Syracuse Veterans' Writing Group

Dawson J.W. Brown, born in 1955, in Gloversville, New York, grew up in the Elmira, New York area. He graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1973. He then served in active duty in the United States Navy from June of 1973 to June of 1977. Following Boot Camp in Orlando, Florida, he trained at Treasure Island, California as an Electronic Warfare Technician, and received his duty assignment aboard the U.S.S. Sacramento AOE  I. He completed two WESTPAC tours, visiting countries including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Iran, and Pakistan. For Dawson, the Navy really was a vehicle to "see the world" and become a man. He has many vivid memories of his Navy experiences - some treasured and some a bit disturbing. Dawson returned  to Elmira after the Navy, and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Elmira College in 1982. Later that same year, he began his 28 ½ year career with the New York State Department of Correctional Services as a Stationary Engineer in Watertown Correctional Facility. He worked the 11-7 shift in the powerhouse for nearly 6 years. He earned his Master's Degree in Elementary Education from S.U.N.Y. Potsdam. while working full-time. He then taught Adult Basic Education I at Watertown Correctional Facility for a time, until he took a promotional position as a Senior Stationary Engineer at Cape Vincent Correctional Facility in 1988. He was promoted again in 1989 to Plant Superintendent C at Riverview Correctional Facility.  In 1994, he was promoted to Plant Superintendent B at Auburn Correctional Facility (the State's oldest maximum security prison), where he worked until 1999 when he was offered a promotion to Deputy Superintendent of Administration at Gowanda Correctional Facility. In 2000, he became part of the start-up team for the State's newest maximum security prison, Five Points Correctional Facility, as the Deputy Superintendent of Administration.  In 2005, he returned to Auburn Correctional Facility as Deputy Superintendent of Administration, where he served. until 2007, when he became First Deputy Superintendent at  the famous Sing-Sing Correctional Facility. He soon took over as Acting Superintendent (warden) of Sing-Sing.  He held that position until July, 2009, when he became Superintendent at Groveland Correctional Facility. He retired from State service in March of 2011, and is now making the most of his retirement - golfing, reading, playing chess, enjoying time with family and friends,  and exploring his interest in writing. He joined the Syracuse University Veteran Writers' Group to assist him in developing and sharing memorable stories from his days "in the service" and in corrections. He resides in Syracuse with his wife Pat, and two sons, Alexander and Cameron.

Fred Floyd is a Navy veteran and medic who served during Operation Desert Storm.  He is still actively engaged in the medical field, giving physical exams at Military Entrance Processing facilities.  Fred is fascinated by military history and the stories of veterans in his family.

Ginger Gunnip was born in Milwaukee, WI in 1984. She enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Northern Iraq for fifteen months from 2007-8. She is now a Bio-engineering major and writing minor at SU. Since a young girl, she has always kept diary/journals to write through life's experiences whether good or bad. Her uncle, who has been in the army since he was 18 told her that "the military is a million dollar experience you wouldn't pay a penny for". She would like to share that experience through her writing. Personally, her view of the military has changed a lot since joining. The army is a unique society that functions sort of like a dysfunctional family. To be part of that family is both an honor and a struggle with miscommunication being one of the biggest downfalls; similar to any other family in America but on a much larger scale. Ginger is married and has a young son.

Elizabeth Hall, “Lisa” is a Keuka college graduate and employee at the VA Medical Center. She served 16 months in Iraq at the beginning of the War in 2003. Through trials and tribulations she has grown to become an advocate for her fellow veterans and a supporter of PTSD and MST. Elizabeth is the daughter to Joseph and Michelle Hall, who have been married since May 19, 1982. She was born October 22, 1981, and raised in the City of Syracuse as the oldest child of three, with her sister to Melissa Williams (Married to Marques and has two children Ketaylee and Nathan) and Bradley Hall Sr.(has a son Bradley Jr). In the military Lisa was a Signal Support Communication Specialist and during her time in Iraq worked with the 403 Civil Affairs Battalion. She is a HUGE Syracuse basketball fan and enjoys spending time with her friends and family. The stories Lisa writes about are often untold to most of the world, some come from great battle wounds, while others come with great laughter and joy. In reading along she hopes you get a better understanding of the female solider and also the real life wounds and stories the Iraq war really leaves us with.

