Using the GI Bill’s education benefits he had earned by serving in the Navy, Fred enrolled in a nuclear engineering program at Oregon State University. His medical conditions and the treatments for them made attending college difficult. The medications prescribed for him may have included opioids because Fred sometimes found himself to be “out of whack” and unable to concentrate. A bright spot was discovering a sign from someone looking for a person owning a 1962 man’s suit. Fred had one and responded. He was hired to play “grim, balding professor” in the movie Animal House. He was paid $35 for the day of work and was fed well. He recalled the actors who played Neidermeyer and Dean Wormer as being jerks.
Getting a passing grade on a test, when his mind was disheveled by the medications he was prescribed, disillusioned him about the nuclear engineering program. He feared that incompetent people might be given degrees and could create another Three Mile Island disaster. These feelings caused him to drop out of the program.
Later, Fred enrolled in the architecture program at the University of Oregon, graduating with a B.S. degree. Sadly, his physical condition prevented him from putting his education to full use as he was frequently having medical episodes requiring treatment in hospitals. He was able to make the wooden parts for the mobiles his wife Nancy made and sold.
When he was in his 60s and about to lose their house, a VA nurse stepped in to help. All Fred wanted was assistance from the VA in paying for the expensive medications he had to take to stay alive. After reviewing his case, the moder-day Florence Nightingale filed the necessary paperwork to get Fred a 100% disability caused by his Navy service. The money from this allowed Fred and Nancy to live in modest comfort.
Fred is now gone, too early as the result of what happened to him in the Navy.
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