Dean Otto

Dean Otto Army Interview

Adam Sheaffer: [00:00:00] Okay. So first, can you please state your name?

Dean Otto: [00:00:04] First name is Dean. The last name is Otto. Spelled backward and forward.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:00:17] And what branch of the military did you serve in?

Dean Otto: [00:00:21] I was in the Army.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:00:24] And what was your role and rank?

Dean Otto: [00:00:27] Whenever I left the Army, I was an E-5 and of course I went in as an E-1, and I served in the Army Security Agency.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:00:43] And when and why did you join the Army?

Dean Otto: [00:00:48] I guess for adventure. And give me a chance to see a new part of the world. Since I was stationed in Turkey.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:01:08] And during your time in the Army, did you serve, which wars did you serve in?

Dean Otto: [00:01:14] I did not serve in a war, but I was in the military during the Vietnam War if you want to call it that.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:01:29] And what lessons did you learn during your time in the Army?

Dean Otto: [00:01:35] I guess one of the big lessons you learned is how to how to get along. Different types and different kind of people. There's numerous things you actually do learn in the Army. Explicitly right now I have to think about.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:02:07] And what did you do after your time in the service?

Dean Otto: [00:02:11] I left the service and went back to private industry and I decided in a short period of time, now go to go work for the post office. That's what I retired from, the post office.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:02:28] And what were some of your favorite memories during your time in the Army?

Dean Otto: [00:02:33] Travel. And we had two children while I was in the military. And that's an experience. And I don't know, we got we got to meet a number of foreign people, Turkish people. Because we actually lived with them. And, well, I don't know, it's just overall general education you get.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:03:06] Okay. And what advice would you give to the younger generation?

Dean Otto: [00:03:14] Well, the younger... Me personally, as far as I'm concerned, we should have the draft enforced again. It should be at least two or three years that a person has to serve their country. And that way it gives you a chance to meet people from other areas of the country, give you a chance to get an education that, you know, the military will educate you.

Adam Sheaffer: [00:03:53] And do you have any anything else you'd like to say or anything?

Dean Otto: [00:03:58] Well, the only thing I can say is I'm proud to see you're a scout. Son was an Eagle Scout. Two grandsons are Eagle Scouts. I think it's a worthwhile organization as far as serving young men and so forth and prepare them for life. I think it's very important. But I do believe that it should be some amount of service for the young people in order to be associated with people from other parts of the country, other nationalities, and everything else.  I think it's more of an education.