Life Stories HOW I BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST FBI PROFILERS
Pete Klismet Jr
Pete Klismet Jr is a retired FBI agent, a former profiler, and the author of three books. His website is http:// www. criminalprofilingassociates. com
Pete Klismet, Author Former FBI Profiler
I was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, but my folks moved to Colorado( Denver area) when I was about three, so I consider myself a Colorado‘ native.’ I went to Catholic schools— yes, the ones with nuns and Christian Brothers— and received a partial football scholarship to an all-boys Catholic high school in the area. I had been a 2nd team All-City quarterback, but the guy who was 1st team was my competition. He eventually went on to be a 2nd team All-America QB at the University of Wyoming, leading them to the Sugar Bowl and an unbeaten season! I guess I’ d have to admit he was a little bit better than me. I wound up at a public high school, but quit in the 11th grade. Surprisingly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions in my life.
My dad was a skilled brick mason and part-time contractor who completed the 8 th grade, which was the standard for the time. He immediately went to work on the family farm in Wisconsin. However, Mom completed high school in Superior, WI, and attended Tulane University. That alone was enough to impress me and tell me I needed to go to college which was sort of odd when you consider I didn’ t make it through high school!
Two months after I turned seventeen, I enlisted in the Navy, and served on submarines— the old diesel / electric boats of WWII vintage. They were called“ Pig Boats” for a reason, but I didn’ t care. SEALS had barely been invented back then and the sub service was highly selective. At that time it was the best in the Navy. Not only that, but we got‘ hazardous duty pay’ and we deserved it.
No sooner had I finished boot camp and went to sub school in New London, CT, than I took my GED tests. Thanks to a great early education, I finished in the 90th percentile in each dimension. When I got out of the Navy, I submitted my scores to the State of Colorado, and was awarded a high school equivalency diploma.
What someone once characterized as a‘ very colorful’ life’ began in the Navy. After the conflict seriously heated up in 1964, we were the first sub in the Tonkin Gulf( proud member of the‘ Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club’). I got to visit Japan, Australia, Philippines and Thailand which inspired my life-long quest for more travel.
Although they threw some nice inducements at me, such as a pretty fair sized reenlistment bonus, I turned it down. The next offer was the U. S. Naval Academy,( one
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MAY- JUNE 2016