It wasn’t all “roses and cherries,” according to John Bickford. It had some “barbed wire” in it.

    Bickford is referring to his 23-year career in the Navy, but he is quick to make another observation: “I enjoyed my Navy career; if I had it to do over again I would.”

Bickford retired from the Navy at Gulfport, Miss., in 1983 as a petty officer. It was a career Bickford embarked upon at age 18, one that led to service on mine sweepers, frigates and destroyers. He also served on submarines, one of them off the coast of Vietnam as that war was winding down.

The end of his Navy career was the beginning of another career for Bickford. He went to college, got a degree and went to work for a school district in the area of transportation. His responsibilities included training school bus drivers and monitoring buses for problem students and such. He worked in that capacity for 17 years and retired once again.

Bickford and his wife, “Bobbie,” moved to Foley about four years ago from the Daytona Beach, Fla., area. The couple is today vitally involved in American Legion Post 99, Bobbie in the Post Auxiliary and John as sergeant-at-arms.

John Bickford’s Post 99 position is described in part this way in the American Legion’s literature: “Be ready at all times to assist your Commander.” Bickford puts that in his own terms: “I do whatever the Commander asks,” he said.

“John is a gung-ho individual and I have put him in charge of the kitchen,” said Post 99 Commander Harold Bryson.

Bickford said he enjoys cooking, but he has other responsibilities as  sergeant-at-arms as well.

“I maintain control of the meetings and set the meetings up,” Bickford said.

The sergeant-at-arm’s job description also states this: “You will guard especially against the loss of one of The American Legion’s greatest possessions – our deep and abiding spirit of comradeship.”

For Bickford personally, his greatest satisfaction comes in volunteering.

“Volunteers are slim to none,” Bickford said. “I really enjoy working with the veterans.”

At least once a month, Bickford goes to the William F. Green veterans’ home in Bay Minette. Last year, Bickford had more than 500 volunteer hours through

Post 99.

“It’s a shame we don’t have more people who want to help people,” Bickford said.

Asked about the most memorable part of his military service and career, Bickford cited the year and a half he spent in Morocco.

“That was a good experience; a place where you had to leave your own culture totally behind you,” Bickford said, calling that an “educational tour.”

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to fellow service members and veterans.