Feb 1957 Started in B Baty 464 Field Arty, 49th Div. Texas Army NG at Mt Pleasant,Tx.
Joined USAF Sep 1958, basic at Lackland ABF, Tx.
Oct 1958 Aircraft maintenance school jet engine over 2 at Chanute AFB, IL.
Mar 1958 Assigned to Barksdale AFB AFB, La. assigned to KC97 docks,( Barksdale had got rid of 3, B47 Squadrons and had too many people so us newbie got farmed out) after 3 months got assigned to KC135A dock, attended FTD for both KC135As and B52Fs
got AFSC 43151e.worked docks, backline FCF, servicing section, worked B52 recovery team. Got out of USAF Sep 1962
Reenlisted in March 1963 back to Barksdale,KC135 Flight line.
June 1964 assigned to Hickam AFB (PACAF) Transient Maintenance,
1965 assigned to EC135C's (operation Blue Eagle) Launch and recovery team.
Jun 1866 made SSgt
Jun 1966 181 days TDY to SEA, boots on the ground, doing something somewhere on some kind of airplane.
1967 tested and awarded AFSC 43171e
1967. Transferred to Bergstrom AFB,Tx.Assigned Transient Maintenance/Presidental support at Bergstrom and LBJ ranch. (Only hanger I was ever in that had wall to wall indoor/outdoor carpet).
1970 assigned Seymour Johnson AFB,NC (TAC) TAC-Airborne Command Post / TAC CC's airplane. EC135 K's. Flew as a fight Mech / IFM / SEFE/ FCF
Oct1970 made TSgt
1973 assigned Dyess finished FE school at the Rock 1973.
FE C130E 773th TAS
1974 To C130A school Ellington AFB,Tx
1974 AC 130A school Hurlbert AFB,Fl.
1975 to Korat RTAFB (Last active duty AC130A FE to go to the school and Thialand.)
Jull 1975 Retrained to AC 130 H at Korat
Dec 1975 to Hurlbert
Jul 1977 To Yokota AB Japan 345th TAS (E models)
Jun 1978 made MSgt
Jul 1979 to Dyess AFB,Tx 773th TAS (E & H models)
Have crewed on the First Lady C130A (AC130A) 53-3129 and the first KC 135 (EC135K). 55-3118. Been completely around the world 3 times 1x in C130H and 2X in EC135.
Had more fun and seen more that most lil boys from NE Texas, would do it again if I could, some of the best people I know, maintain and fly airplanes.
Retired from USAF in 1980, as MSgt.
Retired from City of Mt Pleasant ,Tx as Supt of fresh water treatment in 2002.
