After OCS, I went to Harlingen for Nav. training.
(Terrible career choice. I could have gone to pilot training,
but I wanted to be different!) After 9mo.'s in the Rio Grande
Valley, we went to Randolph for KC97 upgrade.
We were limited to a 1 day travel time from Harlingen,
since Jean was very pregnant, as she was frequently in those days.
She had child #3 at Lackland.
From Schertz, TX, we went to Plattsburg AFB on beautiful
(in the summer, spring or fall) Lake Champlain, NY.
We were there from Feb 61 to Jun 64, when I was sent to
Ernest Harmon AFB, Nfld. The family came up in Nov..
When they closed Harmon, late 65, we headed for Sewart AFB, TN. (A great little base). I transitioned to the Giant C130 Globe Circling Hercules Aircraft. Tactical Airlift was in TAC at the time, but since we were not fighters, we were considered unwelcome cousins. Actually a great deal! They left us alone and we had the best missions in the USAF. Saw most of the known world, and had fun doing it! Also had 4 more children. (That makes 7 for any pilots who might read this). While at Sewart, I ran the Nav upgrade program for 2 years. Started from scratch, developed it, recruited instructors for it, and ran it. Also created an international incident, but that's a story for another day!
Volunteered for RVN, to try and make up for a lousy OER. (Another long story for another time.) I had many TDY ventures in NAM before (and after) my PCS tour, so it was no surprise to me. Spent my tour in AC47's and then the Bull-S___ bombers. (C47's with leaflet chutes and loud speakers.) Quite a let down from the AC's, but I became fairly adept at dropping unopened leaflet boxes on hootches in the free-fire zones.
Back to the land of the big BX, and Langley AFB. Spent our last 4 years there, retiring Jun74. Last assignment was Squadron CO, 316 AMS. Liked VA so much we moved back here in 78, and have been here every since.
I invite anyone in this area, or passing through, from our class to please give us a call. We'd love to see you!
I was stationed with Jim Gottholm at Plattsburg, Ernest Harmon, and Sewart AFB's. Jim was a fascinating guy! Larger than life. He and his wife were the Godparents of my #4 child, John Lawerence. We were transferred together to Ernest Harmon, and lived next door once we had on-base quarters. (Right across the street from the hospital, very handy for large familys!) Unfortunately, Jim was very attractive to the ladies, and his wife returned to Plattsburg. Jim and I went to Sewart AFB about the same time for C130 upgrading. (Jim was a pilot). I believe he ended up at Pope AFB. He was involved in a C130 accident at Ft. Campbell in the late 60's or early 70's and left the AF. He wandered around for awhile, occasionally chased by irate husbands, and we lost track of him. We visited his wife in Plattsburg in the early 90's, but she had lost track of him too. It was not until I saw our web site that I discovered he had died in FL. I really liked that guy. He was a smiling face in the early grim days of OCS, and I learned from him to play it all as a game. It made my life a whole lot easier for the remainder of the 6mo.'s.
In our stint as "under" classmen, we had a squadron basketball team that was pretty good! I remember McGraw, Wood, and Foster (I think. Don't ask an old person to remember.) We won every game by a large margin. 30 or 40 to 10 or 15. I instigated a simple strategy. Let them have any outside shot they wanted. But when the ball headed for the basket, by shot or drive, everybody fell back for the rebound, save one. He would immediately head for the other basket. Since we had everyone rebounding, including Richard Wood, our version of Shaq, we alwasys got the ball and heaved it down court for an easy layup. Worked great! We ate 'em up!
In our group that headed for Nav school at Harlingen, was Jim Walters. Jim has many sterling talents. Among them was the ability to fast pitch a softball really fast! We had a killer softball team. For some reason, though I was never a power hitter before, I started hitting homers to right field. Mainly because I hit them high, and most schmucks, including me, would misjudge them and come running in. The ball would then sail over their heads, and since I was very fleet afoot (then), I could scoot around the bases. Great fun! It was good we could hit and they couldn't because our fielding was hilarious. Harold King and I were among our best, and we were simply awful!
Later I ran into Thedford at Langley. Foster was my sponsor when I went to Harmon. I believe that's all of the gang I ran into for the rest of my career. I don't have any pictures, but maybe some others will write some vignettes such as these.
Tnx. Jerry
