Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Military History: Clayton "Skip" Ahrensfield Goodbye To An Airman

Friday, January 28, 2011

Clayton "Skip" Ahrensfield Goodbye To An Airman

IN HONOR OF YOU SKIP..THE MISSING MAN FORMATION

I was deeply saddened today when I read this obituary. I got to meet Skip a couple of years ago when he gave our Memorial day speech in 2009 at Orwigsburg, Pa.. He was an interesting man and his stories of Flying B-36's and 52's and working on ICBM's in their silos was fascinating. I will miss him. He was a great Cold War Warrior. He kept us safe for many years through his sacrifices, hard work and love of country.
Good bye Skip

Check out the blog feature on Skip I wrote "COLD WAR WARRIOR M/SGT. E. SKIP AHRENSFIELD "

Clayton E. "Skip" Ahrensfield | Visit Guest Book

January 27, 2011

Clayton E. "Skip" Ahrensfield, 76, of Newport News, Va., and formerly of Lake Wynonah, died Thursday at Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, Va.

Born in Orwigsburg, May 17, 1934, he was a son of the late Elmer E. and Agnes M. Hummel Ahrensfield.

He served in the Air Force as a master sergeant during the Vietnam Conflict and completed a 21-year military career when he retired in 1973.

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hampton.

Skip was employed for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and after his retirement, he the worked for Reneer Films, Auburn, retiring once again in 1996.

He was past master of the former Mariner Lodger 215 F&AM. He was a member of Warwick Lodge 336 F&AM; Valley of Reading Consistory, OES Chapter 43 of Warwick, Cross of Honor DeMolay and Honorary Legion of Honor, National Sojourners, Air Force Missile Association, Landingville Community Fire Company and Good Will Fire Company, Cressona. He was inducted into the PA All Sports Hall Of Fame-Allen-Rogowitz Chapter, Pottsville, in 1997, for basketball in Orwigsburg High School. He was inducted into the Blue Mountain H.S. All Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

Skip was preceded in death by brothers, Herman, Robert and William Ahrensfield; and a sister, Daisy Heinbach.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Carol Ditzler Ahrensfield; a daughter, Robin Morehart, Newport News; a son, Bradley Ahrensfield, Albuquerque, N.M.; three grandsons, Keith Morehart, Geoff Morehart and Zachary Ahrensfield; a great-granddaughter, Layla Morehart; three sisters, Agnes Cleary, Luther Ridge, Seider's Hill, Jane Leymeister, Poulan, Ga., and Anna Collins, San Bernadino, Calif.

A viewing for family and friends will be held from noon until 1:30 p.m. Monday at Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home Inc., 25 E. Main St., Schuylkill Haven. A Celebration of life funeral Service will follow at 1:30 p.m. Interment with military honors will be at Manbeck Cemetery, Washington Township. The family would prefer remembrances in Skip's memory be made to the American Lymphoma Society, 555 North Lane, Suite 5010, Conshohocken, PA 19428; or American Heart Association , 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

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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"