Gordon Hubbard – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Service and a Duty to be Kind
Army veteran, Gordon Hubbard, reflects on his life in the service and how he learned about himself through his experiences
Emma Davis
Staff Reporter
Gordon Hubbard’s life journey is a powerful reflection of self-discovery, service and change. Born in Hillsboro, Oregon, he spent his early years on a family farm before moving to Gresham and joining the Army when he graduated high school in 1965. Hubbard’s journey has shaped his perspective on life and the importance of kindness, personal growth, and community. From going through bullying as a kid to navigating the complexities of military life, he found that life was about finding purpose in unexpected places and discovering a path that allowed him to give back to others and continue to learn.
During his school years, Hubbard faced some challenges, particularly with academics, which made it harder for him to keep up in class. He also dealt with bullying, which left him feeling somewhat isolated. However, he found an interest in both sports and music in high school, which made a big difference. As high school came to an end, Hubbard’s academic struggles caught up with him, leaving him with very limited options for what to do next. He chose to enlist in the Army in February of 1966.
During basic training in Fort Polk, Louisiana, he faced the usual challenges of preparing for service. Once the completion of basics, Hubbard made the decision to attend Signal School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, straying away from the front lines.
“I don’t like shooting at people, and I had never shot a weapon,” Hubbard said. While there, he learned the ins and outs of the military electronics that he would need for his assignments, including radio communication systems and signal equipment.
Two weeks before graduation from school, overseas assignments were starting to be given out. “They wound up dividing the school in half, and they said my half of class was assigned to South Korea,” he said. However, there was an unexpected change. “They negated that the last week and said the second group instead of going to Korea, they took all the [winter] gear away and said, ‘we’re going to send you to Frankfurt, Germany replacement center too,’” he said. Though his group didn’t fly over like the first half but was sent via a World War 2 ship for ten days.
Checkpoint Charlie
Once docked, Hubbard was given orders to send him to Berlin and was given one of his first assignments as a member of the Signal Corps. “One of the first duties I had [because I was part of the Army], was I got to monitor checkpoint Charlie on a closed circuit TV,” he said. “I had a joystick that I could move the camera, which meant I was watching the TV camera that’s pointed into this no man’s land of Checkpoint Charlie on the East Berlin side.” Amidst this time, he was also sent to five weeks of school down in Bavaria.
While in Germany, Hubbard did many things. He was part of the United States Army Europe group. “Our official title for is also called the Berlin Brigade, and were 592nd signal core,” he said. “We maintained this transmitter station.” He did this from summer of 1966 to when he was discharged on inauguration day: January 20, 1969, as a Specialist 4th Class.
Life after enlistment
Transitioning back into civilian life proved to be slightly difficult for Hubbard. “[It was] very surreal,” he said. “None of my peers were there, people are my age were either off at college, in the military, or sadly, dead. I was kind of an orphan…I felt isolated.” Although he didn’t serve in Vietnam, the public’s feelings toward the war left him feeling unwelcomed.
“Nobody liked you, because you had been part of the military establishment,” he said. “My own country wasn’t respecting of what I tried to do and now I’m so pleased that it seems like most of the public is on board with honoring the people who have been either our active duty or they were in active duty.”
Hubbard’s time in the Army, where he found an aptitude for electronics, served as a starting point for the rest of his career. “When I got out, I went to work for a company that made print circuit boards and that was a jumping off point,” he said. “I guess you could say really if it hadn’t been for the military, I don’t know whether I would have gone on to more training in electrical.”
In 1976, he and his wife moved to Salt Lake City for her master’s program in midwifery, and during this time, he worked as an electrician at his first hospital. His career in maintenance engineering spanned nearly three decades at Providence Hospital.
Eventually, they returned to Oregon, where he continued to build a fulfilling life, raising a family and actively contributing to the community.
Gordon Hubbard’s life today is one filled with purpose and service. “My life now is wonderful,” he said. He enjoys an active role in his community, giving his time and efforts to help those in need, including fellow veterans and local children. “My wife and I are both active in the Happy Valley library as volunteers,” he said. “And five days a week I get to be a crossing guard, and I love that.” Over the years, he has learned that meaningful change comes from everyday acts of kindness. “I commit to the community because I think it’s important to support the community,” he said. “I think it’s my unwritten duty to give.”
Hubbard’s life is a true example of how one person can make a lasting impact. His military service shaped his deep sense of duty and commitment to others and want to continue learning about life and himself, which he carries forward through his volunteer work and everyday acts of kindness. Whether serving his country or helping his community, he shows the value of service, learning, empathy, and human connection.