I joined the Air Force in 1965. In basic training, I selected Aircrew and ended up in the Loadmaster career field and never looked back. During my brief enlistment, 3-1/2 yrs. Active and 1-1/2 yrs. Active Reserve, I was stationed at Hill AFB, 28th MAS - C-124C; Tan Son Nhut AB, 19th ACS - C-123K; England AFB, 4442nd CCTS - C-47D, AC-47D; Westover AFB, 337MAS - C-124C.

During those years I spent 3200 hrs, in the air mostly over the "Big Pond" and in that "60's Extended Vacation Land, RVN". Once back at Hill, we had 3 to 5 days "Crew Rest", then packed and off again. Then I got an "Invitation" to work at a "highly active groupie cultural exchange location" - that's right - Vietnam and "All the Fun I Could Have". As a member of the 19th Air Commando Squadron, Saigon TSN, we did most of our missions in 3 & 4 Corps.

Our prime mission was support of Special Ops and Special Forces, which made for very interesting flights and some stories that can be told. After returning to the US, I married a HS classmate and we moved to England as a Loadmaster Instructor/Flight Examiner on C & AC-47D's.

After leaving Active Service on an Early-Out-Program, I went back to finish my college education completing a Bachelors and Masters program. During that time, I went into the Active Reserves at Westover AFB. I finally left to service as a TSgt - not bad for 5 years, to use my teaching degrees. Notable awards during my tours: Distinguish Flying Cross, Purple Heart; Air Medal w/6 OLC, 1 for Single Mission; AF Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Presidential Unit Citation; 4 AF Outstanding Unit Award 2 w/V's for Valor; Vietnam Service Medal 4 Bronze Star;, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm and 2 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm for Unit; and the AF Good Conduct Medal.

To sum up, what do I say and hand down to those who follow: Live your life with purpose and meaning, remember it is not a guarantee and work hard to make others successful, (they will do the same for you) and finally, look yourself in the mirror each morning and be proud of who you are, what you have accomplished. If you don't like who you see - then find a way to fix the problem, don't just say "Oh well, that's Life, I can't do anything about it".