Even as a young boy, Lt. Col. George Acree had a vision of his future.
"It's weird," he said. "Ever since I was in New Bloomfield in first grade, sitting next to Charlie Bowers - I was scribbling on a piece of paper, and Charlie said 'What's that?' and I said, 'A soldier.'"
Now he's been a soldier for 31 years. Acree will be the keynote speaker at Sunday's annual Veterans Day dinner, starting at 6 p.m. at the Callaway Senior Center, 531 Commons Drive, Fulton. Post Commander David Beaver said the dinner is presented for the 99th year by the American Legion Post 210.
Acree graduated from New Bloomfield High School in 1987, but by then, he was already serving.
"I joined the Army Reserves at (age) 17, when I was a junior in high school," he said.
He took advanced training the summer after graduation, and, three years later, went active as an enlisted soldier. He spent the next three years and nine months in active duty. Acree attended Airborne School and then served a year in South Korea.
"We were about 15 miles from the Demilitarized Zone," Acree said of the "safe zone" between the Republic of Korea (South) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North).
He was an artillery soldier there and also went to mountaineering school at Cheju-do. There he learned to do Australian rappelling.
Picture this: Instead of facing the mountain or building one is descending, turn around and face down. Then, run.
"When you jump down, you have one hand on the rope and one hand free," Acree said, adding the free hand carries the soldier's firearm.
After Acree retired from full-time service, he came to Jefferson City to attended Lincoln University. He was also involved in ROTC there. And by working part-time and taking a heavy class load - up to 27 credit hours at once - he managed to graduate in 21/2 years with Cum Laud honors and as a distinguished member of the military.
"I was motivated to graduate from college," he said. "I wanted it over with so I could go get a job."
As he served part time in the National Guard, Acree also worked as a juvenile officer in Fulton.
Continuing his attachment to the Missouri National Guard, Acree served a 2004-05 tour in Iraq as an intelligence and operations officer. His unit was near Tikrit in the Sunni Triangle, northwest of Baghdad. Out of his unit, 50 people were wounded by insurgents, and four died.
"We were attacked 90 times," he said. "I worked hard every damn day."
He's now working full time in the Missouri National Guard, posted in Jefferson City as deputy state logistic officer. He's responded to blizzards, floods, tornadoes and situations of civil unrest. Acree is married to Valerie, a horse trainer, and has three sons: Caleb, Connor and Tyler. They have a small farm in Polo, in northwestern Missouri, with horses, goats and more.
Tyler, 10, is a rodeo star. He started out mutton busting (riding sheep, sometimes racing them), then pony broncs. He's also an accomplished North American trick riding champion.
"It's real - those kinds of communities," Acree said. "It keeps kids out of trouble. It keeps adults out of trouble, too."
He continued his education, completing two master's degrees. He's applying for a third in Homeland Security.
"My goal is to own a farm of some substance," he said. "I'm almost 50. It's a great way to spend a life."
At the Veterans Day dinner, Acree will talk about shared sacrifices and functions across the branches of the U.S. Department of Defense.
"All of us play a part," he said. "All of us have either served overseas in harm's way, or we trained those who have. I appreciate their service."
Tickets for Sunday's dinner are $10 each and can be picked up at the Callaway Senior Center. People also can call Allen Nelson (642-8360) or David Beaver (642-5479). The Fulton High School Chamber Singers also will perform.