AMERICAN VETERANS LIST

[ want to add biography to this page?  Email to vetbio@ylsystem.org ]

 


AA4GT, GEORGE R. TOMLINSON,  FL #14085 I went in the Army September 1, 1953. They sent me to Ft Meade MD for about one week. Then they sent me to Ft Leonard Wood, MO. I had 8 weeks of basic training and then 8 weeks of Engineer training. December 31, they sent me to Ft Bolivar VA for water treatment school. I was there for nine weeks. After 30 days leave I went to Ft Jackson SC. I was there for about one month. They then sent me to Ft Bragg NC and I was there for 3 weeks. They then sent me to Ft Lewis WA and then to Korea for 13 months. I was on a water point making drinking water. Thanksgiving 1954 I spent in Japan on R&R for 10 days. The end of May 1955 I was sent back to the States to Ft Lawton WA. I spent 5 days on a troop train going back to Ft Meade MD. I got discharged June 22 1955. I was a water purification Spec.

 

ABØEG, JOANNE (JODIE) LAW, TX #15322 Served four years in the U.S. Army. Was stationed in Germany and then the Korean war started and I was extended for a full extra year in the service as were all service people. Am a current member of VFW Post 2410 in Harlingen, Texas.

 

AB7HB, BERNARD J. FINEBERG, WA #15795 U. S. ARMY Vietnam Era Korean veteran. Communications and Radar Engineering.

 

AC8W, STAN K. ARNETT II, MI #10322 U.S. AIR FORCE

 

AD5UJ, Bill Heath, NM #17218 U.S. AIR FORCE – Retired after 20 years as O5 in 1993

 

AD7SN, MEL LIVINGSTON, AZ  #16796 U.S. AIR FORCE, 1951-1974 Vietnam Vet.

AEØAR, ALAN L. RUSS, KS #16672 I had a combination of active duty with the Army, U. S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD and U. S. ARMY RESERVE, and finally retired as a Chief Warrant Officer. 

 

AE5YZ, MICHAEL D. WALTERS, NM  #16673 U. S. ARMY/U. S. AIR FORCE  1969-1975

 

AF5CK, PATRICK  W. GREENLEE, OK #16782 U. S. AIR FORCE – 29 August 1963 through 29 August 

 

1967. Basic Military Training was at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas starting 29 August 1963 for five weeks then Tech training for eight months at Chanute Field at Rantoul, Illinois and then the rest of my 4 years of service was in the Strategic Air Command at Minot, North Dakota where I was an instrument flying instructor on a flight simulator.

 

AJØHH, JOSEPH H. HOEPFNER, IA #15703 I spent 20 years in the U. S. AIR FORCE from Dec 1977 through Dec 1997. I started out as an administrative specialist then changed over to maintaining microwave and satellite communications equipment. While I spent those years in the service, I did not leave ham radio behind. I was stationed in US in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma as well as my training in Mississippi. Overseas I was in Germany, S Korea and the Azores. While in these countries I held the local calls DA2DE (Germany), HL9HF (S. Korea) and CU3LG (Azores). I spent a lot of time providing a MARS Message outlet to military and family members while in Korea and the Azores. Spent a lot of off duty time in the Azores on HF bands.

 

I did get to Saudi Arabia twice after the war was over. Not much excitement during my term in the military, but did have fun on the radio. My first commendation medal came as a result of setting up a portable MARS station while evacuated from Patrick AFB FL during the Hurricane David period of the late 70s. I was able to keep the Unit commander in contact with the base command post as to when people could return to the base. 

 

AK4GE, DON E MARLEY, VA #16607 U. S. ARMY  – I enlisted in the ARMY in 1975 and did one tour stateside in a mechanized recon unit stationed at FORT HOOD , Texas

 

KØCE, FREDERICK (FRED) D. DUKE, MN #15831  I was in the U. S. MARINE CORPS and in the INFANTRY in Viet Nam in 1965 to 1966 with the 2nd battalion 3rd marines, amphibious assault group. Then I did a tour of sea duty with the marine detachment on the USS Randolph, then I went to Boston, Mass and was on the armed forces police detachment until I was discharged. SEMPER FI once a Marine always a Marine!

 

K0KER, GLENN COMMONS, MO #16365  U.S. Army/NG. My draft notice arrived June 12th, 1963, four days after graduating from college, and three days before I was to appear at Fort Campbell, KY for induction.  That day was also the day on which Linda’s and my wedding had been scheduled with about 100 people coming to attend. I quickly sought out an alternative and ended up joining the Indiana National Guard in my home town of Richmond, IN.  Basic training and Advanced Infantry Training were in Fort Knox, KY during the summer of 1964 where I was to be trained as a clerk typist.  However, I already typed over 60 wpm, so, when found that out, they placed me in a battalion headquarters where I served the battalion commander as his assistant and jeep driver. After discharge from active duty, I returned to my National Guard unit, a mechanized infantry unit, for monthly weekend meetings and two weeks every summer in Camp Grayling, MI.  I was trained there as a gunner on a jeep mounted 105mm recoilless rifle.  Remember the TV show, Rat Patrol? In 1966, Linda and I moved to Indianapolis and I transferred to the Headquarters Company of the Indiana National Guard, where I completed my six years of service with three years as a records specialist.

 

K0MSR, VERN OSZMAN, MN #15813 U.S.Army 1949-1951. Paratrooper assigned to 82nd Airborne Division. Member of 3rd Army Regimental silent drill honor guard. Front line combat in Korea. Military Service Credits: Paratrooper wings, Korean Service medal w/ 1 bronze star,United Nations Service medal, National Defense Service medal, Combat Infantryman’s medal and Marksman Badge w/rifle.

 

K0PTK, RON CASHON, NE #9332.  I was in the Nebraska Army National Guard from June 1962 to June 1978. Sixteen years in the artillery, and communications.  Left service as a sergeant-E5. Spent basic at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and then on to Ft. Sill, OK.

 

K0THP, TOMAS H. PIERCE, IA #16644.  I joined the Navy prior to graduating high school in 1965.  I went to boot camp in San Diego and “A” in Great Lakes.  Upon graduating from “A” School volunteered for river boat duty in Viet Nam.  I spent 3 months in country, was injured and was sent back to the states assigned to a ship on the east coast.  I was stationed in Italy twice on 2 different ships and a couple other ships before getting out of the Navy and started farming in 1984.  When Carter caused the price of grain to drop down, and Reagan was elected, I went back in the Navy in 84.  I went to a destroyer out of San Diego, where I was involved in escorting ships in the Persian Gulf, also boarding them and assisting the wounded and making repairs if required.  I was also off the coast of Panama when we went into that country. I was on a few other ships including the USS Iowa out of Norfolk.  I retired in 1994.  Bought an acreage in western Iowa and this is my present QTH.

 

K0UB, WILLIAM (BILL) W. BOSCH, ND #14817 U.S. AIR FORCE 1952 to 1956.  Parks AFB, CA, Basic training.  Francis E. Warren, AFB, WY, schooling. Haneda, AFB, Japan, 53-55. Hill, AFB, Utah, TDY to Azores, and Iceland. 1,503rd Air Transport Wing has a reunion every year. We have made two. 2013 will be in Omaha, NE.

 

KØWNR, ROY W. OVERTON, IA #16051 I was in the U. S. Public Health as an officer, assigned to the Indian division….we had the uniforms of the Coast Guard but not assigned to the service…I served 2 years but not as a military person but ranked as a Captain…we also were on borders of the country right after Korea was at the same parallel (we are still there)

Some gave their time and knowledge and experience to the country in various other ways. I had been deferred because of Medical school and then was asked to serve as need arose…so I am a non veteran but still did my service as a doctor for the Indian division. We got no veterans benefits. There was no active fighting going on but did take my service time when needed and filled my draft requirements…otherwise I would have been in Korea as another Hawkeye. USPHS as a Captain, medical officer. I seldom mention this to others but there are other ways to help your country rather than military…1955 to 1957.

