CHARLES TOWN — When Joe Colon graduated from high school in 1995, he didn’t know what he wanted to do. Everyone he knew was getting ready to go to college or start their careers, but Colon didn’t even apply to any universities. He remembered speaking to a recruiter and decided to give him a call to join the Navy. Since he wasn’t even 18 at the time, his parents had to give him permission and sign paperwork before he officially joined, but just a week or two later he left home to start training.

Boot camp was challenging as Colon and the other trainees had to work out throughout the hot summer. It would get so hot in the barracks, they were often told to just sit on the floor with their physical training gear on because it was a bit cooler.

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