I was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1932, and had a tough start in life. My mother died in childbirth. My father, owner of a small Italian grocery in Springfield, Massachusetts was forced to enlist the help of extended family to provide a sense of home for him and me. I spent my entire childhood in Springfield, bouncing around from home to home. I finished high school as an accomplished athlete and average student. Through the years, I helped my father in business by delivering groceries until the day I turned 18 years old and decided to join the army. The beginning of the Korean War was days away and this turned out to be my first step into a lifetime of public service.