 

K2MGL, CHARLES “CHUCK” K. ROSWELL, GA #9607 Veteran: US ARMY 1960 – 1963 (Cold War Europe)

 

K3CDQ, RICHARD MACWILLIAMS, MD #12934, TFO 327 U.S AIR FORCE Security Service. Basic training at Lackland, AFB, TX, fall of 1956. Radio Intercept Training (CW) at Keesler AFB, MS. 6921 Radio Group, Misawa AFB, Japan 1957 – 1960. Monitored Chinese, Korean and Russian CW for nearly three years.  Such job description is no longer classified.  Honorable Discharge at Travis AFB, CA 1960.

 

K3ILA, DAVE M MIZIKAR, PA #16718 U. S. AIR FORCE, April 1964 thru August 1967.

 

K3MG, MICHAEL R GEORGE, PA #16698 U.S. NAVY, 1963 thru 1968. USS Hugh Purvis DD709 (Destroyer) out of Newport, RI. Radioman Second Class.

 

K3UMV, BILL DRAGER, MD #15833  U.S. Air Force Veteran

 

K4ADY,  WILLIAM (BILL) F STEPHENS, GA #16737 U. S. ARMY 1957-1959 and the Florida National Guard from 1959 thru 1965.

 

K4BGU, ROD BRENNAN, #16958 Veteran of Viet Nam 1965-1966

 

K4DMW, DIANE WELLS, FL #16779 U. S. NAVY – 1969 – 1970 communications yeoman. Discharged 01/13/70 medical due to Pregnancy. 

 

K4DXM, GLORIA WELLS, FL #16780 U. S. NAVY – 1967 – 1987, in the medical field. Entered the Navy on 3/1/67 retired 4/1/87 as an HM 1 ( E-6) Received 2 purple hearts for wounds received at NSA Dang 68-69.

Joined the Navy in September of 1966 and they placed me on 120 day delayed entry so I work at a local hospital as a nurses aid until I was called to go to bootcamp in Maryland.
Upon graduation I was sent to 16 weeks of Corps training (medical training). From there I went to Portsmouth NH and then the USS Sanctuary in 1968. After a close encounter of the third kind via rocket attack (my second one) I was medivaced to Japan. HOME TO THE STATES! Then I went to Laboratory school/blood bank. Went to Charleston SC, New Orleans dispensary in 1973. El Toro dispensary, back to Iwakuni Japan, Beaufort SC, 1981 Iceland, Back to Portsmouth Va. Retired in 1987. I saw some wonderful sights and countries. Retired a second time from the post office and now live in Florida.

 

K4KRK, JAMES R. UPCHURCH, KY #16721 U.S. ARMY, 1960-1966, SERVICE IN JAPAN, VIET NAM, ENGLAND, AND GERMANY.

K4OBL, Steve Rossi SR, #17568 USAF Apr 66 – Feb 70 in Civil Engineers Sq, Prime BEEF and a TDY with 555th Red Horse.  Luckily never saw ‘Nam but did spend much of my hitch doing TDYs to Arctic Circle, Barrow AK, and Thule Greenland.

 

KB4QLL, SIDNEY (Sid) S ALLEN,  FL #17250  U.S. ARMY,  1968–1970.    I served in the U.S Army from 1968 to 1970 under the two-year voluntary draft.  The only significant job I had was a bodyguard for the 8th Army Signal Corp’s G-2 officer while stationed in Bad Kreuznach Germany.  I was one of McNamara’s “I need another 50,000 troops for Viet Nam” but never went.  Somehow, I guess I tricked him!  Hi Hi.  Tour of duty amongst the vineyards in the Rhine Valley was uneventful except for the stimulating conversations with Capt. Blood (yep, that was his name) about shooting whoever tried to chop off his hand to get to the attache case handcuffed to his arm.  Never happened, I’m very happy to say! Other than that, I did my two years and returned to Miami where I was born and raised, happy to NOT come home in a plastic bag. There you have it, a rather brief bio of my life as a dogface.

 

K4TAG, HAYDEN “TAGG” BOWERS, SR, NC #2512 U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, U.S. AIR FORCE, 1946-1949.

 

K4VRP, GENE J. JOHNS, JR., TN #16692 TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD, 1970 – 1976

 

K5SSL/KA5SSL, Terrance (Terry) L. Clay, AZ #16962  U.S. AIR FORCE 1966-1970

 

K5ZMX, DOUG MILNER, AR #16699 Civilian Contractor in Vietnam 1967-1968 – I went to Vietnam as a civilian embalmer in  01/67  until the Tet Offensive  01/68. At which time Siagon was being overrun by the N. Viet forces a Bug Out was initiated & I went to Germany for 1 month.  I returned for 1 more month in March & then returned to the United States in April ‘68. I had been drafted but was judged 4F and got involved this way!

 

K7ZNO, JOHN R GARNER, ID #16839  ARMY AIR CORPS, 1945 – 1965 – I enlisted in the Army Air corps flight training program was sent back to school  and in July 1945 went to duty and basic training in Biloxi , MS
After basic went to Chanute Air Base where I reenlisted into the Regular Army attached to the Air corps and went to Long Beach, CA Air Base and was assigned to duty as a flight traffic clerk (first Load masters) and flew with various pilots  delivering  Pilots and cargo to Air Bases around the states  Also flew in the Transcon run from Fairfield Suisun Air base to Washington, DC all of this time in the old C-47’s  In 1948 I went to Wiesbaden Germany to Berlin Airlift.  loading cargo for the life line to Berlin, we loaded coal, flour, wine, champagne,  potato flakes, milk and any thing else that was needed, I accrued about 2000 total flight hours. On 19 Jan 1952 I married my best friend  Peggy, (we have been married 62 years) went to Recruiting duty then to the Air  Technical Intelligence Center,  then to Peshawar Pakistan for 18 moths then to Reno Nevada with the USAF-CAP Liaison Office from which I retired in 1965.

 

K8DFA David F. “DAVE” Abner, WV #16712   U.S. AIR FORCE 1969-1972   Attained the rank of SSGT. Was a communications specialist on crypto and data systems.  Stationed in Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, Fort Monmouth, NJ, Sembach AFB Sembach Germany, and Kwang-Ju Korea.

 

K9VFS LYNN D “DAVE” LEWIS, IL #16849   U.S. NAVY  1964-1969  

 

K9WFE, GENE L. DELANEY, WI #11813  U. S. AIR FORCE from 1962 thru 1966. Basic Training and tech school (Communications Center Specialist) in Texas, and then a year in Korea where I was an operator at HL9KH, a club station at Osan Air Base.

I then spent the last two and a half years at Ent AFB, Colorado Springs (now an Olympic training center) and spent the last 6 months participating in the opening of Cheyenne Mountain testing teletype and telephone systems prior to its activation.

 

 

KA0ENU, JOSEPH (JOE) W BRUGGEMAN, TN #16775 U. S. AIR FORCE

 

KA4OJN, JAMES (JIM) CURRAN, KY #16801.  I was in the Naval Air Reserve from 1959 to 1969.  I was active from 1960 to 1962 in VAW-12.  I made the shakedown cruise with the air group aboard in 1962 as an Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd class.  In the reserves I was a radio operator on C-54’s and then C-118’s.  I am a VietNam vet as my two weeks active duty for several years was to fly to VietNam with cargo for the war.

 

KA7ICF, JESSE R. LARSEN, NV #16154 

 

KA7UOR, ZANE E. DARNER, ID #16663 I served in the U.S. COAST GUARD from 1985-1993; 5 years active duty and 3 reserve as a Telecommunications Specialist (or Radioman.) I had a high speed code certificate and could send and receive at 30 wpm. There’s another Winter project… I miss that speed; well, maybe not that fast, but I’d love to have a solid command of 25 wpm. 12 is tough for me these days. 

