After weeks of indoctrination and Basic training I went sent to Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Illinois for 6 months of technical training in Ground Support Equipment Maintenance.
My class graduated from technical training on 1 August 1961 and all were promoted from Airmen 3rd Class (1 stripe) to Airmen 2nd Class (2 stripes); those you see on my uniform below. (Note: Air Force Insignia has changed since I entered the Air Force in 1960; see chart and link in footnotes.)
Upon graduation I was given orders for an 18 month unaccompanied tour to Naha Air Force Base, Okinawa assigned to the 51st Field Maintenance Squadron.
Before leaving Naha AFB in early 1963 I was again promoted on 1 February 1963 to the Grade of Airman 1st Class (E-4) now split into 2 grades Senior Airman and Sergeant.
I was ecstatic upon leaving Okinawa in March of 1963 for I was headed home to Chesterfield, SC and then onto Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Spangdahlem became my 4th base assignment but in retrospect it also became my best tour of duty.
It was while stationed at Spangdahlem that I reached the conclusion that I loved the Air Force enough to make it a career. I re-enlisted for another 4 years in 1964.
Christmas of 1964 I spent at home with my parents in South Carolina; my first Christmas home since Christmas of 1959. After Christmas I left for my next duty station – McConnell AFB, Wichita, Kansas arriving on-base on 5 January 1965.
In August 1965, my unit was deployed to Takhli AB, Thailand with a squadron of F-105D to support the escalating War effort in Vietnam. I spent 4 months at Takhli before returning to McConnell in December 1965. In June 1966 I was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSgt –E-5) and in September 1966 given orders to return to Takhli, Thailand for a one year permanent change of station assignment in support of the War in Vietnam.
With a 60 days curtailment, I left Takhli in May 1966 returning to the United States with assignment to the 3211th Field Maintenance Squadron, Fort Walton Beach, Florida where my son was born.
Assignment at Eglin was a real laid back experience compared to my other assignments. In November 1968, I was promoted to Technical Sergeant (TSgt. - E-6).
In early 1969, I was selected to receive Professional Military Education at the Air Force System Command NCO Academy located at Kirkland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Class started in March 1969.
After completion of the NCO Academy, I returned to Eglin AFB until June 1970 at which time I was given an assignment to Ramstein AFB, Germany. This was to be a 3 year assignment with my wife and son accompanying me to Germany.
At Ramstein, I was assigned to the 26th Tactical Recon Wing (TRW) as a Quality Control Inspector and participated in USAFE Inspection of Ground Support Equipment throughout Europe and England. On 1 January 1972 I was promoted to Master Sergeant (MSgt. – E-7).
In 11 years and 23 days I had gone from an Airman Basic to Master Sergeant; my Mom and Dad were ecstatic.
In 1973, we were informed that the “gas crisis” in the States would impact our assignment and that we were extended for an additional one year making the assignment a 4 year tours instead of the normal 3 year.
June of 1974 occurred too rapidly and again we were off to another assignment. leaving Germany, arriving home in South Carolina, driving to Kansas (wife home state) and then on to our new base – Holloman AFB , New Mexico and the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing. We arrived at Holloman AFB on 1 July 1974 and reported for duty. In mid-1976, I received a line number for promotion to E-8, Senior Master Sergeant. This triggered another assignment which initially was to be to the 57 Fighter Intercept Sq., Keflavik, Iceland. Unfortunately, this assignment which I wanted, was changed to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah.
We left Holloman in October 1976 and arrived at Hill AFB, Utah the same day. I was assigned as NCOIC of the Aerospace Ground Equipment Shop.
Promoted to E-8 on 1 May 1977, I was assigned as Field Maintenance Superintendent under Captain Fred Reske., Field Maintenance Officer and Colonel D. J. Haselhorst, Deputy Commander for Maintenance. At this time the 388th still had F4 aircraft. About May 1978 the Field Maintenance concept was scrapped in favor of a Consolidated Maintenance Concept and all the support shops were assigned to newly formed squadrons with new leaders based on seniority.
My new position became the NCOIC of F-4 Phase Inspection. In January 1979, the Wing started it’s conversion from the F-4 Phantom to the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
In 1979, I was selected as the 388 Equipment Maintenance
Squadron Senior NCO of the year and was taken on a back seat flight over the
Utah Test Range in a F-16 Falcon.
On 1 July 1981, I was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt. – E-9). My best and most memorable assignment as a Chief was my time as the Maintenance Superintendent of the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit.
During my awesome career I had the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Masters of Science in Human Resource Administration, travel the world and complete all Professional Military Education Courses provided by the Air Force both by correspondence and in-house schooling.
Proud To Be An Air Force Veteran
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_enlisted_rank_insignia
[2] http://uniform-reference.net/insignia/usaf/usaf_enl_chron.html
[3] www.google.com/images/
Proud to call that man Dad!
ReplyDeleteCharlie, you have had an amazing Air Force career. You certainly did see the world. Thanks for your service to our country. As you know, our son has been in the Air Force for a year. I hope that in the future he looks proudly back at his service as you have done here. Congratulations on your special day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your service.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments.
ReplyDelete