Editor's note: In honor of Anniston Army Depot's 75th anniversary, TRACKS is looking back at the installation's changes through the eyes of those who were present.

Paul Bonds came to work at Anniston Army Depot Oct. 8, 1972, as a wage grade 5 trades helper.

For Bonds, the most important part of his job, both then and now that he is an electroplater leader, is assisting his coworkers.

In 1972, Bonds had just finished his service with the Air Force, where he spent four years as a security policeman.

Thanks to the Air Force, he saw many areas of the world - from Japan to Vietnam and the western United States.

At the end of his service, he was ready to come home to Alabama and hoped to find stable employment.

"Jobs were few and far between then," said Bonds.

He found work here, in the electroplating building at the depot.

Throughout the years, Bonds has cleaned and chemically plated parts for M60 tanks, M113s and a variety of other vehicles.

He's seen the end of some of those vehicle programs, such as the M60, and the beginning of numerous others, like the M1 Abrams tank and the Stryker.

"When I started, only the old part of this building existed," said Bonds.

He watched them add on as work increased and helped move equipment into the new portion of the electroplating building, once the two-story structure was complete.

That was in the early 1980s.

"When they constructed this building, they had to move the railroad tracks," said Bonds, reminiscing on how tracks used to run between many of the buildings throughout what is now the depot's Nichols Industrial Complex.

"They used to off-load the tanks where this building is sitting," he said.

Over the years, the products used to clean and degrease parts have changed, becoming more environmentally friendly, and the products and parts cleaned and worked on in the electroplating shop change almost daily.

But, Bonds' appreciation for the work he does, how it supports the Soldiers and how it has supported him and his family, never wavers.

"The depot has been an excellent place to work," said Bonds. "It has provided me with more than I ever dreamed of."

Though he is past the age when he was eligible to retire, Bonds has no desire to quit working anytime soon. He loves to stay busy and is passionate about his work.

"I'm not a perfectionist, but I do like to do a professional job," he said.