In those years the USCG was under the Department of Transportation. Today it falls under the Department of Homeland Security. My first ship out of boot camp was a 180′ buoy tender stationed out of San Francisco. We managed Aids to Navigation from the Oregon/California border down to San Diego and up to 700 miles out. Then came Telecommunications School (which I loved; I’d had my Novice ticket for about 10 years by that time,) then off to a 270′ ship out of Kodiak, AK. We were involved in Search & Rescue, Fisheries, and Law Enforcement Patrols covering the Bering Sea, Aleutian Island Chain, and the Gulf of Alaska. I ended out my time in the CG at the Group/Air Station in Port Angeles, WA. 

 

KB0JIT, PAUL A SIPES, CO #16728 U. S. NAVY

 

KB0MAI, GEORGE D EPLEY, MO #16635 U. S. Navy 1982 – 1986

 

KB1CSI, JOHN H. MOORE, NH #16665. U.S. Army, 1978-1987, NG. I went in as a cannon crew and then into food service which is what I like.  Developed RA and was given an honorable discharge.

 

KB3ITJ, JEROLD (JERRY) L. GRAVES, PA #16206 Served in Vietnam approximately 18 months.

 

KB3JRA, DAVE F. ABNER, WV #16712 U. S. AIR FORCE – I joined the U.S. Air Force in April 1969. 

After basic training in San Antonio, Texas, I received a year of technical training at Shephard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas and at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. I was trained as a Cryptographic, Computer and Communications Specialist and stationed for 18 months at Sembach AFB, Germany followed by 13 months at Kwang-Ju, South Korea. In my four years in the Air Force, I attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. I enjoyed my time in the Air Force and loved my job. I would have stayed in if I could have ever have been stationed back in the USA. But the equipment I maintained was only deployed overseas.

 

KB3WBE, GERALD “JERRY” F BLACK, PA, #16702, U.S. ARMY, 1973-1976

 

KB7CSV, EARL HOLDER, WY #16464 I was a radio/teletype operator in the Navy 1955 through 1959. One of my duty stations was onboard a Minesweeper, USS Pluck MSO-464. It was a wooden ship about 40 foot wide and 179 foot long. Due to some mines being Magnetic, the “sweeps” had to be wood. I was on 3 tours from California to Yokuska, Japan, 34 days one way journey, there was 68 officers and men aboard. I was also a qualified sonar operator.

 

KB7CSW, JUSTIN HOLDER, OK #16628  U.S. ARMY, 1994 – Present. I am still on active duty. Couple more years and I retire!!

 

KB9OC, SUS MUSASHI, WI  #7901 I served with the famed unit of all Japanese Americans. I served in France and Germany. Got the Purple Heart and some other medals and was commissioned as a Second Lt. before I got sent home.

 

KC0WCG JOHN C CRANDALL, SR., MN #16746  U. S. ARMY 1966-1967

 

KC2ATK, JOHN E. CALHOUN, NJ #16043 U. S. MARINE CORPS  1954 -1958

 

KC2UZT, JOHN SAKOWICH, TX  #16632 U.S. NAVY  I served in the Navy from 1970 to 1976. Served two years on the USS Canopus AS-34 A Sub Tender out of Holy Loch Scotland.  I then went to the USS Lexington CVT 16 out of Pensacola Fla.  I served on her from 1974-1976 with a broken service for two years before that. Now the Lexington is in Corpus Christi TX. where she is a museum ship.

 

KC7KPF, THOMAS (TOM) N NURENBERG, NM #16144 U.S. AIR FORCE—24 Years

 

KC8TDC, GERALD L SMITH, M. #16235 U.S. NAVY, 1950-1954 aboard the USS Lake Champlain CVA39 in the Sea of Japan. Discharged as P/O 3rd Class.

 

KC9EAG, WILLIAM (BILL) E BECK, Jr. WI #15995  U.S. AIR FORCE 1962-1966

 

KD0KPM, RONALD E BURNOR, KS #16653 U. S. AIR FORCE from 24 Apr 67 to 13 Aug 71 and was in Vietnam for 20 months. 

 

KD0RIR, MICHAEL J RADLOFF, MO #16913, U. S. NAVY Apr-1975 to Jun 1979. VAQ-138, Electronic Warfare SQ-Cruise Med on USS Saratoga, and first cruise USS Eisenhower. (aircraft carriers) Reserve time-USNR- VP60 Glendale IL, P3’s.(sub hunters) and USAFR- 34th MAPS, Mitchel Field Milwaukee, WI. Combat supply C-130’s. I was not in country but considered Vietnam era vet. 

Presently In the IRS skirmishes as a Tax Examiner/Cust. Service Rep. (It’s brutal).

 

KD2Q, GARY R. LONG, NJ #13171 U. S. ARMY – I joined the U.S. Army in September, 1970.  I spent my Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Dix, NJ.  I was trained as a code-qualified radio operator and spent the tour working in that capacity.  I was sent overseas in 1971 to West Germany and was stationed there until my discharge in 1972.  I was in charge of radio operations and training for the 293rd Combat Engineer Battalion.  I was discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class (E-4), though I was an Acting Buck Sergeant (E-5).  My official title was Senior Radio Operator. 
I am a member of American Legion Post #148 in Hightstown, NJ where I used to live.  I am also a member of The American Legion Amateur Radio Club.
When I returned to the States, I began my career as a high school English teacher and worked in that capacity for 35 years until my retirement in 2008.

 

KD5LWU, (Fr) JOHNNY L SHEPHERD, CO #16180 U. S. NAVY starting in 1963 as a Photographers Mate.

 

KE4AK, GEORGE L CLEMENT, GA #12728  U. S. ARMY

 

KE5JWC, John Cruddas, Las Cruces, NM #17232 US ARMY Security Agency, April 65 – November 68, Turkey Nov 65 – Jun 67, VietNam June 67 – Nov 68.  US Military Police Mar 70 – Nov 79. Tours in Thailand and Germany.

 

KD7ADH, JERRY SPALDING, WA #16753  U. S. ARMY 1982 – 1984.  Current EMT/Firefighter.

 

KE5OTX, CURTIS W PARKER, TX #16781 U. S. ARMY

 

KE7BAB, RICHARD (Dick) L GOODRICH, OR #16551 U.S. MARINE from the Korea war.

 

KE7EZJ, DALLAS F. SCHROEDER, TX #16250 U.S. ARMY I joined the army in 1969, I took basic training I Ft Lewis WA. June of 69. From there I went to Ft Belvoir VA. I took up engineer mechanics. When I got done with that I had orders for Vietnam. Being my brother went 2 weeks before me, l got my orders changed and went to Colorado. I come down with orders to again 8 months later to go to Vietnam. So I said goodbye to my wife and baby daughter. November 1970 I stepped foot on Vietnam soil, I got things changed to go to the base camp where my brother was at, Camp Eagle. My mos was changed to a truck mechanic. Jan 1970 they tried cutting off the hook children min trail and I volunteered to go to Vandergrift, and kept 200 trucks running barometer dong ha to Ka Son. From there I went to a base camp, not sure of the exact name (Waih), till my 1 year duty was done in Vietnam. I entered and exited Vietnam from Da Nang. I was sent for duty at Ft Belvoir VA. I spent 30 days there and ets. With a 6 month early out since I was in Vietnam. I’m proud to say I did my part in Vietnam. Thanks to our military. It takes a special bread of people.

 

KE7MP, FRANK HURLBUT, WA # 9004 U. S. NAVY 1949-1969 – Enlisted in the Navy in 1949. 3 days after I graduated from high school, I was in boot camp at Great Lakes. Many schools later I was teaching instrument flying as a link trainer operator in Corpus Christi Texas. I applied for flight training, but didn’t have the required college education. 

Took a college GED and was accepted. Started in Jan 1949. After 18 months graduated as a carrier qualified fighter pilot. Retired in 1969. My wife and 5 kids went to Alaska and flew bush flying for about 16 years.

 

KE7VSC, JOHN B. DOUGHTON, OR #16371  U. S. NAVY SEEBEES In August 1956, at the young age of 19,  I left our family farm near Lebanon Oregon to join the navy.  I Chose the Seabees as I had land clearing, logging and other heavy equipment operating experience as I grew up.  After a year I was off to Midway Island.  Midway is famous for the Goony birds (Laysan Albatross) of which we had over half a million!

