Alexander Cook Hett Jr

Alexander Cook Hett Jr. Was a very determined man, he spoke of hard times growing up in a large family. His father was a Reverend and also worked in the floor covering business . His mother was a woman of deep faith in Christianity and spoke of reading the Bible many many times, learning something new each time she read the Bible. My father was very close to his mother. My father ran away when he was 16 with the intention of joining the United States Navy; however, as fate would have it, the morning he reported he was late and met a Marine Recruiter who directed him to the bus that would forever change his life. That bus took him to Paris Island South Carolina, the gateway to becoming a United States Marine. My father was very proud to claim the title of United States Marine. At the age of 19 while on liberty he met my mother Glenda Camelia Meiggs a 14 year old run away in Ybor City, Fl. and married her. While meeting my mothers parents in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, March 9th, 1958, my mother carried to term their first born son, Frank Roland Hett. Two and half years later while stationed aboard the USS Boxer, my mother gave birth to me, Donald Gary Hett, September 16th, 1960. Three months later Corporal Hett, Alexander one each was transferred to Marine Supply Base Albany, GA. Two Years later my father was Transferred to Marine Reserve Depot in Los Angeles, CA. While in California Sgt Hett was put in charge of Toys For Tots; In addition, Sgt Hett was featured in the Toys For Tots Posters. My father also moonlighted at the movie studios as a stage hand and was fortunate to hob nob with some big names in Hollywood at the time. Furthermore, Sgt hett was also given the detail of notifying next of kin during the beginning of the war in Vietnam. In the early part of 1966 SSgt Hett had an affair with a young woman he met in a bowling alley and as a result on October 1st, 1966 my Sister Renee Collette Owens(Hett) was born. On September 15th 1067 my father's number came up and he was ordered to Vietnam. Fortunately, upon his arrival SSgt Alexander Cook Hett Jr. was declared unfit for combat due to having metal screws in his left shoulder and getting is bell rang too many times as a golden gloves boxer, so he spent his Vietnam tour in Mt. Fuji, Japan, SSgt Hett was transferred to Florence, SC for recruiting duty. While Stationed in South Carolina, SSgt Hett coached little league baseball sponsored by Dial Finance. In addition, he became friends with several big names in NASCAR, which included Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty who helped my father in recruiting Marines during the War in Vietnam. In September 1972 GySgt Hett was transferred to Camp Lejeune, NC to a grunt battalion, which he hated with a passion. GySgt Hett volunteered for Marine Security Guard ans was sent to Marine Barracks 8th and I for training. After completion of training Msgt Hett was transferred to U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Ethiopia. In 1974, shortly after the assassination of Haile Selassie Msgt Hett was transferred to Marine Corps Supply Center Atlantic Albany, GA where he met Jeanette J. Ryals whom he married. Msgt Hett retired from the Marine Corps. For a short time he was a jailer for the Dougherty County Sheriffs Department. In 1978 his best friend and golfing buddy Burt Martin got him a job at research and development back on the Marine Base. In my fathers early years he was a wild stallion, he was addicted to gambling and womanizing. which created problems in his marriage and family which led to divorce in 1974; however, after marrying his second wife Jeanette he became a kind calm rational man with a big heart. Unfortunately, the habits he could not break, cigarettes, red meats, and alcohol, caused his heart to fail, My father repented his sins, invited Jesus Christ into his life and as a result departed this world a saved man.