bigthoughts

bigthoughts I updated my profile today. (22Sep08)
updated 14 days ago

Eons member since

Sep 17, 2007

Age, Gender

80, Male

Location

Fayetteville, AR

Relationship

Married. Interested in meeting people for networking

Hometown

Siloam Springs, AR

Places I've been

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, State of Washington, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Washington DC,Maryland, New Jersey, Okinawa, Guam, Panama Canal, Philippines, Japan, Colorado, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska and Army Posts: Ft Sill, OK, Ft Chaffee, AR, Camp Crowder, MO, Camp Robinson, AR to name a few.

Military

US AirForce, Army Reserve, Ark Army National Guard - 1946 to 1985
Division: 142d Field Artillery Brigade, Ark National Guard
Rank: Colonel

More about me

Born on a farm near Diamond, Missouri in 1928. Moved to Siloam Springs, Arkansas in 1934. Graduated from High School in Siloam Springs in 1946.

Joined the Army Air Corps in October 1946 - Basic Training at San Antonio, TX.

Went to Camp Kilmer, NJ Jan 1947 - went thru the Panama Canal to Hawaii - then to Guam - then to Yokohama, Japan - then to Okinawa, Japan. Took 37 days aboard a troop ship and I was on KP 18 days. Was there 22 months and assigned to a B-29 unit. Was on Okinawa when the Army Air Corps changed to the United States Air Force. My duties in the unit was Payroll Clerk (15 months) and was the manager of the unit NCO club (7 months).

Returned to States and Reported to 15th Air Force Hq in Colorado Springs, Colorado Jan 1949. 15th AF HQ was located in the middle of a residential area. The buildings and area are the same that the US Olympic Teams now train. My barracks was still operational by them the last time I was in Colorado on vacation.

Discharged from the AirForce in October 1949 and returned to Siloam Springs, AR and went back to work at Pet Milk Company - where I worked before going to Army. Joined a Army Reserve unit in January 1950 and the unit was recalled to Active Duty in October 1950. Served 18 months or so at Ft Chaffee, AR and Camp Crowder, MO. Fillers from my unit were sent as individuals to Korea. Since I had just returned from Okinawa, Japan recently, I was not on that list.

In July 1952 I married my present wife (first and forever) who also lived in Siloam Springs. She had just finished a four year tour of playing professional basketball with the All American Red Heads and I had joined the local Arkansas National Guard unit as the Battery Supply Sergeant. We needed the drill pay money. Later - I accepted a direct commission in the unit as a 2d Lt. That promotion was available because of my years of Active Duty and rank (First three Grader).

Between Jun 54 and September 65 - we had two boys and one girl. All are grown and live within 20 miles of where we live. Both boys married and we now have 4 grand kids and 3+ Great Grand kids.

In 1960, I started to work full time for the unit that I belonged in the Arkansas National Guard. We were Federal Civil Employes but were required to wear the uniform of our unit and be fully qualified in the military assignment that we held.I spent quite a lot of time going to active army post attending service schools to meet the requirements of the assignments that I held.

During the time after 1954, my wife found time to graduate with the highest honors from John Brown University in Siloam Springs - had three children - taught school (6th Grade) - got a masters in education - and raised the kids when I was gone.

Now we spend our time spoiling Great Grand Kids (the Grand kids are beyond hope and almost grown), helping kids do things around their house, etc. And my wife still visits her 103 (yes 103) year old mother who is in a rest home but still gets around a little.

Life is good - - - - -

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