VALLEY — Long-time Valley resident Otis White often calls himself a LaFayette farm boy. That’s how he grew up.

A 20-year career in the U.S. Army took him to many places, including two tours of duty in Vietnam, and taught him some skills that were valuable to him throughout his life. He’s 84 now and blessed to have a wife, Maxine, and five grown children who live close by.

For an outstanding career in service to his country and being a husband and father, Mr. White is a very deserving Veteran of the Week for The Valley Times-News.

“I was in the Army from 1954 to 1974,” he said. “I had basic training at Fort Jackson and they sent me to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, where I started my engineering training.”

White was trained as a combat engineer and was stationed at such places as Fort Ord in California and Fort Lewis in Washington.

His military career sent him to many places.

“I was in Germany twice, and France once,” he said. “I was in Vietnam in 1968 and again in 1971. I was in the mechanized infantry when I retired in 1974. Military service made a big difference in my life. I am proud to have been given an opportunity to serve my country.”

White likes to wear a U.S. Army hat noting that he’s a Vietnam veteran. He was wearing one at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Valley senior center.