 

After Midway, I served in the Mobile Construction Battalion in Futema and Okinawa, returning to Midway so I could get married.  Alice arrived a few months later, and our daughter was born on Midway.  She has her Goony Bird Birth certificate, plus her real one from Hawaii. 

 

 I saw service in Adak, Alaska, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Scotland, Hawaii and Skaggs Island, California, during my 21 year Career with the Seabees.  After retirement from the Navy, it was back to where I started from. 

 

KE8UD, PAUL E HATFIELD, MI #16630 U. S. AIR FORCE 1991-1965 – I joined the Air Force in 1961. Spent a year at Keesler AFB, Mississippi learning basic electronics and heavy ground radar maintenance.  My next three years were spent working on air defense radar for NORAD in western Michigan. My Air force experience allowed me to begin a career as a military contractor and tech rep in five countries around the world including Southeast Asia, before the Vietnam conflict.

 

I still thank the USAF for giving me a wonderful life.

 

KF6JG JOHN S BENKA, CA #12198 U. S. NAVY – ARRIL 1953 – NOVEMBER 1972
I was a resident of Phillipsburg,  New Jersey, I enlisted in the US Navy on 14 april 1953, went to recruit training at Bainbridge, MD, from there went to the battleship USS Wisconsin BB 64, at rank of seaman (E-3) went to Pacific area to Korea , Japan,  Hawaii, Midway, Hong Kong.  Then to Naval Air Station in Argentia, Newfoundland, was transferred from deck seaman to supply dept. then back to the USS Wisconsin BB 64, visited Glasgow Scotland, and then went to Valparaiso, Chile. 1957 decommissioned on 10 March 1958, got married  that  afternoon to my first wife, had two sons, one who also went into the Navy and retired after 22 years. After that March 1958 I was assigned to the USS Tanner AGS 15, became a storekeeper 3rd class (E-4) which was a survey ship, we surveyed  the waters off shore in Turkey, visited the following countries:  Portugal , Lisbon, Spain, Barcelona, Palma, Valencia, Naples , and Venice, Italy, Istanbul , Askindrendren, Turkey. Was on stand by for possible evacuation of Beirut , then back to the states.   Then I went to the Persian Gulf to survey off the coast of Iran, by way through the Suez Canal, Red Sea, stopped in Abadan, Iran, up the Tigris river.  Yemen, Karachi, Pakistan, then back to the States. From the Tanner I was assigned to a naval reserve fleet station in Orange TX. Then I became a 2nd class storekeeper (E-5). From there to the USS Saufley DDE 464, Key West FL. Was in the Cuban blockade, was discharged from the Navy, then went back to New Jersey, no work so I enlisted in the active naval reserve TAR program (training active reserves) was assigned to a station in Cromwell CT, till 1966, then transferred to reserve station in Albuquerque, NM. Then became a 1st class storekeeper (E-6), the place where I became a Ham WN5SUB, WA5WBS. This was where I married my second wife a Ham K5GLJ. Then in 1969 was sent to sea duty aboard the USS Higbee DD 806, out of Long Beach, CA, changed call to WA6DUB, went to Vietnam on three tours, visited Bangkok, Thailand, Subic Bay, Philippines and back to the States, then retired in Nov. 12, 1972 as a first class storekeeper (E-6), divorced second wife in 1976.  Upgraded to advanced in Dec 1982 and became KF6JG. During the time of the late 70’s I was in the following radio clubs:  Lockheed Burbank, San Fernando ARC. I moved to Monterey area in 1984 and joined the Naval Post Graduate School ARC. In 1989 I married my third wife whom I was with untill Nov 2010, when she passed away with cancer. During my radio adventure I did many events like, Hollywood Christmas parade, March of Dimes, coordinated the Bicentennial event in Los Angeles, also the Big Sur Marathon for about 13 yrs. Plus a few others ++++.  And now I am in Yreka , CA, next place who knows?

 

KF9GS, RICHARD L HARBEN, IN #16199 

U.S. AIR FORCE from 1956-1960 as a Jet Engine Mechanic. Took a 15 year break. Joined the Ohio & Indiana Air National Guard from 1975-1993 when I retired. I served as a Site Developer in Civil Engineering. I did Drafting and Surveying.

 

KG4ARM, DAVID D JAGGARS, TN #15671 U. S. NAVY

KJ4YDI, DALE K GOSNEY, FL #16603  U. S. ARMY 1969-1970

Crew Chief 92 Assault Helicopter Company

Dong Ba Thin, Vietnam

KJ7CPC Peter Quigley #21846 U.S. Army Veteran. Assigned White House Communications Agency, 1972-1975. Travelled with Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

 

KK4AED, HOWARD HORWITZ, FL #16623  U.S. Air Force 1958-1964.
I joined the USAF in June , 1958 at Lackland AFB TX. Went to Keesler AFB, MS in the summer of ’58 and became a ground radio operator. Left there in Jan ’59 and went to Ladd AFB, Fairbanks, AK. Left there in June, ’60 and went to Presque Isle AFB in ME. In 1961 went to Plattsburgh AFB in NY where I stayed until my discharge in 1962. Last two years 62-64 in the AF Reserve.

KK4DWC, DON CORNELIUS, FL #16693.  U. S. AIR FORCE, 3 Aug 1953 31 Aug 1973. I was only an enlisted man, when I finished I was a Tech Sgt.  I was in electronics for all of my career.  I taught electronics for most of my time.  But like many of us, I did go to Vietnam.  I finished up at Beale AFB,  CA, and came back to Panama City, FL in 1973 and have been here ever since.  I am originally from Slippery Rock,PA.

 

KK6CS, KENNETH “KEN” G. TEUNIS, CO #16656 U. S. ARMY 1948-1951 Korean war – 2nd Engr. Special Brigade (Ssgt)

 

KK7ZB, CHARLES “CHUCK” D PARKER, SR, NV #13314  U.S. NAVY 1965-1971, USCG 1971-1991, VIETNAM AND GULF WAR

 

KL7FQR, STANLEY (STAN) C RYBACHEK, WA #6194 U.S. AIR FORCE—Korean War Veteran Serving in Iceland. Also worked on Teletype Machines.

 

KL7YK, RON KEECH, AK #16399 U. S. AIR FORCE – 20 years Active duty, 17 years Civil Service with the US Air Force. Still serving via the Army MARS Program. I am the station manager for the Elmendorf Amateur Radio Society Club Station on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Been in Alaska since 1982, retired from Civil Service in 2011 for a total of 37 years with the USAF.
There is a webpage for my family and I at “http://kl7yk.us”.
Elmendorf Club Station KL7AIR/KL7USA info can be found at “http://kl7air.us”.

I am VA listed as an 80% disabled vet these days.  Am very active with the Elmendorf Amateur Radio Society on Elmendorf AFB.

Am also the current Vice President of the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club, so am still quite active.

I spent 4 years in Army MARS and am currently in Navy MARS.  Was the State Director for Army MARS in Alaska for 2 years in fact.  When Army MARS died off in AK I simply moved over to the Navy Program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KE9PK, Jim Pandzik US Navy 1970-1994

KL7HRO, Dennis Cornell US Navy 1968-1978

I joined the Navy in October 1968 after graduating HS in 1967 and received my first ham licenses in 1966. (WN9VRR, WA9VRR).
I was in Company 730 in San Diego. I started my career in electronics as an ET/R. After school in San Diego I went to Treasure Island. I had some medical problems at Mare Island and got transferred to the USS Ranger CV61.
On the Ranger I worked in CCTV. After the tour in Viet Nam in the Tonkin Gulf we returned to Hunters Point for Dry Dock. Whise there for about a year I joined the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Reserve.
In 1972 I transferred to NAVCOMSTA Harold E. Holt in Exmouth, Western Australia. While in Australia I picked up the call of VK6ZDC. After two years there I was told if I would extend for four years that I would be put in line to become Master of the Exmouth Masonic Lodge. When I brought up the extended time requirement to my wife she said if I extended even 1 day that she would be on the next flight home. So much for my movement up the line in lodge.
In 1974 we went to Great Lakes for a 16 week CCTV school which came with the change from ET/R to IC Electrician. After Great Lakes we went to Millington, TN to the Naval Hospital in security. I put in my address change with the FCC and received WD4HRO.
In 1977 I went to the USS Saratoga CV60 where I Ran the CCTV Studio and Repair Shop. I also had time to run the ship’s ham station WB0IGF. I helped many sailors contact their loved ones back home via Ham Radio. I got out in 1978 and went back to work at the Post Office where I worked until 2005 and retired in March.
While in Alaska I changed it toLas Vegas I changed my call to N7HRO and when we moved to Alaska I changed it to KL7HRO.

