Off to Guam, Twice
Beale AFB, northern California There I was going into the squadron for a night training flight in a B52 G Model. I had completed 12 months of pilot training, 3 ½ months of B52 school and sundry other USAF required schools/training. I was in month 1 of my required 4 months of local check out…
Bomber Stories Over Vietnam
“This is the Sign of the True Professional – To March to the Sound of the guns.” For those of you who have not looked in a while, this is the quote by General Westmoreland on the inside cover of the Class of 1969 yearbook. I tried to let these words guide my career. …
Air War
My path into USAF from West Point was due to my dad. Army policy at the time allowed graduating cadets to be commissioned in another DoD branch if they were connected by way of a parent who was a career officer or NCO or if they were prior enlisted in that branch. My inspiration…
Global Air Adventure
In early 1971, I was a co-pilot in a global air refueling squadron that rotated crews in and out of Eastern Thailand and Fairbanks, Alaska from our home base in Michigan. I had been in the squadron a few months when my crew received orders to go to Thailand. We flew our own aircraft, a…
Hey, I Could Really Use a Ride – 1971
Timing is everything and I’m certain that West Point has ingrained that principle in the minds of all its graduates along with so many other important aspects of military life. As a supporting wife, I tried to comply with all the rules, regulations, long and short separations, running our home and keeping the proverbial chin…
Hooch Area Dogs – 1972
In Vietnam where I served, every compound of American GIs had their own dogs. These were mostly fed mess hall scraps that the troops sneaked out for their canine buddies. The dogs were very territorial, fiercely defending their home area and their troops against outside dogs and people. Our Army helicopter company was the only…