I NEED HELP FINDING MY FATHER?

I've searched for my father for a while now using free searches but its all ended up in failure. I figured it would be easy since he was a Florida State Trooper, served in the Gulf War, and I believe he was in the Navy Reserves... but boy was I wrong. I mean I am willing to pay, but not too much. I wanted to see if I could find him for free first. Do you guys think that if I called The Florida State Troopers headquarters that they would give me any info or at least tell me if he still or ever did work as a State Trooper? I mean I want to know if he's even alive due to the fact that he has held some dangerous job positions. I never met him because when I was born he was in the Gulf War thing... I did meet his mother though. She was at the hospital when I was born and she stuck around for a couple of months until she moved... supposedly to Naples. And also what sites do you guys recommend if I decide to start spending money for the search... I mean I don't want it to be a waste.