USAFA Class Heritage Class of 1963

Retired Lt Col Air Force 91: GP (Command Pilot Rating): 

D: 18Apr 2017;

08: Retired; 93--08: TngSpecialist CAELinkCorp ShawAFB;

85-91: DirOpns 507TACCS ShawAFB;

84-85: C CmbtOpns 602TACCS OsanABSK;

79-84: Plt (Pilot)/AsstDir (Assistant Director) A-7D 9AF (Air Force)/StdnEva/ ShawAFB;

75: SrAdvisor 156TFGp Muniz ANGB (Air National Guard Base) SanturcePR;

72-75: lnstrP/f/FltCmdr/Asst (Assistant) OpnsO (Operations Officer) 74TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) EnglandAFB;

71: SOS (Squadron Officer School)(C);

70-72: lnstrPlt (Instructor Pilot) NAS (Naval Air Station) CecilF/dFI;

69-70: Pit (Pilot) 352TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) PhanRangABSVn;

68: Pit (Pilot) 121 TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) MyrtleBeachAFB;

64-68: lnstrPlt (Instructor Pilot) 3560PltTngSq WebbAFB; 

63-64: PltTng (Pilot Training) WebbAFB; 

1SSM-1DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross)-1BSM3MSM (Meritorious Service Medal)-12AM (Air Medal)-2AFCM (Air Force Commendation Medal)

35th Reunion (1998): YOU’LL BE SORRY YOU ASKED BIOGRAPHY” My initial tour as a plow back was in the T-38 at Webb where all four children were born. There was a saying that there were only two things to do every year at Webb—have a baby and go to the rattlesnake roundup. We did both or four years. Then it was off to F-100 training at Myrtle Beach where the DC Guard taught us to fly their way. Lots of stories there. Phan Rang was next and that was a pretty good year of flying the sleek, but not very shiny Hun. From there, I got a real hardship tour at Naval Air Station (NAS) Cecil Field, FL flying the A-7. Being a Captain on a Navy base is always fun, but not as much fun as carrier ops (day VFR only that is). {Ed: Daylight Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations off a US Navy aircraft carrier lack some of the thrills of nighttime operations under low clouds with limited visibility trying to “slam” your aircraft down on a deck that is undulating as much as 12 feet a minute.} Next it was off to England Air Patch in 1972 to help bring the SLUFF on line with the 74th TFS, from there, spent the last half of ‘73 TDY to Korat, Thailand, where we ended the war. We were ordered not to have any official EOW parties. The unofficial parties were memorable, especially with the “Nail” FACs at NKP. In 1975, we went to San Juan, PR where I was the Puerto Rican ANG (PRANG) advisor as they transitioned from the Zipper to the SLUFF. {Ed: Bill, was the Zipper the F-86, and was Hector Negroni there to shout, “Tori A Do, Tori A Do, Tori A Di!” as you rolled on your targets?} Great flying, great weather, great friends, and a super place to raise youngsters. My penance was an assignment to 9th AF at Shaw AFB in Stan/Eval. Flew ANG SLUFFS for another four years. After 20 consecutive years of flying and fourteen consecutive years of currency in the A-7, I was sent to Osan AB, Korea as the Chief of Combat Operations in the Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) where I monitored the pulse of the peninsula. Upon return, I once again wound up at Shaw, in TACC as the Director of Operations (DO). It was a great job because I had lots of folks working for me and lots of equipment (20+X C-141-loads) to keep track of. The name of the game was train, train, train; you never know when you may have to use it. In July 1990, we were deployed to Duke Field, FL during a major CENTCOM exercise as Saddam was rattling his saber. When we arrived back at Shaw, we left everything packed and two days later, Saddam did his thing in Kuwait. What a way to end a career? My last official duty was to take a TACC to Riyadh, set it up and runa war with it. Pat Caruana and I can tell you some good “There I Was” tales. I retired just after I returned from the Gulf and went to school to get my ASE Master Automotive Technician certificates. I was later hired on a contract at 9th AF working training and exercises for the Air Operations Center and subordinate radar units. Much of what I do now is the same as before I retired; command, control and communications. Over the years we have had four children, eight exchange students, three foster children, and an assortment of animals including Zorro, our blue and gold Macaw. Marge is working as an RN on a part time basis and my outside activities are yard care, golf, cars, and motorcycles. I like the last three, but Marge is happier when we’re working together on the first one.