KM4KNV, Kathleen Nicole Fallin GA #17100  U.S. Army, 1979 – 1999 Retired.  Military Musician.

  I am a new Amateur Radio operator and enthusiast. I passed both my Technician and General license requirements in Stone Mountain, GA in the late Spring of 2015.   I listened to a great deal of shortwave radio as a child and always had an interest in acquiring my license but never found the time until retirement.  I enjoy meeting and talking to wonderful people of the Amateur Radio community from all over the world.  I have much to be thankful for and have enjoyed a great many occupations and hobbies during my life and hopefully many more (interests) to come.  My current equipment consists of a Yaesu FT-990 (100 Watts) and a homemade multi band 80/40/20/10 meter center fed dipole hung about 65 feet high between several oak trees next to my house.

I enlisted in the US Army in 1979 and retired in 1999 as a First Sergeant, having served for the most part of 20 years as a military musician.  I originally enlisted in 1979 as a computer repair technician but after finding myself as the fifth such technician in Kitzingen Germany in the 706th Maintenance Battalion (they only really needed one), I ended up auditioning for the 3rd Infantry Division Band in Wurzburg as a trumpet player.  Following four years in Germany “suffering” through countless beer tent, wine fest, parade, military change of command ceremony,  and Tattoo performances pastedGraphic.png ; I left Germany 30 pounds heavier (love schnitzel, bratwurst and German beer) when I re-enlisted for the Armed Forces School of Music in order to change my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).  I subsequently spent 8 years at the school in Little Creek, Norfolk, VA as a trumpet instructor.  From 1991 -1994 I was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska (fantastic place) where I fell in love with Alaska, moose meat and bear sausage, skiing and the outdoors.  From 1994 to 1996 I was again at the School of Music, where I supervised all the brass instructors and certified all exit auditions for all brass players in the Navy, Army and Marine Corps.  My last assignment was at Fort Gordon Georgia, in the Signal Corps Band as First Sergeant and where I retired in 1999.  I had a very fortunate military career and I’m so very thankful for having the good fortune to have served in a period of general peace for the United States in the world.  I still miss the camaraderie, high standards, and expectations of the military life but made a great many friends through those years.

I have three beautiful and successful children and seven fantastic and healthy grandchildren.  I’m a strong believer in our wonderful Republic and the beautiful country we call America.   I’m hoping to earn my Extra License before the end of the year and one day learning Morse code.  I have found the Amateur radio community to be an incredibly wonderful group of people, worldwide; and I am so very proud to be associated with this collection of diverse, intelligent, caring, charitable and responsible citizens from every walk of life and every corner of the world.

KM5FF, EDDIE L BRYANT, NM #15197 U.S. NAVY and U.S. ARMY

 

KN4AA, KEVIN R NEWBERRY, PA #15808 Joined U. S. NAVY in 1964, attended Basic Training at San Diego Naval Training facility.

First duty station was Skaggs Island, California (Sonoma County)

Transferred to Keflavik Iceland

Transferred to Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico

Transferred to Home for 4 months

Reenlisted and transferred to Edzell, Scotland

Transferred to Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet Headquarters, Norfolk, Virginia

Transferred to Misawa, Japan

Transferred to USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62)

Transferred to Naval Security Group Activity, Chesapeake, VA

Transferred to Naval Security Group Activity, Charleston, South Carolina

Transferred to Naval Support Activity, Naples Italy (Served as Command Master Chief) E-9

Transferred to Naval Security Group Activity, Chesapeake, Virginia (Retired there in 1991)

 

Total Active Service: 28 years, and retired as a Master Chief Cryptologic Technician.


N0AAH, STEPHEN (STEVE) R SHOBE, MO #16767 U. S. NAVY – Retired RMC – USN From 1963 to 1983

N0DK, EMIL F WIEGLENDA, ND #15744 U. S. MARINE CORPS for two years active duty.  I went through boot camp at MCRD San Diego then to Camp Pendleton after that with forward echelon to set up Marine training center at Twenty Nine Palms, CA. from there I was released from active duty.

N0EHQ, ED PALMER, IA #16418 U. S. AIR FORCE from July 1978 thru July 1982. Stationed at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX ATC from September 1978 thru November 1979. Then reassigned to Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE. SAC in December 1979 through discharge in July 1982. Worked in base supply as a Material Facilities Specialist.

N0EYZ, JIM BAILEY, CO #16627 U. S. ARMY 3 years and National Guard 20 years

N0JSP, FRED C HARMAN, CO #15686 U. S. NAVY  I was on a Carrier during World War II. CV – USS KEARSARGE. We were in the North Atlantic and down to Panama. I was an electricians mate. It was a change for me after raising cattle.

N0VVV, JAMES J LEAHY, VT #16711  US ARMY, 11/04/1970–72  On 11/04/1970, US Army, 835 soldiers left Fort Lewis, Washington for Viet Nam.  Me being one of them.  Of the 835, over 650 of us have Hep C.  There are less than 100 of us left.  I didn’t even know that I had it until I turned 50, 11 years ago. When I got a physical then first time in 30 years.  Probable someone in the front of the overseas injection line had it and everyone else behind him was infected.  They were able to identify it because of  it’s make up.  Of course it’s the hardest strain to get rid of. I was in Viet Nam 71/72

N3BPM, STEVE BORK, MD #15935 U. S. AIR FORCE, 1971 – 1975

N3TG, W.T. “RED” FREE, Jr., VA #1601 U. S. NAVY and Naval Reserve. 27 years active duty, retiring in 1993 holding rank as Captain.

N4ACS, JAMES  (REV. JIM) F WOOD, SR., MO #12107  U.S. ARMY—Security agency 1962-1965 served as radio CW op with security agency.

Was in Vietnam at Phu Bai in 1964-65

I am now on a VA Pension due to illness from agent orange in Vietnam. Living in MO. most of the year with some time in Florida.

N5COO, DAVID O ALBERT, TN #13190 U. S. NAVY

N5FYR, MIKE BELFORD, OK #16674 U. S. NAVY

N7COA, DAVID L GREGORY, (Recent Silent Key) WY #14113 U. S. ARMY flying helicopters. Yes, I am one of the many veterans out there. After basic training, I served from 1963 to 1965 in Germany, from 1965 to 1966 in Viet Nam, from 1966 to 1968 at Fort Carson, CO, from Jan 1968 to Jan 1969 in Korea, from Feb 1969 to Apr 1970 at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA, from there to Viet Nam until May 1971 and Fort Rucker, AL. I got out in September of 1971 and went back to school for my degree. Most of the time was spent in helicopters. While in school and from 2/72 until 7/77 I was in the USAR for the extra pay.

N7FSR NORMAN L. GRAY, SR., AZ #14247 U.S. AIR FORCE 1953-1973 TSGT, Medical Corpsman

 

N8COQ, KENNETH R BARNES, IN #16164 I served at the end of the Vietnam era (1975-1979) in the U. S. AIR FORCE stationed primarily in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Had the pleasure of working on Collins gear (KWM-2A, 30L1, TSC60 a 10kW unit into a log periodic antenna, and MRC 107 Jeeps sporting a 618T transceiver) as a Ground Radio Equipment Repairman. Worked CW from the radio jeeps (often from Cape Kennedy) as my boss did not approve of hamming from the shop. While on deployments I would take a few miles of field phone wire and several knock down 50 foot towers and build the antennas I had read about in the handbooks. Commander was impressed as often our 100 watt Jeep signal into the right home brew antenna (Rhombic, beam, etc.) was as strong as the 10 kW stations at the receiving end. Built a beverage with another ham (Eugene Kelly forget his call) and were able to hear the South Americans well from the survival area in Florida – had the OSI drop in and start running tape recorders. Commander loved it.

