Stephen Michael Gryc, Composer

In 1968 I won the military draft. I could let myself be drafted, defer, flee to Canada. It was the first decision I ever made that was totally mine. Instead of the Army, I joined the Air Force ROTC at Michigan and was assigned to Travis Air Force Base in California, a jumping off location for Vietnam. I was Special Assistant to the Chief of Services. Because I was a college student, I went in as an officer. It was a privilege to be able to make this decision, it was a privilege to be called “sir”, it was a privilege to not have to delay my life professionally for 4 years because I was only required to serve for a few months. This decision carried weight in my personal life and in the military.