As an 18-year-old man leaving high school, Rich McConnell not only wanted to find gainful employment, but sought a career of which he could be proud.
Graduating in 1986 from a high school in Michigan, he said having a father and uncle who served in the military helped influence his own decision to join.
Moving to St. Louis with his father shortly after his graduation, McConnell enlisted in the Air Force and was sent to Lackland AFB, Texas, for basic training.