Page 55 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

by Barbara Jensen

He was raised in Sundown, TX, the fields (like his father’s). He picked
fourth of five children. His father was “Builder” and headed to training
a welder who worked on industrial in Gulfport, MI, where he became
projects around the state, and the a Seabee. Seabees are Navy
family often moved with him, while construction battalions, responsible
maintaining their Sundown home. for building structures at military
locations around the world. Their
Duran’s older brother was in the motto is “With compassion for others,
Navy, and Duran was intrigued by We Build ~ We Fight, For peace
the vivid stories of his experiences with freedom. With willing hearts
overseas. His father wanted and skillful hands, the difficult we
his younger son to join him in do at once; the impossible takes a
construction work but, as soon as he bit longer.” Life with the Seabees
was out of high school, his parents
was just what he was looking for.
I consented to let him join the Navy. He loved the adrenaline rush of
interviewed Duran on Memorial
His first ship was a frigate, the USS
early morning cadence calls and
Day, while he was in uniform. It
Robert G. Bradley.
made a huge impression on me.
exercise, and hard work.
His service is something he’s taken After two years aboard, the career appreciated the uniformity, strenuous
very seriously, and it affects every counselor told him he was eligible
moment of his life. for school, and offered him a choice Life with the Seabees was a series
of huge stresses interspersed with
of directions, all in construction

Senior link Veteran challenge coins

2018 2019 2020 2021

2021 Amarillo 2022 2023 2024 2025

Each year, accompanying our annual Veterans edition, Senior Link Magazine If you are a Challenge Coin Collector or
has commissioned a military “challenge coin” to coincide with the image on know someone who would like to
the Fall cover. Texas Tech University Military and Veterans Network has joined have one, please get in touch:
us in sponsoring the beautiful medallions.
Erin Agee
Currently, we have a collection of extra coins from each year, eagee7@outlook.com or
and we are making them available for purchase at $5 per coin (plus shipping) (806) 441-3955

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