TRENTON — From facing scud missiles in Saudi Arabia to being a D.J. later in life, Robert Ives sums up his adventures rather nicely.
“I’ve lived a pretty wild life,” Ives said.
Ives grew up in Trenton and graduated from Jones Senior High School in 1970. He served in the Army National Guard Reserves on two different occasions, from 1971-77 and 84-99.
While in the reserves, Ives said he worked for a company in Kinston and from time to time was called upon by the military to make trips over to Europe.
His first trip was to Holland in 1987 and Ives said he came away impressed.
“It’s beautiful country,” Ives said. “It was like looking at the Sound of Music.”
Ives also took a trip to Germany, but a phone call on Veterans Day 1990 changed his life dramatically.
“I won’t ever forget it,” Ives said. “My commanding officer told me to pack my bags, because I was going to Saudi Arabia.”
After a few weeks of training, Ives arrived in Saudi Arabia in January of 1991 and served in a direct support unit handling maintenance issues.
Ives said he had to get used to dealing with scud missile attacks on a daily basis.
“The first time, it scares you to death, but after the second time it became routine,” Ives said.
Ives was present on Feb. 26, 1991, when a scud missile hit a barracks, killing 27 American personnel and wounding another 98.
He said he was sitting down when the attack occurred.
“It knocked me out of my seat,” Ives said. “It was chaos.”
Ives remained in the Middle East until July. On his way home, he stopped in Shannon, Ireland.
While there, Ives said he did something he doesn’t think anyone from Jones County has ever done. He said the base in Ireland was a “free” base, which meant opposing forces could both utilize the facility. Ives sat and talked with a Russian soldier during his 90-minute layover.
“It’s something I will always remember,” Ives said.
Ives said he got out of the military in 1999 after having back surgery and feeling like it was time.
“I was an old man in a young man’s army,” Ives said.
Since the end of his military service, Ives has been driving a log truck for Andrews Brothers Trucking.
For the last 10 years, Ives has also worked as a disc jockey during his spare time and has worked several parties and weddings.
Ives said he likes to play the blues, Southern rock and beach music.
“It’s fun,” Ives said. “I like meeting a lot of people.”
After all of the places he has been and things he has experienced, Ives said there is no place like Jones County, though.
“It’s where I want to be,” Ives said.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @ nclark763.