Background: Curtis Abel Turner "Skinner" was born 26 December 1963 in West Fargo, North Dakota. He grew up in a semi urban environment where his passion was motorcycles. He got into several scrapes with the law while in high school from riding with a motorcycle "gang". He enlisted in the Army right out of high school, at the advice of his father and a friendly cop and served four years in the infantry: two at Ft. Carson, Colorado in 4th ID(M), 1/8 Infantry and two in Germany with 1ID(M), 1/16 Infantry. He was a fair soldier and actually managed to keep out of serious trouble.
He returned from the Army more responsible than four years previous, but still loved his "scooter". He went to work with his dad in the construction business where he learned to "skin a cat", from which he picked up the nickname "Skinner". He enjoyed the job running big machinery, and became a "gypsy" worker, moving to Texas and Arizona during the winters to work on construction sites running a dozer. After several years of this, he grew tired of the traveling and decided to go to North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton and learn to fix the big machines. He enrolled in the diesel mechanics course anddid quite well, using his G.I. Bill and savings to live on, still working on construction sites in the summers.
He was just getting of of trades when the war started in Europe. he had served his time, and didn't want any part of the war until his kid brother enlisted. He was killed at the Battle of Czestochowa. After agonizing over the loss of his brother, and the mounting casualty lists, Skinner volunteered for service after the nukes started falling. He was older than average, but was in good physical shape, though not as agile as he used to be. He found himself back in the Infantry by choice. He was not sent to Europe right away, rather he served in Texas and Georgia before being shipped to Europe on one of the last levies of reinforcement.
He wound up in 5ID(M) 1/10 Infantry as a foot soldier in October 1999. He spent his first winter in Poland pulling guard with the rest, but also worked with the engineers in building fortifications with the minimal equipment left running. His mechanical ability was well appreciated among the units he worked with. He was always ready for a fight however. He didn't go looking for a fight, but managed to get into several scrapes that precluded him getting promoted, or at least keeping the stripes he would get. His last job was a motor messenger for the battalion, on a "borrowed" Russian motorcycle.
While in Vladimir Zhirinovsky Political Re-Education Camp, Skinner gained the nickname "Sergeant".
Appearance
Skinner is a rugged aging brawny six footer about 185 pounds. His leathery sun browned bulldog face sports a skewed boxer's nose that separates his blue slate eyes. He has a grizzled two week old five o'clock shadow that is a matted rat's nest like his shaggy thinning russet hair. His walrus soup strainer is encrusted with bit of his last dinner in the corners.
Bullnecked with a square shouldered hairy torso, sporting several tats and scars that runs from the corner of his mouth to his left ear (obtained from an encounter in a food riot in Georgia while on security detail). On his left bicep, he has a Harley Davidson emblem tattoo. Other tats are a cow's skull with blood red horn tips on the right shoulder blade, Ace of Spades with "NO QUARTER" arced above the right forearm, SS skull and cross bones on the left forearm, and a Valkyrie Norse goddess on a winged horse, with "NORSEMEN" arced above and "MC" centered below on the right bicep. His hands are callused, and banged up, with the knuckles sporting many scars. A trace scar is evident at the base of his bull neck. When he speaks, it's with a gravely voice. He has few friends, and skeptical of those who profess friendship, but is friendly, especially to the elderly, children and females, good looking or not. He usually holds back on encounters and proceeds cautiously. If he smiles broadly, which is seldom, his yellowed teeth have a four tooth gap in the middle bottom row, and the left canine is missing. He walks with a slight limp favoring his right leg, especially when the weather is cold and damp, or he has been exerting it. When he wears his glasses he continuously, unconsciously pushes the cross piece up with the first knuckle of his right hand, even if he is holding a wrench (if he weren't so bullish, he might be nerdy). He's a voracious reader, preferring a good book to anything, except motorcycles.