Frank Hobitz enlisted US Navy upon graduation from H.S. at age 17.  Navy training in aviation electronics maintenance.  Starting Pitcher for Navy Station Baseball Teams: Memphis, Alameda, Moffet Field.  Competed against College, Military, and Minor League Baseball Teams.  Volunteered for Korean duty with VF23, USS Essex.  Appointed VF23 Electronics Crew Chief.  Supervised 12 Electronics Technicians in Electronics Equipment maintenance of 15 combat jet aircraft.

Education:  University of NH, BA Economics, MBA Program Northeastern University, Holy Cross College Labor Relations, Syracuse University CBIT School, Certificates in Project Management, Database Management, SQL, Powerbuilder.

Experience in non-profit, Manufacturing, Government, Recruiting, Executive Search, Outplacement.  Strengths in Turnaround Management.  Position responsibilities have included CFO/Controller, Project Manager, Consultant, IT Management, and Cost Accounting Management. 

Executive/Career Coach Background includes Certification as a Career Development Consultant (NACDC), Director Consulting Services, Jameson Associates; Senior Consultant, Career Advancement Group; President Innovative Career Strategies, Inc. /The Career Source.

Michael Rivezzo is originally from Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania. He is the third generation in his family to serve in the military. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the Army National Guard. He is currently a senior enrolled at Syracuse University in the Whitman School of Management and is the President of the Syracuse University Veterans' Club.  After graduation, he plans to attend law school. He is writing a piece on the war in Afghanistan, viewing the war through the perspective of a local Afghan.

Robert Marcuson was born in 1947, the first year of UFO sightings over new Mexico. Bob spent the rest of his life being told that all events have meaning and there is no coincidence. Bob is a veteran of the war in Vietnam.  He maintains a web site with correspondence and writing about his service in Vietnam at http://www.gruntseyeview.com/

Peter K. McShane is a Vietnam veteran and a graduate of SU with a BS In Zoology and an MBA. When he started writing about his military experiences in 2005, his family thought the stories were terrific, but he wanted his work to appeal to a larger audience. He began attending classes and workshops at the YMCA's Downtown Writer’s Center to learn effective use of exposition and dialog, scenes and point of view to create stories with universal appeal. Pete is working on a memoir about his life as a Green Beret Medic and its aftereffects. He has written short stories, a novella and several essays. His work appears in Ginger Piglet, Issue Two and Syracuse Intertext Magazine.

Lee B. Savidge is a third generation soldier who retired in 2005 with active and part time military service totaling 27 years.  After graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Lee joined the US Air Force during the Viet Nam War.  After the war Lee worked a series of civilian engineering jobs for large corporations including Hess, Carrier, Niagara Mohawk and SRCTec.  While at Carrier, Lee earned his MBA degree at Syracuse University.  In 1982 Lee joined the New York State Air National Guard at Hancock Field, Syracuse, New York, and worked in the Bio-Environmental Engineering section of the 174th Fighter Wing Clinic.  In 1983 Lee cross-trained to Aerospace Warning and Control and transferred to the 113th Tactical Control Squadron, a mobile radar unit at Hancock Field.  Lee deployed with the 113th to many remote locations including the Bahamas, Italy and Portugal in support of drug interdiction and NATO programs.  In 1993 the 113th was dissolved and Lee transferred to the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS), Rome, New York.  In 1999 Lee cross-trained to Intelligence and worked for two years at Rome Research Laboratory’s Secret Compartmented Information Facility.  In 2001 Lee returned to NEADS and served in support of NORAD operations during the September 11th attacks and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.      

Eileen E. Schell is Chair and Director of the Writing Program at Syracuse University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate writing classes. She did her graduate work at University of Washington and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has worked with veterans off and on since 1986 when she helped a WWII bomber pilot edit his memoirs. For the past decade, Eileen has run a nonfiction writing group at the Nottingham Senior Living Community in Jamesville, NY where she has worked with a number of veterans from WWII.  She co-founded the Syracuse Veterans' Writing Group in March 2010 with colleague Ivy Kleinbart. The group is founded in honor of Eileen's uncle Brady L. Smith who served in Vietnam for 26 months as a helicopter pilot.

Ivy Kleinbart teaches academic writing and creative nonfiction at Syracuse University.  She received an MA in English in 2009 and an MFA in creative writing in 2007.  Her work has appeared in Bateau and NoTell Motel.