Truckin on

Dedicated to the Men and Women

of
AF Vehicle Operations & Maintenance Past, Present, and Future

The Best of Truckin On 2012-2015

Editors Comments: October kicks off
our 4th year of publishing Truckin On.
Were truly humbled by your steadfast
support. We wanted to say thank you
and also recognize your contributions, so
we reviewed 3 years of newsletters and
selected what we thought were The Best
of Truckin On. Some stories have been
reformatted to fit the new layout, but the
original text is mostly intact. Stories are
featured in chronological order. We hope
you enjoy reading them, whether its your
first time or a repeat.

Inside this issue:

Truckin On Salutes Past
Airman

PG 1-2

Last Combat Truckers Roll Out PG 3-4

Assignment Korea

PG 5-6

Most Hated Vehicles

PG 7-11

Veh Mgmt Schoolhouse Update PG 12-16

Best & Worst Assignments

PG 17-25

Top AF Vehicle Manager

Recalls Career

PG 26-28

Nellis Veh Mgmt Team

Leaving Nothing to Chance

PG 29-31

MotorWeek

PG 31

Veterans Day 2013

PG 32

Grease, Grit & Grime

PG 33

Vietnam A Look Back

PG 34-39

Remembering Our Fallen

Transporters

PG 40-41

The Fighting 9th

PG 42-43

SAC IG Inbound!

PG 44

3rd Motor Transport Squadron

PG 45

Snuffys Corner

PG 46-47

Truckin On Salutes Past Airman

Nov 2012

CMSgt Al Baird
The United States
Air Force became a
separate branch of
service on Sep 18,
1947. The following
year, 1948, 18-year
old Al Baird enlisted
in the new USAF and served for 26
years, retiring as a Chief Master
Sergeant in 1974.

They put on a wild west show there,

and then also headed west.
One day we were issued nice new blue
uniforms and black shoes with the slick
side of the leather turned out. We were
in tall cotton and we looked good!

I was assigned to a civil engineering

squadron and did no mechanical work
until I was sent on temporary duty to the
Boeing aircraft factory in Wichita,
Kansas to maintain aircraft support
Chief Baird served as a 47xxx, vehicle equipment.
maintenance technician, which is a Col Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola
2T3xx today, and he is among the Gay, was the commanding officer there.
readers of and a contributor to Truckin This group was testing B47s. I
On. He now resides in Nashville, TN and remember Col Tibbets had a sports car.
will proudly turn 83 in Feb 2013. He has
It had two leather straps which held the
been married for 57 years and has two
hood down. I believe it was an Allard.
children and two grandchildren.
Gen Lemay also drove an Allard J2 and
This is his story in his own words:
it had leather straps at the front of the
Nashville, TN As it has been hood must have been a pilot thing.
determined that I might be the oldest
47xxx on your mailing list, I was asked to
talk about the dark ages.ah, I mean
the good old days.

Shortly after I returned to March AFB,

they marched us through an old wooden
building one morning and converted our
MOSs to AFSCs. They awarded me a
We started out in brown army clothing 5-level and that, my friends, is how to
back then. After basic, because I had a become a skilled mechanic in five
high mechanical aptitude, they gave me minutes or less.
a basic mechanics MOS, or Military When Gen Lemay took over SAC he
Occupational Specialty code.
found his fleet of B29 bombers and
My first assignment was to March AFB,
CA (SAC) and General Curtis LeMays
command. One day all of our bombers
left; they were sent to Okinawa. Soon
after, the brand new F86s arrived for
testing and training.

crews to be well below combat ready, so

fur flew for some time.
They needed to update the range near
Tonopah, NV, so I and 11 others were
sent there from March AFB for 90 days.
Continued on PG 2

Disclaimer: Truckin On is an unofficial newsletter published every month in the interest of serving Air Force active duty, civilian and retired vehicle operations
and maintenance personnel. Articles submitted by its contributors are not to be considered official statements by the U.S. Air Force.

Truckin On Salutes Past Airman.continued

CMSgt Al Baird
We took a D8 Cat, road grader, two trucks, fuel and
water trailers, and a field kitchen to scrape out three
bomb targets (triangles one mile on each side with a
circle within a circle, within a circle).
My biggest contribution to that project was using a winch on one
of our trucks to pull a part out of some cowboys well. They gave
us a steer, which we quickly ate.not a bad deal. We got a unit
citation for a good job.
Gen Lemay also pushed intramural sports. So, one day at March
AFB they told us the base was forming a softball team and to
report to the ball field if we had ever played baseball or softball.
So, thats what I did.

We were last on the list but, as you 47s know, we always find a
way. I left Turkey and went to Edwards AFB, CA. It was an
exciting place to be with the X planes.
We heard sonic booms all day and night tests of rocket engines
that shook base housing from 35 miles away, and did I mention
115 degrees or higher in the shade! Im not complaining; it was a
good assignment.
I left Edwards in1965 for a 4-year fixed tour at the Air Force
Academy. In order to get an assignment there, airmen were
required to have several years of outstanding records.
So, no training or supervision was needed. It was tough duty, but
someone had to do it!

