John William Heide
"John"
d 2020
Biography as of May 25, 2026
Retired Lt Col Air Force 91: CP (Command Pilot):
D: 2 Jun 2020;
93-04: ElementaryTeacher EfPaso/ndependentSchDist E/PasoTX;
92-93: UnivTXEIPaso-TchrCertificate ElemEd;
89-91: 1//CorpsReconLnO Det 1-602TAIRCW FtHoodTX;
86-89: RcnP/annerATOC4/Cmdr (Commander) 7304Cmd&ContF/t/USCommunityCmdr MesstettenArea;
82-86: CmdrRF4C 67TacTngSq/AsstRMIC Safety/C OpnsP/ans 67TRW BergstromAFB;
81: MPA (Master of Public Administration) GoldenGateUniv;
79: RcnStaffO Hq (Headquarters) 9AF (Air Force)/Cmdr (Commander) 363TacTngSq ShawAFB: AirWC (Air War College)(C);
77-79: P/t/CSptSec USMILGP Bolivia;
76-77: DLI PresidioOfMontereyCa;
76: ICAF (Industrial College of the Armed Forces)(C);
75-76: lnventoryMgtO 381Supp/ySq McConnel/AFB (Air Force Base);
74-75: OpnsO (Operations Officer)/lnstrP/t 14TRSq UdomABTH;
72-74: Plt (Pilot)/lnstrPlt (Instructor Pilot) 45TRSq/C StdnEval 67TRWg BergstromAFB;
71-72: Pit (Pilot) 16TRSq ShawAFB;
70: SOS (Squadron Officer School)(C);
67-71: lnstrP/t 3251 FTSq PerrinAFB;
65-87: lnstrPlt (Instructor Pilot) 3552PltTngSq MoodyAFB;
63-64: PltTng (Pilot Training) MoodyAFB;
2DMSM (Defense Meritorious Service Medal)-3MSM (Meritorious Service Medal)-1AFCM (Air Force Commendation Medal)
35th Reunion (1998): Following graduation and a July 13 marriage to Elizabeth (Betts) Ann McCoy, we trekked to Moody for UPT. I plowed back there as a T-37 IP subsequently transferring to Perrin in 1967 for a four-year stint as a PIT instructor. Our two daughter, Krista and Kala were born while we were at Perrin. Then it was RF-4Cs, first at Shaw (71-72), Bergstrom (72-74) in the 45 TRS, and Udorn (74-75) as Operations Officer of 14 TRS. Rotation landed me at McConnell as a supply guy, but that AFSC tweaked the personnel computer and got me a glorious two-year tour in Bolivia with the USMILGP after only 11 months in SAC. Try golf at 11,000 feet! Return state-side landed me a desk at 9th AF followed by commander of 3363 TTS (RF-4C) at Shaw. That’s where I picked up a Personnel Management master’s. My academic unit was literally moved to Bergstrom by United Van Lines n 1982. Several good jobs, a passover to O-6, and the end of 23 years of flying marked my Bergstrom tour. The passovers were totally uncool, but the 5,556.5 hours in the T-37, T-33, RF-4C, and C-12 were the greatest. In 1986, I accepted (rather than retire) a detachment commander position at ATOC Messstetten, FRG. The three great years included community commander, setting up the smallest DODDS school in Europe, and seeing our daughter, Kala, graduate from Patch HS. In 1989, and close to the mandatory 28 years, my choice was which ALO slot did I want. I chose Ft. Hood between the two places my money was flowing the fastest, namely UTEP where Krista was a senior, and Texas A&M where Kala was still learning what a budget was. Betts and I retired at Ft. Hood on June 30, 1991. Even though our Army cohorts at Killeen were great, ask me if I’m glad I went BLUE back on June 26, 1959! Since Betts was a kindergarten teacher, I thought it would be interesting to get my teaching credentials, so I spent 18 super months at UTEP taking 30 hours and popped out as a fourth-grade teacher in the El Paso district. After a year I switched to fifth grade and am teaching at a school less than two miles from our home. I’m probably the only male graduate who has a collection of about 30 Teddy Bears for my class to hug. A family update puts me entering my fifth year of teaching with plans for a total of ten. Betts is entering her eleventh year chasing K --rats. Krista is entrenched in an advertising firm in the Bryan-College Station area. Finally, Kala is running a GNC outlet in Austin, TX.