USAFA Class Heritage Class of 1963

Grew up in the small Jersey shore town of Monmouth Beach and graduated from Red Bank Catholic H.S. in 1959. Graduated from  USAFA in 1963 from the 10^thCadet Squadron.  Graduated pilot training in the class of 65B at Webb AFB, TX. Trained in C-130A at Sewart AFB, TN. Transferred with the 18th Troop Carrier Sqdn to Lockbourne AFB, OH, with extensive TDY to Evreux AB, France.

Requested transfer to 21^st TCS, Naha AB, Okinawa. Flew C-130A airland and airdrop missions in Vietnam. Extensive TDY to Ubon AB, Thailand flying night Flare/FAC missions over Laos with Blindbat/Lamplighter call signs.  Met my future wife Somchit in a jewelry store in Bangkok (a real gem). Requested FAC assignment.  After Hurlburt FAC training in O-1, arrived at Phan Rang,AB to transition to O-2. Transferred to 23^rd TASS at NKP with TDY to Ubon AB, Thailand flying under the Nail call sign. Spent 10 months in the 19th TASS at Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam  flying night rocket watch and other missions under the Sleepytime call sign.

In 1971 joined the C-130A Air Force Reserve unit at Willow Grove, PA. In 1980 transferred to the 115^th Tactical Airlift Sqdn of the CA ANG.  Became sqdn training officer and later Director of Wing Training, 146 TAW. Participated in Operation Just Cause.  Retired in 1990 with about 10 years each of Acive Duty, AF Reserves and ANG.

Civilian career began with United Airlines in 1969. Flew out of NY area airports till transferring to LAX in 1980. A rather turbulent career smoothed out the last 12 years retiring as Captain on the B747-400 in 2002.

35th Reunion (1998): My memories include flying C-130s as copilot at Cam Ranh Bay, RVN on a two-week rotation out of Naha, Japan. We were going through Tan Son Nhut on our way to Pleiku. Roger Sims ‘63 came out to the airplane looking for a ride to Pleiku. Seems like the command post wouldn’t honor his orders and told him to ask the crew. I said we'd be happy to take him. I checked with the aircraft commander, who figured that anyone who wants to spend some time in Pleiku should be afforded the opportunity. We charged off and in cruise the A/C let me in the left seat and Roger in the right while the A/C sat in the engineer seat between us. We gave Roger some stick time and a little checkout. On descent the A/C asked him if he wanted the landing. He said sure, and he did a great job on the approach and landing. I think he enjoyed flying himself into Pleiku. Spent time flying Lamplighter and BlindBat missions out of Ubon with occasional visits to Bangkok where I met my lovely bride, Somchit. I went to NKP as an O-2 FAC flying over the Trail. I soon went TDY to Ubon, where I got to revisit more of the guys assigned to the C-130 and F- 4 squadrons. Willie Parma was kind enough to give me a ride in the F-4 on a FCF. While I was at Ubon, I spent some time trying to get some visual recce of the area where Tom Mitchell’s C-130 went down over Laos but couldn’t find any thing. Got sent to Bien Hoa into a rocket-watch detachment, then knew I really had come full circle. I was back in Ba Muy Ba instead of Singha. I was flying as a FAC in O-2s in Bien Hoa. Denny King passed through and asked me if I wanted to see Song Be. Having heard so much about it, I knew it was on the “must see” list; Denny was an O-1 FAC working with Special Forces. I went there with him and he showed me the base and surrounding area. He was a terrific tour guide, and I had a great time. It was uncharacteristically peaceful and scenic. I got to see how the other half lived and managed to leave before it got interesting. Hey, if I wanted to stay up all night in a bunker, I would have stayed at Bein Hoa. Got a job with United when I got back, later joined the Reserves, and then the Guard in Van Nuys, CA with Stinky Steinbrink and Jim Bodnar. Flying now out of LAX but soon will be in MIA. Looking forward to the next reunion.