Editor's note: This is the first of more than 20 veterans' stories included in a book soon to be released by Westport Middle School students and teachers. Students and teachers spent months interviewing local veterans about their service, and will soon publish a book filled with them. They will be published weekly in Shorelines.

“You can always do more than you think you can,” George Stelljes said, giving a valuable life lesson and Stelljes should know; he worked all over the world. He did his basic training at Fort Dix, Advanced Individual Training in Fort Huachuca in Arizona, then served in California, Germany, Kentucky, and Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant. His proudest moment from his time in the service was when “My father and wife got to pin gold bars on my shoulders.” 

After graduating from Framingham State College, Stelljes was looking for a job and considered the FBI but an agent told him he needed experience, he followed a family tradition dating back to the Spanish-American War by joining the Army in 1975. He thought he would be getting experience to join the FBI, instead he found he liked being in the Army more. Stelljes states, “It's ok to be afraid; you just have to control it.” Later he said, “These lessons shaped my leadership philosophy, which is about protecting and caring for the people under you.”

He remembers the first day of boot camp as intense, and designed to intimidate the introduction to military life. On the first day he was the last one off the bus of boot camp, and then the drill sergeant made him his clerk because he could read and write well. He considers the toughest challenge was being away from his family. “I missed many birthdays, holidays, school events, and important milestones like first words and steps.  However, I was lucky to be present for the births of all three of my children.”

Mr. Stelljes remembered a scary incident at Airborne Training School when he had a parachute malfunction during training.  “I looked up, I had a partial opening, and everybody was way above me. And for a few seconds I thought I was going to die.” It was life threatening, but luckily he managed to get the chute open in time to land safely. 

George Stelljes advice for anyone joining the military is “Don't look at it as a job, or a career, look at it as a way of life.” So if you are interested in the military, total commitment is required and your lifestyle will change in the armed forces.  Humility is also important in the military.  "Never forget you're no better than the lowest-ranking person in your unit."

After the military in 1996, Stelljes retired and became a junior ROTC instructor at a private boarding school. He continues to serve the youth and community. Stelljes has many influential people in his life such as Sergeant Al Barnett and Captain Larry Hamilton. They showed him the value of mentorship in military career development.