Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History: Graduation From The USAF Aircraft Electrician School January 28, 1969

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Graduation From The USAF Aircraft Electrician School January 28, 1969

My graduation from Aircraft Electrician School Chanute AFB January 29, 1969
I am the Airman kneeling on the right. In front of a TF-102
Tag Photo to enlarge

January 28th, 2009 will mark the 40th anniversary of my graduation from United States Air Force Aircraft Electrician Technical School at the great old Air Force Base at Chanute, Rantoul, Illinois.
On this day all 9 Airmen in the photo graduated from the course. We got to choose our favorite instructors to pose with us on the left is T/Sgt English and the right S/Sgt Addis. We now were full fledged 3 level Aircraft electricians.
To graduate we had to take a practical test in troubleshooting on an actual aircraft. That aircraft was an old B-66 in one of the hangars. To this day I remember my test.. The work order stated that the “Nose Gear Taxi light was inop” So armed with my tech Order Wiring Diagram for the B-66 I began my troubleshooting, completely beside myself and worrying the whole time I would be the only airman to flunk the test. But fortune smiled upon me that day and I found after many minutes of reading and tracing the wiring diagrams, taking voltage readings, and going from cockpit to nose gear a few items, I finally found the problem… A POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER BEARING THE NOMENCLATURE… TAXI LIGHT. I was so proud of myself! I now was a full fledged Aircraft Electrician. Well not really. A few months of training on the C-124 and a test for the Journeyman 5 level then I was an Aircraft Electrician, a job I truly liked.
I remember shortly after this picture was taken we went back to the barracks and found our assignments on our bunks, almost everybody that graduated with me got the base they requested but I didn’t! I had put in for McGuire AFB N.J. or Dove AFB Del. Close to home bases but I got sent to my first base at Kelly AFB, Texas and began my career working on C-124’s. It was a great assignment. From there I was assigned to McGuire AFB. After a short period I was sent to Vietnam I was stationed at Bien Hoa, Cam Ranh Bay and Can Tho working on C7A's a great bird. After serving in Vietnam it was said you will get your base of choise. I put in for all the Air Force bases in Florida I could find and true to the military way I got assigned to Loring AFB in Northern Maine. Oh well it was fun anyway. Working on F-106 fighters in the 83rd FIS. A little strange at first because all I ever worked on was recip aircraft.. C-124, C-118’s at Kelly, C-7a’s in Vietnam, C-131, T-29’s at McGuire along with the C-141A’s my first jet. And then the F-106. The six was a big change. Anyway I really enjoyed my time working in the USAF.

My Diploma..

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Vietnam War 50th Anniversary

President Richard M. Nixon made this quote to the New York Times on March 28, 1985.
"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.”
The Department of Defense, announced in January of this year, a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The program intends to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.
The Vietnam War is one of America’s longest wars surpassed recently by the current war in Afghanistan. The war in Vietnam’s length can be measured in many different ways. The formal beginning of U.S. involvement started in 1961 with American military advisors being sent to Vietnam. By the time the last U.S. ground combat troops were withdrawn in March 1973, the war had lasted 103 months.
For me and many of my Vietnam Veteran brothers and sisters, it is hard to believe that the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War is being commemorated. For many of us veterans of the Vietnam War, we have a tendency to think of our lives in a different way than most people. We look at life before Vietnam and life after Vietnam. Before Vietnam, life for me was pretty simple and carefree. After Vietnam life was totally different. Each and every veteran had to deal with their service in Vietnam and its aftermath. Most of us went to work, back to school, started families and tried to put all the hurt, sorrow and anger behind us. Others suffered for years and life became very difficult. But today, that is not the message I want to deliver...
I don’t know how many men and women from Schuylkill County served in Vietnam during the 1961-1975 period. The statistics are hard to substantiate. But one thing is certain thirty-nine Schuylkill County men gave their lives or were listed as missing during the Vietnam War. If you have the time, visit the Vietnam War memorial in Schuylkill Haven and read the stories of these men.
On a good note, recently, the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution (H.R. 709) that was introduced by Rep. Robert F.Belfanti, a Marine Corps veteran and fellow brother of the Vietnam War. The resolution was adopted for the purpose of setting aside one day in Pennsylvania, that being Monday April 25, 2011 specifically dedicated to recalling and honoring the sacrifices made by Pennsylvania residents who fought in Vietnam. More than 300,000 Pennsylvanians served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and of the 58,000 plus U.S. troops who sacrificed their lives in the war, 3,132 were from the state of Pennsylvania.
In closing, I will honor and pay my respect to our fallen comrades and fellow brothers and sisters of the Vietnam War by visiting the Schuylkill County Vietnam Memorial on April 25, 2011.And during this year, take the time to visit the memorial to honor and commemorate those who served so you are free. When you meet a Vietnam veteran please take the time to say “Welcome home, and thank you for your service!”.

Bumper-Stickers Seen On Military Bases.

"When In Doubt, Empty The Magazine"

"Marine Sniper - You can run, but you'll just die tired!"

"Machine Gunners - Accuracy By Volume"

"Except For Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, WAR has Never Solved Anything."

" U.S. Marines - Certified Counselors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club."

" U.S. Air Force - Travel Agents To Allah"

"Stop Global Whining"

Naval Corollary: Dead Men Don't Testify."

The Marine Corps - When It Absolutely, Positively Has To Be Destroyed Overnight"

"Death Smiles At Everyone - Marines Smile Back"

"What Do I Feel When I Kill A Terrorist? A Little Recoil"

"Marines - Providing Enemies of America an Opportunity To Die For their Country Since 1775"

"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Anyone Who Threatens It"

"Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weapon"

"It's God's Job to Forgive Bin Laden - It's Our Job To Arrange The Meeting"

"Artillery Brings Dignity to What Would Otherwise Be Just A Vulgar Brawl"

"One Shot, Twelve Kills - U.S. Naval Gun Fire Support "

"My Kid Fought In Iraq So Your Kid Can Party In College"

"A Dead Enemy Is A Peaceful Enemy - Blessed Be The Peacemakers"

"If You Can Read This, Thank A Teacher.. If You Can Read It In English, Thank A Veteran"