From Coal Dust to Camouflage

 

From Coal Dust to Camouflage: How My Virginia Past Shaped My Service, and Why I Chose Bargersville to finally call Home

By Jerry Buchanan

1 Introduction

Standing here in Bargersville, a town that hums with the energy of growth and future plans, it feels like I've finally found the anchor I spent a lifetime searching for. But the foundation of who I am was set decades and a thousand miles away, in a Virginia coal town that was fading into a ghost of its former self. That town was St. Charles, VA, where I lived in two small homes during my formative years . I spent my childhood years in those simple houses as our family navigated the local economy, learning early on what it meant to fight for stability in a town whose boom days were already over.

"The decline of St. Charles was my first major life lesson in impermanence. I left to join the Marines on May 19, 1968, trading a familiar struggle for a life of strict duty. That path took me straight into the heart of the Vietnam War, where I served from January 1969 to January 1970. The discipline I gained was invaluable, but the experience was raw and defining. I carried the memory of my hometown’s decline into the field, a constant reminder of what I was fighting to protect back home.

I spent two more years after that tour as a military policeman at Camp Lejeune, learning the cold rules of order after witnessing such profound chaos. When I was discharged in May 1972, I briefly returned to St. Charles, but the limited work opportunities were no match for the future I needed to build for my wife and young son. The declining town, like the war, had run its course for me. So, I made a decisive break: I moved us to Indiana. That move—driven by necessity—set me on a new 30-year course, one dedicated to finding stability."

It’s a journey that led from steel mill factories to a fulfilling career at the Post Office, three college degrees, a second career as an instructor, and finally, just four years ago, to the peace of Bargersville, where I finally had the time and perspective to write my books. This is the story of how a veteran never stops searching for home, and why I believe I’ve found it here.

II. Building an Anchor: Work, Family, and Education (1973–2004)

This section details how your military discipline was channeled into civilian achievement.

"The decision to leave my Virginia roots was painful, but necessary. After a few uncertain months working in local steel mill factories, I landed what I considered my 'dream job' at the Post Office on April 16, 1973. It was more than a job; it was the foundation I needed to finally provide stability for my wife and young son. For the next 31 years, I poured my energy into that career, retiring on November 1, 2004.

That dedication extended beyond the clock. Knowing that education was the key to future success, I worked full-time while putting myself through college. That effort culminated in earning three degrees: an Associate’s, a Bachelor’s, and a master’s degree in management. The structure and purpose I found in the Marines never left me—it simply shifted, focusing on self-improvement and setting an example for my family in our new Indiana home."

III. The Unexpected Second Act (2005–2021)

This section demonstrates your continued energy and pursuit of knowledge, showing you were far from "retiring" when you left the Post Office.

"I retired from the Post Office at 55, far too young to sit still. This led to an unexpected and fulfilling second act: I was recruited by the University of Oklahoma to serve as a contract instructor, teaching Postal Service courses starting in June 2005. For nearly seven years, I channeled my decades of experience into educating others.

Even after leaving that role in 2012, I kept busy, working as a custodian and substitute teacher beginning in September 2014. It wasn't until October of 2021 that I fully re-entered retirement. Now, with the demanding structures of military service, factory work, postal service, and teaching finally behind me, the ultimate dream emerged: writing. It was a pursuit I could only undertake once I knew my family and I were completely settled."

🏡 The Final Anchor: A Deliberate Choice

The hardest lessons I learned—in the decline of a hometown and in the chaos of a war zone—were about what happens when order breaks down. After a lifetime of navigating the uncertainty of a dying Appalachian town, a multi-decade career, and the vastness of the military, my wife and I made one final, crucial decision four years ago.

We were happily settled in Greenwood, but when the neighborhood began to deteriorate and community standards lapsed, we knew we had to move again. My wife found listings in Bargersville, and after several trips, we settled on a beautiful, well-kept, new ranch home. Yes, it’s smaller—a detail my wife still occasionally mentions—but the trade-off was worth it. We chose Bargersville because we saw a community committed to stability, pride, and a clear future. When we drive by our old street now, we’re certain we made the right decision.

That stability is what finally allowed me to embrace the final dream. Now, fully retired since October 2021, I can channel my lifetime of experiences into writing. From the coalfields of St. Charles, through the jungles of Vietnam, and across decades of service, I’ve found my most satisfying home here in Bargersville, Indiana, the place where my story, and my writing, can finally flourish.