I trained hundreds of new hires, maybe more, teaching them the tricks I’d learned, how to operate the machinery safely, how to keep production moving smoothly, and how to treat one another with respect. Half the folks still working there, I helped break in when they were green as spring grass. I was proud of that. It felt good to know I had a hand in shaping the place, in building not just parts but people’s futures.

That job supported my family through everything. My wife, Marie, stayed home when the kids were little, so my paycheck kept us afloat. We managed rent, bills, and groceries on my wages alone. When Marie was diagnosed with breast c..a..n.cer, the job became even more vital. Every long shift meant another doctor’s appointment covered, another prescription filled. There were days I dragged myself into work after being up all night with her, but I never complained. I had responsibilities. And the company, I thought, understood that.