N8IJY GLEN SIGLER #17813 U.S. Army Signal Corps. 1973 – 1977.  My Army specialty was Microwave Systems.  I installed and maintained Line of Sight and Tropo-Scatter systems used to send secure communications.  My first experience with SSB was in the Army running a Collins KWN-2 radio (used vacuum tubes) used to coordinate alignment of the microwave shots.  I was assigned to the First Signal Brigade, Stratcom.

N9OV, DAVID (DAVE) A FELLOWS, MN #11955 U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, 1955-1960 AND U.S. ARMY (ACTIVE DUTY) 1960-1963 – Most of which was spent in Germany, getting my separation papers on the day they blockaded Cuba.

N9QA, CHARLES (CHARLIE) L WILLIAMS, IN #16283 U.S. ARMY, 1960-1993 I was on active duty from 1960-1965. I started out as a truck driver and then switched to Air Defense Operator.  When I moved to Indiana, I joined the Reserves as a truck driver and switched to mechanic.  We went to Desert Storm I 1991.  Got out of the Reserves in 1993. Stationed in El Paso TX for 23 months—was in Germany for 28 months as a SFC E7.

 

NA4ME, CHARLES (CHUCK) E SMITH, GA #16493 U.S. NAVY – I served in the Navy on active duty 1973-1977 and active reserve 1977-1979.

NC4RP, ROBERT (BOB) L PERCEFULL, NC #16939  U. S. AIR FORCE–1962-1985
Enlisted USAF: 6 Sep 1962
Basic Training: Lackland AFB Texas, Sep – Nov 1962
Attached to HQ Lackland: Dec ’62- Jan ’63
Assigned to Tech Training:  Lowry AFB CO, Feb – Nov 1963, promoted to E-3
Assigned Walker AFB NM:  Dec 1963 – Aug 1965,  Electronics Technician, promoted to E-4
Assigned as student:  Florida State University, Tallahassee FL, Sep 1965 – Aug 1967, promoted to E-5
Assigned Ramey AFB PR, Aug 1967 – Feb 1970,  Electronics Technician, TDY U-Tapao AFB Thialand, May- Sep 1968.
Assigned Castle AFB CA, Feb 1970 – Dec 1972,  Retrained into Computer field, 1973
Assigned Offutt AFB NE, Jan 1973.
Assigned Bootstrap (College Student): University of Nebraska at Omaha, Sep 1973 – Jun 1974,
Resumed duties at Offutt AFB, July 1974 – Mar 1975, promoted to E-6
Assigned Officer Training: Lackland AFB TX, Apr 1975 – July 1975, Commissioned 2nd Lt.
Attended Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB AL, Aug – Oct 1975
Assigned Offutt AFB NE, Oct 1975 – Aug 1979, Database Analyst/Programmer.  Promoted to
Captain (O-3)
Assigned to Education with Industry, Boeing Aircraft, Seattle WA, Sep 1979 – Jun 1980.
Assigned to Wright Patterson AFB OH, Jul 1980 – Aug 1985, Computer Systems Acquisition.
Retired as Captain (O-3), Aug 1985

NJ5G, PATRICK GREENLEE, OK #16782  U. S. AIR FORCE 1962–1967

Yet another Viet Nam era vet.  I tell folks I was never in the military, I was in the Air Force.

I was first licensed in the winter of 1962 having been mentored by an ex German Navy

CW operator in Edmond, OK.  I took qualifying tests prior to enlistment in the USAF and had a contract promising I would be in the electronics career field. My basic training stint at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX was shortened to 5 weeks to compensate for the long electronics school I was selected for.  So off to Rantoul, IL and Chanute Field (Chanute AFB, now decommissioned.) for an 8 month stint of 6 hours of classroom instruction 5 days a week and finishing BMT (Basic Military Training) after school and Saturdays.  When BMT was finished we thought we had died and gone to heaven with all the free time we had to do homework.  I arrived in the fall, early October, and left 8 months later in May in time to get married in California May 28, 1964 (50 years as of May 28, 2014) after spending the worst winter in that part of IL in over 75 years.

Then came the bright and cheery news of my assignment to SAC (the Strategic Air Command) at Minot AFB, Minot North Dakota where I remained just over 3 years experiencing being out in temps of 47 below zero.  My job was operating and instructing on a Link instrument flying training device.  My students were rated pilots on flying status who had to get 2 hours of training with me per quarter to keep their flight status. Our combat aircrews flew B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers for in-flight refueling.  Lots of missions to bomb targets in South East Asia as well as being on standby with planes armed with H-bombs ready to fly on a moments notice in case the Soviet Union invited us to participate in the nuclear annihilation of civilization as we know it.

Honorably discharged August the 29th 1967 and went as far south (away from ND) as I could without leaving the country spending 30+ years in San Diego.  I wish to thank all you taxpayers for funding the Viet Nam GI BIll which paid me to go to college in physics and math and then later when I decided computers were not a passing fad I took evening classes to get BS in Computer Science and Masters in Software Engineering and one last trip back to grad school at San Diego State University in Instructional Technology 6 years prior to taking early retirement in 1999, moving onto 160 acre ranch and operating a black Angus cattle ranch in south central Oklahoma. Howdy howdy howdy, I’m a cowboy!

 

NM5CL, CHARLES E LYON, NM #16604 U. S. ARMY I entered the US Army Signal Corps as a recruit in 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1969 as a Fixed HF Station Chief, SFC (E7). My stateside duty stations were at Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Monmouth, NJ; Ft Gordon, GA; and Ft Meade, MD.  My overseas assignments were at Quarry Heights, Panama Canal Zone and S.H.A.P.E. Hqs, Paris, France.  After discharge I was employed in Civil Service with Dept of Army, Civilian, as an Airborne Radio/Radar Repair technician at Davison AAF, Ft. Belvoir, VA, specializing in airborne radar and direction finding systems.

Due to my children’s health issues I left civil service and moved back to my home state of NM where I was initially employed as a TV Studio Engineer (KOB-TV Ch 4, Albuquerque). I left TV for higher wages at Public Service Co of NM (a publicly owned electric utility) as a Communications Journeyman. In 1996 I retired from PNM as Supervisor of the Communications/Protective Relay Dept after 25 years of service.

FCC 1st Class Radiotelephone License w/Ship Radar Endorsement: P1-15-18181, 1968FCC General Radiotelephone License w/Ship Radar Endorsement: PG-15-5051, 1984
I am active as an accredited Volunteer Examiner with ARRL and W5YI.
I am an active member of the Valencia County Amateur Radio Emergency Services and Valencia County ARA ARES group.
I am NCS for Monday night OMISS 40m net. (OM #7537)
NM Electrical Journeyman License, EE98-J
Member, American Legion, Post 0122,
Member, BPOE Lodge 2500, 38 years

NQ1H, ELAINE HOHMANN, NH #16881 U. S. AIR FORCE – 1992-2013  Served as Traffic Management (60231-2T071). Spent four years on Active Duty, 12 in the Reserves, and 4 in the Air National Guard. Bases-Hahn AB Germany 92-93 (Base Closure), Davis –Monthan AFB, AZ 93-96, Tucson ANG 96, RAF Fairford UK 96-00, RAF Lakenheath UK 00-04, Ramstein AB Germany 04-09, Air National Guard, Scott AFB IL 09-10, Pease ANGB, NH  10-13. Deployed to Al Udeid AB, Qatar 05-06. VFW Life Member, Past Junior Vice Commander  Post 10722, Hide Gimlet, Military Order of the Cootie, Old Man Mountain Pup Tent 1.

NZ5R, BOB SIMPSON, NM #12410 U. S. NAVY – 1955-1960

W0FUR, BILL HOWSER, KS #16159 U. S. ARMY AIR CORP.

