Grande Voiture du Virginia
Grande Chef de Gare
2011-2012
William Englert
Born at the Naval Hospital, Naval Training Center, Bainbridge Maryland in November 1952. I was born into a Naval family and traveled around the world. I attended schools in San Diego, CA; Champaign, IL; Norfolk, VA and Sasebo, Japan. After leaving Japan, I attended Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA before entering the Navy at Armed Forces Entrance and Examination Station (AFEES) Oakland, CA, then off to Recruit Training Command (RTC) San Diego, CA in June 1971.
I served 23.5 years on active duty in the Navy, serving tours at: Naval Magazine, Guam; Naval Security Group, Skaggs Island, CA; on board USS GARCIA (FF-1040), Charleston, SC; and Nuclear Weapons Training Group, Atlantic, in Norfolk VA as an instructor. Then aboard the USS SCOTT (DDG-995), Norfolk VA; Naval Weapons Station Yorktown VA; and the USS CARON (DD-(970), Norfolk, VA. During this time, I have traveled to ITALY, SPAIN, FRANCE, GREECE, EGYPT, ISRAEL, DIEGO GARCIA, LIBYA, BAHRAIN, SAUDI ARABIA, COLUMBIA, CUBA, and various other Islands in the Caribbean, NOVA SCOTIA, and BERMUDA. I retired from Active Duty in 1994 as a Chief Petty Officer.
People have asked me "Why the Dragon on my pin?" Being born in 1952, it was the year of the Dragon in Oriental Astrology. The year I was invited to join the 40 & 8 was 2000, the year of the Dragon, and 2012 is again a Dragon year.
I am a PUFL member with the American Legion, currently at Post 368, a PUFL with the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Post 6002, both located in Newport News, VA, and a PUFL with the 40 & 8 at VL-976. I moved through the Officer positions at Locale 976. For the Grande, I've served as Aumonier, Grande Directeur POW/MIA, Grande Directeur Box Car, Sous Chef de Train East/West, Chef de Train and now the pleasure as Grande Chef de Gare. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
