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
WRITERS ’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
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MAY - JUNE 2016