By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer 

MADISON – For those considering joining the U.S. military during the last 1960s, there was one compelling reason to go ahead and enlist, and it had everything to do with the country’s involvement in Vietnam.

“I knew there was a good possibility I would be drafted,” Frank Drake said.

So, Drake, after graduating from Bladensburg High School, joined the United States Navy in the buddy system.

However, neither of his “buddies” with whom he planned to enlist was able to join the Navy, so Drake set off by himself.

Drake endured the standard 10-week boot camp, as every recruit did back then, at Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago.

“I went from 181 pounds before boot camp to 165 pounds after boot camp, which is quite a change for someone who’s 6’1,” Drake said with a laugh.

After training, Drake went to technical training, which the Navy calls A-school, in Memphis, Tenn. Drake became familiar with becoming an ADJ, or an Advanced Machinist’s Mate.

“I came out pretty good to be working on jet engines,” Drake said.

Drake also served as a member of the VT-4 Training Squadron 4 in Pensacola, Fla., helping provide flight instruction to other Navy service members.

After four years, Drake got out of active duty after an epiphany during maintenance of an airplane while outside conditions were stormy and windy.

“As I was falling off the wing of the plane, I decided to make a change,” Drake said with a laugh.

Drake then enlisted in and graduated from the University of Maryland, earning a bachelor’s degree in business & administration.

During this time, though, Drake continued on with the Navy in the Naval Reserves and would for the next 20 years, retiring in 1998. He rose to the rank of Senior chief petty officer while in the Navy.

Drake has worked with Merrill Lynch in Huntsville since 2008.

“My time with the Navy was fun,” Drake said. “I can’t complain. I enjoyed the responsibility.”