Larry.I had to dig out my old files on that one. I guess it really kind of
figures as most of the 22 active years before going out into the Reserves and
then the Indiana Air Guard Reserve. I,ll just start from beginning to end of 22
years. Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (Flight line). Then had to go to
Aircraft Hydraulics school on B-58 because of the nature of the beast. Then
Jungle Jim 1st Air Commandoas Ground Support Equipment. Then attach comm during
Cubaan Crisis and retrained as a radio operator. Air Commandos big on having
everytbody qualified on as much as possible. I ended up with Ground Power, Radio
operator (ground). Aircraft Loadmaster for Waterpump at Udorn. Same trip went
north with armament and crew chief on T-28 with RLAFfor Air America. Back to
states to 100th Strat recon Wing with U-2s, DC-130 (Drone) and SR-71s . Stayed
with U-2R #339 as launch and recovery crew on that one A/.C. Retired from active
duty 1976 with 22 years and went Reserve until 30 as Ground Support and
Management. Then Indiana Air Guard Reserve in 1989-1995 when I quit for good.
TMS 36 years. During my time with Air Commandos I was loaned to 5th Special
Forces for an extended period which turned out to be enough to qualify me for
the Special Forces Association to which I still belong (Chapter XLIV in
Pensacola FL. I guess that makes me also dualqualified to wear notomly the BF
Hat forthe Air Commandos but also qualifies me to legally wear the Green Beret
which I do quite frequently in my role as a Speaker for the Okaloosa School
District Grades 1-12 on Flag Etiquette and Americanism. THer I said it. Boy I
loved every minute of it but it sure put me in some starnge situations. Christ,
I almost forgot. During my stint with 5th Special Forces in Viet Nam i operated
as a ROMAD and belong to the Organization as a card carrying Certified Romad.
David ANYTIME-ANYPLACE
Well, let's see! Being a civilian I did not have one of those.
During my entire stay here I was still in the USAF Reserve. They would send me a questionnaire about once a year asking what I was doing. Naturally I told them that I was a pilot actively flying in SEA. Would you believe that they listed my current job as not having skills that were useful to the USAF. Hell, I was even flying some bailed (borrowed) USAF airplanes once in a while!
Les Strouse
Air America