For Clyde Moyer, his time in Vietnam was just one of the many ingredients in the recipe of his busy yet fulfilling life.

At 10 years old in Lehighton, Moyer's father died, and his mother sent him to Milton Hershey School for boys, where he discovered his love for culinary arts."In high school, I took vocational classes and candy making training at Hershey. I liked food and I liked being around food," he said.Moyer joined the Air Force immediately after graduation, and in late 1966, he was shipped from North Carolina to Vietnam to serve as a cook.Although he didn't experience combat, the war had certainly taken its toll on him. Moyer lost a dear friend that year."I'd say it was the hardest year of my life."In the midst of all that he had encountered, Moyer found that he had another noteworthy skill: drawing."Around the time that Walt Disney died, I drew Mickey Mouse crying and put it in our tent mess hall, and some people saw it. Some people were impressed with it because it made them think of home," he said.Soon what started as a hobby became a heroic opportunity."The colonel called me into his office and said he wanted me to do morale posters. Pictures, cartoons, whatever."For the remainder of his year in Vietnam, Moyer spent a great deal of time in the colonel's office, drawing cartoons to put around the base as a gentle reminder of home.Because of his duties as both cook and cartoonist, he was presented the Air Force Commendation Medal, an honor given to those who display acts of meritorious service.He was the only man in his department to receive it.When it came time for him to leave Vietnam to continue his service in North Dakota, the occurrences at Vietnam were never far behind."Toward the end, when things started going haywire, they attacked our base," Moyer said.He later watched a DVD about the attack."I really got upset. Some of our soldiers got out of bed in their shorts and were shot down."Still, Moyer found some joy in the outcome of Vietnam when he married his pen pal.After corresponding while overseas, he continued to write letters and send tapes from North Dakota to one woman in particular, and eventually traveled to New Jersey to finally meet her."I married her 30 days after the day we met," Moyer said.He served a total of four years in the Air Force, spending his last year of duty traveling to other bases for a few months at a time.Moyer also became a leader in church and spent 35 years as an active minister, which led the Moyers from New Jersey to their current home in Dover, Delaware.Between work and raising two boys, Moyer was always content with staying busy.It was when he retired, however, that Vietnam crept up on him once again."Once I finished doing pastoral ministry, some things began to bother me. Things that never bothered me when I stayed busy. I opened up to my wife one day and I told her a little bit about Vietnam in particular."She suggested he see a counselor for post-traumatic stress syndrome."I was not in combat, but I did experience some strange things over there," he said, and he was relieved after a few months of counseling.Today, Moyer and his wife continue their church involvement. He retired a few years ago from the position of supervisor for Meals on Wheels near his home in Delaware.The Moyers have two sons, four grandsons and five great-grandsons.He visits his relatives in the area about once a year.His family includes: twin sisters, Darlene Frohnheiser and Marlene Lefebvre in Jim Thorpe, Ruthann Binder of Weissport and Robert Curtiss of Tamaqua. His mother, Charlotte Deutsch, died in the 90s. He also lost his brother Wilbur Moyer.Name: Clyde MoyerAge: 68Hometown: LehightonBranch of Service: Air ForceYears Served: FourAwards: Air Force Commendation Medal