W1VCU, NELSON C DENISON, (DENNY) MD #15524   US NAVY,
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy during March 1954.  Attended Basic Training at the Naval Training Center Bainbridge, MD.
Transferred to Naval Radio Station Imperial Beach, CA for CT school.
Transferred to Naval Radio Station Adak Island. AK.
Transferred to Naval Radio Station Winter Harbor, ME.
Transferred to CINCPACFLT, PEARL HARBOR, HI.
Transferred to Naval Radio Station San Miguel, PI.
Transferred to Naval Radio Station Northwest, VA.
Transferred to Crypto Repair School, Portsmouth, VA.
Transferred to Naval Radio Station Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico.
Transferred to Naval Security Station, WashDC.
Transferred to Fort Meade, MD.
Retired from active duty at FTM, MD as a Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician.
Total active service: 22 years, 3 months; retiring with special permission, on JULY 4, 1976
(Our country’s Bicentennial Date).
Upon retirement from active duty, I was employed for an additional twenty years with the Navy in Washington, DC.  Finally retiring on my wife, Audrey’s, birthday, February 2, 1996.

W2PJR, PAUL J. RICE, WA #16496  U. S. AIR FORCE, 1973-1977

 

W3UWH, HAL GOODMAN, ME #16201  U. S. NAVY

 

W3WRL, WILLIAM “Russ” LEAGER, DE #16165  U.S. ARMY, 82ND Airborne, 1957-1963

W3XAF, Ken Witkin, Former Air Force 2 Chief of Communications (1982-1985)

http://abcccassociation.org/kengallery.html


W4CT, BEN BOOTH,  AL  #16009   U. S.  ARMY

Radar Technician 1954-1956 Drafted late in 1953 as the Korean “conflict” was ending. Never got overseas, trained in electronics, honorably discharged 1956. I reported to the Selective Service Center January 7, 1954. I had turned 19 on September 4, 1953. I went through eight weeks of basic training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds – somewhat unusual as this base normally did not provide basic training.

After completing basic training I was sent to the Fort Monmouth New Jersey Electronics School. It was a six-month course. I have no doubt that this assignment was due to my having scored very high in mechanics and electronics as well as code proficiency, as I had been a licensed ham for three years and had already built several transmitters and receivers from junk TV and radio parts.  

While at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, I also served as a MARS operator at K2USA. Upon graduating from the Monmouth School I was given the opportunity for more training and was sent back to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for advanced radar and missile training. I finally ended up at Camp Stewart, near Savannah, Georgia, where I helped repair and maintain the highly secret T-38 Sky Sweeper anti-aircraft system, which, had by now, been declassified. (We were told that the Sky Sweeper technology was likely part of military information that the Rosenbergs had stolen.) You may remember that they were eventually executed for their espionage.  There is no doubt in my mind that Amateur Radio and my service in the Army had a dramatic effect on the course my life has taken, especially when on leaving active duty I realized that I was eligible for the GI bill. That fact did change my life.

W4RBW, FRANK HALAS, FL NO NUMBER I am one of those veterans. I was in the U.S. Army from Nov. 12th 1961 till October 30th. 1964. I spent 18 months in Berlin Germany and was serving when President Kennedy came to Berlin in June of 1963. I obtain the range of Specialist 5th class same as a Sergeant. I assume this is the information you are gathering. I was assigned to 592nd. Signal Corp support unit. Where I was involved in repair and installation of communication equipment for undercover operations in Berlin.

 

W4VTH, H.B. “SKIPPER” DELIUS, TN #16532   U.S. ARMY on active duty 1956-1959, Ready Reserve until 1962 which was during the “forgotten era” of the Cold War. However Secretary Gates finally recognized our service with a cold war commendation. I was in USARADCOM, the air defense command consisting of anti-aircraft guided missiles (Nike Ajax) surrounding major cities, and were on a rotating constant alert status. As there was no “hot war” during that time period, thousands of us are not eligible to join the American Legion or VFW as ordained by act of congress. Specialist in the U.S. Army Air Defense Command.

W4ZAB, ALAN L BARNES, JR. GA #16668 U. S. MARINES

W4ZGH, BRIAN LIVINGSTON, TX #13928 Active Duty, USAF – 1April 1987 to Present. (almost 26 years). Notice I began on April Fool’s Day.

W5CAP, C A PHILLIPS, AR #16590, 1955-1959  Communications Sergeant, AR   U. S.  ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, Battery A,  326th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. 
1959-1966 Training Sergeant G3 Section, AR Army National Guard, Hgs, 39th Infantry Division .. 1966-1969 Army National Guard, G3 Training Sergeant, State Headquarters Detachment .
1961-1969 Full time employee Arkansas National Guard  Headquarters, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.  Honorable Discharge 1969, rank Master Sergeant E8. 

I have always considered myself a vet with 14 years in the Army Reserve. I began in Battery A,  326th Anti Aircraft Artillery Bn.  Then to Headquarters, 39th Infantry Division.  However I have no active duty service whatsoever.  When I consider the sacrifices our active duty vets made and continue to make including the supreme sacrifice, I am not worthy to be called a vet.  This has bothered me for sometime now.  Therefore please remove my vet status and I salute the men and women who sacrificed so much and are truly a veteran.

W5GGO, SID GRAY, TX #16120  U.S. Army. Retired after 22 years active duty.

 

W5VTM, LARRY B FULTON, OK #9751 U. S. AIR FORCE – 1950-1954

 

W6HB, DOUG DOWDS, CA #8099  U.S. Army. 1967-1970. ELECTRONICS INSTRUCTOR AT FORT MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY

 

W6MEI, ROBERT W. RETT, CA #15997 I served in the U.S. AIR FORCE in the 50s. I was trained in Wyoming in heavy equipment operation. I was shipped to England to Brize Norton Raf base. The base crane operator, Mr Maycock, broke his leg, and I took his place. After a year, his leg was healed, and he wanted his job back. The base commander said no. Maycock went to the British government, the British gov went to the American gov, and I lost my job! I was then assigned to be tour guide to B 52 pilots, showing them London, including Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park etc. I did this till my enlistment was up and I shipped back to this country, Camp Kilmer, NJ, for discharge. 

W6TNP, STUART “STU” H. MC DIARMID, CA #16280  U. S. AIR FORCE 1961-1965. 

W6VY, ROBERT “BOB” E. DORCHUCK, CA #16056 U.S. NAVY 1952-1974. Early years with Construction Battalions in the Pacific.  Nuclear Power School in 1962 and three tours at McMurdo Station Antarctica at the PM-3A Nuclear Power Plant.

W7CB, LARRY MILLER, CA #6543 U. S. MARINE CORPS from 1948 1951.

W7JSD, JOHN SID DOWNEY, AZ  #16652  I was drafted in 1970 and served two years with the U. S. ARMY.  My service was at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Eustis, Virginia. 

W7WTQ, RALPH R COOK, OR #16189 I was invited by President Harry Truman to help out in the U. S. ARMY for 2 years as the Korean Policing Task was going on. I went to Augusta, GA for 6 weeks Basic Training. I was interviewed by a Lt. in the Radio School to continue in Electronics.  When I left Augusta I was transported to Ft. Monmouth in NJ Signal Corps. Since I had taken classes before being called, I went through classes to become familiar with Army radio equipment. Upon completing classes, I was picked to be an Instructor in the Radio School.
I was notified I was going overseas to Japan & Korea but didn’t make it as I had less than 2 months left before I was discharged. I received messages (post office) from some of my students who told me they wish they had been more interested in the VHF relay system as this was used for wireless communication in Korea. I entered the Army April 18, 1951 and I received my Honorable Discharge April 17, 1953. I didn’t go while the battle was going on so I never received a Purple Heart.

W8ZLK, FRED D BECCHETTI, MI #16679 

W9DLK, DAN KILGORE, IN #16459 U. S. MARINES 1979 – 1999

W9DTR, HERBERT A PASTEUR, IL #15731 I was not in combat, but I was in the U. S. SUBMARINE SERVICE from 1960-1964. I was on the USS Patrick Henry SSBN 599. (A Polaris Sub with 16 Nuclear Missiles) We spent our time north of the Arctic Circle off the coast of the USSR. We were a big cold war deterrent. Also, it was not too safe where we were stationed.

