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Joey Taylor prepared to serve country
THELMA GRIMES
News-Sun
While saying goodbye to family, friends and Benson is difficult, Joey Taylor is excited about what lies ahead as he prepares to serve his country in the United States Navy.
Taylor, a 2004 Benson High School graduate, said the Navy was not his first choice for life after high school, but it was a close second.
"My first love is football," Taylor said. "I thought about trying out for a college team, but if something happened or I didn't make the team, I didn't want to take the chance of not having a back-up plan."
Taylor, 18, as a running back for the Benson Bobcats broke two school records in the 2003 season. Taylor now holds the single-season touchdown record with 23, and the single-game rushing record at 258 yards.
"I'll miss football," Taylor said. "But I love this country and I want to be in the Navy."
With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continuing for the United States Armed Forces, Taylor said he still wants to serve.
The nine-year Benson resident said he would be "proud and honored" to serve overseas.
"I think what's going on in the world is in some ways bad," Taylor said. "But there is a lot of good coming out of all of it. I first had the idea to enlist after 9/11, but I was only a sophomore. The bottom line is I love this country and am happy to serve. I even considered joining the Marines or the Air Force, but the Navy ended up offering the better deal with its apprenticeship program."
Taylor said through the apprenticeship program, he will have a variety of options once he is out of boot camp.
Of the options listed, Taylor said he is hoping to be stationed on an aircraft carrier, where he can work on fighter planes and jets.
Taylor said he will be in Phoenix for a couple of weeks, before he is shipped to Illinois, where he will attend boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, north of Chicago.
"I think it's going to be rough at first," Taylor said. "I have never been away from home. I remember in May I went to Phoenix, I was officially being sworn into the Navy, and right at that moment it really hit me. It just hit me that I'm doing this and there's no turning back now."
Taylor, who is close to his family, said besides not playing football, he is going to have to adjust to not seeing his family every day.
"I know I am going to miss my Mom, my grandmother and my little brother," Taylor said. "My brother just started playing flag football, and it bothers me that I won't be around for that. But they are all supportive of me going out and getting my life started."
Taylor's grandmother, Arta Taylor, said while the family is "very worried," they are happy for him.
"I think what Joey is about to do is wonderful," Arta said. "We are really excited, but it is very hard when I think of him leaving because we have such a special bond. Joey is going to be missed, but at the same time we are proud of him."
Taylor said once he graduates from boot camp and officially becomes a Navy Seaman Apprentice, he is looking forward to "seeing the world."
As part of his four-year enlistment, Taylor said he will serve overseas and ultimately, if all goes well, he plans to make the Navy a career.
News-Sun
While saying goodbye to family, friends and Benson is difficult, Joey Taylor is excited about what lies ahead as he prepares to serve his country in the United States Navy.
Taylor, a 2004 Benson High School graduate, said the Navy was not his first choice for life after high school, but it was a close second.
"My first love is football," Taylor said. "I thought about trying out for a college team, but if something happened or I didn't make the team, I didn't want to take the chance of not having a back-up plan."
Taylor, 18, as a running back for the Benson Bobcats broke two school records in the 2003 season. Taylor now holds the single-season touchdown record with 23, and the single-game rushing record at 258 yards.
"I'll miss football," Taylor said. "But I love this country and I want to be in the Navy."
With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continuing for the United States Armed Forces, Taylor said he still wants to serve.
The nine-year Benson resident said he would be "proud and honored" to serve overseas.
"I think what's going on in the world is in some ways bad," Taylor said. "But there is a lot of good coming out of all of it. I first had the idea to enlist after 9/11, but I was only a sophomore. The bottom line is I love this country and am happy to serve. I even considered joining the Marines or the Air Force, but the Navy ended up offering the better deal with its apprenticeship program."
Taylor said through the apprenticeship program, he will have a variety of options once he is out of boot camp.
Of the options listed, Taylor said he is hoping to be stationed on an aircraft carrier, where he can work on fighter planes and jets.
Taylor said he will be in Phoenix for a couple of weeks, before he is shipped to Illinois, where he will attend boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, north of Chicago.
"I think it's going to be rough at first," Taylor said. "I have never been away from home. I remember in May I went to Phoenix, I was officially being sworn into the Navy, and right at that moment it really hit me. It just hit me that I'm doing this and there's no turning back now."
Taylor, who is close to his family, said besides not playing football, he is going to have to adjust to not seeing his family every day.
"I know I am going to miss my Mom, my grandmother and my little brother," Taylor said. "My brother just started playing flag football, and it bothers me that I won't be around for that. But they are all supportive of me going out and getting my life started."
Taylor's grandmother, Arta Taylor, said while the family is "very worried," they are happy for him.
"I think what Joey is about to do is wonderful," Arta said. "We are really excited, but it is very hard when I think of him leaving because we have such a special bond. Joey is going to be missed, but at the same time we are proud of him."
Taylor said once he graduates from boot camp and officially becomes a Navy Seaman Apprentice, he is looking forward to "seeing the world."
As part of his four-year enlistment, Taylor said he will serve overseas and ultimately, if all goes well, he plans to make the Navy a career.
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