In 1966, while living in Lansing, Michigan, Bill and Sharon Carver’s lives took a dramatic turn when Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army. His path led him first to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training, then to Fort Poke, Louisiana, for advanced training intended to prepare him for Vietnam. From there, he moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he trained for six months on firing the M-60 machine gun from helicopters. But just before deployment, his assignment unexpectedly changed—Bill was sent to Korea for a year as part of the first helicopter unit stationed there since the Korean War.

Bill served eleven months in Korea before returning home and completing his service with four years of inactive duty. His time overseas was marked not only by the intensity of his work but also by a deeply personal milestone—just ten days before shipping out, he and Sharon welcomed twin boys into their family. Today, as Shadow Valley residents, the Carvers look back on those early years of marriage and military service with gratitude for the resilience, sacrifice, and love that carried them through.