CARL L SHEFFER
Personal Life:
Born 1947 at Hillsdale Hospital, Hillsdale, Michigan. Carl graduated Pittsford Highschool. Married Doralee, 4/13/95. Carl and Doralee raised 3 boys and a daughter, Eric, Curtis, Darin, Brian and Carla.
Carl said that he was inspired to come back to Hillsdale after Vietnam and contribute to the community because he enjoyed the friendliness of the people and the small-town atmosphere. Additionally, Carl enjoys the changes of seasons and the farmland.
Military Life:
Carl said he was motivated to join the military because his father, uncles and many cousins fought in WWII. He said giving back to your country was what you did. He was 17 years old when he joined the military and a few days after Carl finished high school, he was off to the United States Marine Corps. Carl spent 3 years in the Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Corporal.
Carls fondest memory during his enlisted time was with Ron “Bean” Baker, SSGT, USMC, Pioneer, Ohio. Carl said they were training with the 1st Marine Recon in the northern training area of Okinawa, Japan just before they were to be shipped to Vietnam. He said “we were living on C rations and always hungry. When we were fed dinner that night (C Rations), we were burying our empty cans and we dug up a rusty can that hadnt been opened. We opened it and it was ham and lima beans. We shared it and ate it cold!” Ron and I were best friends for over 50 years. Ron “Bean” Baker passed on 1/17/20 from Agent Orange. Ron was a true patriot.
Awards and Decorations:
Purple Heart-Combat Action-Presidential Unit Citation-National Defense Service Medal- Vietnam Service Medal-Vietnam Campaign Medal
Community and Service Organizations:
American Legion Post 195 Sergeant At Arms, 1st Vice Commander, Commander of Honor Guard
Life Member of Disabled American Veterans (45 years)
Life Member Patriot Endowment
NRA
Coach Hillsdale County Little League Baseball
Life Member Hillsdale County Historical Society
Hillsdale County 4H
Member of 1st Baptist Church of Litchfield
These days, Carl loves spending time with his family and grand-children. They Enjoy camping and Bluegill fishing as well as traveling. Some time is spent restoring and collecting classic cars, trucks, tractors and lawn tractors. Yes, Carl does enjoy gardening too.
Carl would like us to know:
“I am not as lean, not as mean but I am still a Marine.”