned home to Morris, IL which is located 60 miles southwest
of Chicago where I went back to working construction for a few months
before being hired by the Grundy County Sheriff's Office. I have
reached my 19th year with the department and am currently one of
the Sergeants for day shift. We work 12 hour shifts, every other
weekend. While at Grundy County I have worked the traffic unit,
I was a D.A.R.E. officer, I became an accident reconstructionist
and was recently certified with the Illinois State Police Training
Board as a self-defense instructor. I always felt that training
in the area of self defense was lacking so I began studying the
Martial Arts, I have attained black belts in three different styles.
Vickie and I have two children, Alyssa - 14 and Gabe - 11. So when
we're not working we are attending sports events for one of the
kids. I also spend time teaching karate for a few students here
in Morris. We try to stay busy and active.
I recently ran across Chuck's web site and am looking forward to
hearing from those who were there, then or whenever. I do have a
few photo albums from there so I will be sending Chuck pictures
from the investigative team of "Ponce and John", Bob Landolphi's
last day on shift to "Oktoberfest" in Munich with B-flight...
which if I didn't have the pictures would find it hard to recall.
Do you remember that Sgt. Deeds?
- Sgt Mark Sajnaj
UFC Instructor
Grundy Co. Sheriff's Office
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