Air Force veteran worked as electrician, had help from two mentors

Our Veterans, Their Stories

Kirk Bertolet joined the U.S. Air Force in Sept. 1979 and served as an electrician in the 1827 Electronic Installation Squadron. He was originally from Costa Mesa, CA, and now lives in Bethel. Bertolet is also the Activities Director and incoming Sergeant at Arms at Shawnee's Gill-Mattox American Legion Post 16. Photo provided
Kirk Bertolet joined the U.S. Air Force in Sept. 1979 and served as an electrician in the 1827 Electronic Installation Squadron. He was originally from Costa Mesa, CA, and now lives in Bethel. Bertolet is also the Activities Director and incoming Sergeant at Arms at Shawnee's Gill-Mattox American Legion Post 16. Photo provided

Kirk Bertolet, who now lives in Bethel, joined the U.S. Air Force in September 1979 when he was 22 years old.

He graduated from high school in Costa Mesa, CA, and had been working at minimum wage jobs for a few years.

“I was floating around working minimum wage, and I realized that, if I didn’t do something to enhance my value to employers, that I was going to be minimum wage the rest of my life,” s…