W9OO, CARL DURNAVICH, IL #6979 USMC 1970-72.

WA2CG WILLIAM (BILL) A POINTON, NJ #16424 U. S. Coast Guard 1959-1967
Enlisted in United States Coast Guard June 1959. Boot camp in Cape May NJ (Co. I-40).Shipped off to Electronics school in Groton Conn. then assigned to USCGC Wachusett (WPG-44) in Seattle. Duties: primarily radar,sonar,communication equipment maint. and repair. Transferred to USCG LORAN Station Molokai, Hawaii for 18 mos of LORAN Equip maint. LORAN was the fore-runner of GPS navigation and produced high power RF signals (500,000 WATTS) from 500 ft towers at very remote locations. Rotated back stateside to Staten Island NY. USCGC HALFMOON (WAVP-378) for more sea-time in the Atlantic. My 2nd enlistment sent me to SANGLEY POINT, Philippines CG AirSta for fly-in/fly-out maint. of 5 LORAN stations in the western Pacific. After 18 months, transferred to USCGC OWASCO (WHEC-39) where I was promoted to E-7 CHIEF PETTY OFFICER and re-assigned to USCGC SPENCER (WHEC-36). I ended my career here and mustered out in Sept 1967. I live in Sandy Hook NJ, where I retired as a licensed Electrical Contractor. Ham since Feb 2008.

WA2VJL, AL WASIELEWSKI, TX #16350 U. S. NAVY 1969 – 1971 

 

WA4KSO, CURT COCHRAN, VA #9539 TFO 413  U.S. Army, 1973-1977

WA5PBR, DOUGLAS (DOUG) HUMBLE, CO/AZ, #15639 U.S. AIR FORCE from 1956 to 1960 and then two more in reserves. Strategic Air Command, keeping the B-47 in the air with atomic bombs. This was when the cold war was at its peak.

 

WA5TRX, LAWRENCE (LARRY) CAMPI, LA #16646 Just wanted to pass on that I am a Navy veteran serving from March 1968 to March 1974. Duty included Comm Sta Rota Spain and USS Coronado LPD 11. Rank attained ETN2 and held a Top Secret Cryptographic clearance. 

WA7ID, BURL TACKETT, ID  #7226  U. S. ARMY SIGNAL CORP FROM 1952-1954

WA7JT, JOE THOMAS, WA #15954 TFO 451 U. S. ARMY 4/11/60 – 10/04/63 – I had a Novice ticket back in 1956, so when applying for Army duty, among other things they tested me for morse code.  I scored very high, so they said, how would you like to be a Morse Intercept Operator?  I said sure.  So, what that meant was 6 months of code practice. Every day we would do 7 hours work, alternating between learning typing, and learning code.  It was one hour sessions, typing, then morse, then typing, and so on.  After a few months, we then typed out the morse as received. To graduate from this class, you needed to be able to do solid copy at 18 WPM.  I graduated 1st in my class, at 30 WPM.  I spent about 16 months in South Korea, listening to the North. I was stationed on Kanghwa do Island, from which you could see North Korea with the unaided eye.  After Korea, on to Texas, to finish out my enlistment.  While there, they sent about 50 of us to spend a month at Homestead Air Base late 1962, early 1963 listening to the Cubans, during the Cuban Missile crisis.  I also got to see the exchange of prisoners of the Bay of Pigs debacle, which took place at Homestead Air Base, just at the entrance to the Florida Keys.  I have never seen so many Military Police, Highway Patrolmen, and local cops all in one place, as the exchange took place, right on the runway. 

Basic training was at Fort Ord, CA, radio school at Fort Devens, MA, and stateside duty after Korea was at Camp Wolters, Texas.  Fort Devens is now a federal prison, and Camp Wolters is now designated for civilian use.  Last heard, Hustler Antennas HQ was at the former Camp Wolters.

 

WA9BXB, RICHARD B. BRECKINRIDGE, IL #8791 U. S. Air Force, I served from 1966 through 1969, including a year tour in Viet Nam as a Sentry Dog Handler.

WB5BRD, RAYMOND (RAY) D. HOOPER, AR #9787 NAVY–SHIP’S COOK-RANK WAS SHIP COOK 3RD CLASS PETTY OFFICER

WB5KSY, Phil Thrash, TX #17808 

  • USAF C-130E pilot in Vietnam.  The outfit was “The Fighting Red Devils”, 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron.
  • I was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross on 16 May 1970 for flight ops in/out of Djamap Airfield, South Vietnam.
  • C-130E world-wide ops: 1968-74.
  • T-38 Instructor Pilot @ Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, TX, and Randolph AFB, TX. 1974-78.

WB7VNL, RABURN “RAY” E CAHOON, WY #16641 military vet. Twenty years +, then went into Federal Security until I was informed I was in an area exposed to Agent Orange. The V.A. gave me several medical exams and I had to retire again.

WB9OKC, MICHAEL “MIKE” D GREEN, WI #16564 U.S. AIR FORCE  1972 – 1975
I was first licensed in 1974 while serving with the United States Air Force as a radar repair technician in Antigo, Wisconsin. I worked on the FPS-35 radar system which was transmitting 5 million watts of power!

 

WB9STT, JOHN ROBSON, IL   #10537 TFO 264 U. S. ARMY  I served with the U.S. Army Air Force in WW 2 as a radio operator and mechanic after graduation from school at Sioux Falls SD. Assigned to base in India, (Assam Valley) and flew gasoline and other supplies to several bases in China.  We called the Himalias “The Hump”, and also “Aluminum Highway” due to the many lost planes. After 765.45 hrs of fight time returned to the US and was stationed at Long Beach Ca. ferrying supplies and planes to China and Australia. Discharged Oct 21 1945 from San Bernardino Ca.

WD1Z, BUD AMSDEN, KY #12186 U.S. ARMY

WD4ESX, THOMAS W. KARABEES JR., SC #16852 U. S. MARINE CORPS

WD8IIR FRANK HUGHES, MI #16697 US Navy 1959–1963 Atlantic Fleet USS Springfield CLG-7…USS Canberra CAG-2…..USS Des Moines CA-134

WQ4W, WILLIAM (BILL) A QUAILES, JR.,  AL #17254 US Navy 1958–1973  20 Years US Navy, I served on various ships and submarines.  Retired as a Chief Machinist Mate.

WS5J, GARY P WOODS, TX #16703 U. S. MARINE CORP 1970-1987, 1st Marines/9th Battalion.

WS9F, MATTHEW (MATT) D FINLAYSON, MI #16346 U. S. NAVY 1970-1975

WV1B, ANDREW PARKER, CA #15276 U.S. NAVY 1975-1995. Retired as a Lieutenant Commander.

WV1Y, KENNETH F MAGEE, RI #16691 retired from U. S. AIR FORCE in 1975 after 23 years, four in the army during the Korean conflict.

VE1JIM /VA7JSF, JIM FLOWERS, NS CANADA, #15059 Royal Canadian Navy, 1964-1988. 

VE2XMP, MIKE PROULX, QC CANADA, #16039 – Canadian Forces ARMY

VE3OWS, KEN W. BEXON, ON CANADA, #16001 British Armed Forces 1937-1946.  I joined the 107 SNH in 1937. They were a TA (Territorial Army). There, I learned the Morse code and the use of flags. In 1938, I was put into the Highland Light Infantry and sent to France where the German army named us Ladies from Hell. We wore kilts at times. I was there until we were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk back to the UK.  Six months later, I was sent to India for one year and then transferred to the 4 Ghurkas, and then went into Burma to stop the Japanese army. The Japanese did not like us as we liked to use the Kukary and being in our twenties, we loved to fight. I was there until 1946, then back to the UK where I was demobed after seven years of service, I was a SGT Major. I emigrated to Canada in 1947.