The new coach found out quickly that we had no pitcher. After I left Colorado and went to Vietnam right after the Tet Offensive.
extensive tryouts, they saw that I was the only one who could Our maintenance officer was one of the best for whom Ive had
throw underhand, even though I had never done so before.
the pleasure of working.
I was a big guy (6 6) and could throw the ball really hard, but I We had seven shops, 170 military, about 20 Vietnamese, and
couldnt hit a barn unless I pitched from inside the barn. Later, enough paper work to feed a herd of hungry goats!
however, I became a good pitcher and in 1956 my team won the
We all returned home safely. The only bad memory that sticks
USAF softball championship at Sewart AFB. I got all the wins.
with me from Vietnam is the row after row of black body bags
Later they sent me PCS to MacDill AFB, FL to follow the B47s. I they sometimes stored on the tarmac (next to one of our shops)
was a Staff Sergeant at the time, so they made me shop awaiting their final trip home.
foreman.little did they know! But not to worry, I did become a
skilled mechanic and even completed 13 maintenance and I left Vietnam and was assigned to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV.
After a short stay there, I was assigned to TACs IG team at
management courses during my first 18 years.
Langley AFB, VA where I finished my 26 years.
During the Korean War, I spent 2 years with a bomb group on
Okinawa, the same group that came from March AFB. In the
shop next to mine, my unit maintained a line of 671 Detroit diesel The only bad memory that sticks with me from Vietnam is the
generators, longer than the eye could see. We made power for row after row of black body bags they sometimes stored on the
our base and a big part of the island.
tarmac (next to one of our shops) awaiting their final trip
Editors Note: Power production was a part of vehicle home.
maintenance in those days.
We were mostly isolated from the war, but quite often a note was During my 4 years on the IG team, I spent two years in hotel
posted on our bulletin board listing the names of aircrews that rooms and two years at home. If I could do my career all over
went down.
again, I would. If I could change anything that happened, I would
When I left Okinawa I was discharged at port and allowed to change very little.
reenlist at my base of choice, which was Sewart AFB, TN, about
If I could do my career all over again, I would. If I could change
25 miles south of Nashville in Smyrna.
anything that happened, I would change very little.
That was my first real modern facility. Every mechanic in our
shop could replace a reverse idler gear or a set of kingpins
(whats a king pin?) or about anything else that was around from
1954 to 1957.
After Sewart, I got a PCS assignment to a HQ in Ankara,
Turkey. We had no property there, so we rented what we
needed and had our vehicle and equipment fleet maintained by
contract.talk about the end of the supply line!

1948
1974

Thanks, Al.Truckin On
2

Last Combat Truckers Roll Out

Dec 2012

End of the Road

by CMSgt Matt Wickham (2T1)
The U.S. departure from Iraq in December 2011 (Operation
NEW DAWN) ended with the largest retrograde of US cargo,
vehicles and personnel the likes of which had not been
experienced since 1945 with the end of World War II. Leading
up to this challenge the DoD logistics bean counters calculated
there were close to 3 million assets that needed to be moved;
vehicles, spare parts, dining facilities, air conditioners,
generatorsyou name it and the Army wanted it shipped home.
Hauling 3 million assets into Iraq didn't happen overnight and
the same can be said with removing it. From early 2004 Air
Force ground transporters played a key role in shipping this
enormous amount of war material into Iraq. Fast forward to 2011
and many of the same personnel now on their third and fourth
deployment were shipping it all back one tractor trailer at a time.

Over time the mission, vehicles and training changed as the

Army and our Airmen settled in for a long war. The number and
duration of the convoys was eventually reduced, new
up-armored vehicles became common place, COMM systems
were improved in both quality and quantity and route clearance
teams drastically cut down on the road side ambushes. Jumping
to the spring and summer of 2011 things began to heat up again
as the number of missions and the number of enemy attacks
increased. Many of the veterans started to use the word dj vu
at their mission pre-briefs.

Last Convoy Returns to Camp Arifjan

Drawdown Operations:

Last Truck Crossing Iraq Border

With the presidents newly designated December 2011

departure deadline quickly approaching, the maintenance crews
had their hands full keeping the fleet fully mission capable,
specifically the SrA and SSgts that operated the Maintenance
Bobs.

They repaired the trucks outside the wire, pulled security,

engaged the enemy and even kept the crews fed while
From 2004-2006 vehicle operators and mechanics conducted offloading in the cargo yards. They became our unsung heroes
gun truck operations providing convoy escort and security. The that kept the convoys moving.
Airmen operated from Navistar on the Kuwait border up to By October 2011 the final convoy crews were on constant
Harbor Gate on the Turkish border, from Al Asad in the west all rotation with little or no down time, driving from camp to camp
the way to Kirkush near the Iranian border in the east. Airmen pulling out all the items that many of them had originally trucked
drove every main supply route (MSR) and alternate supply into Iraq at some point in time over the previous 15 spirals.
Route in the country watching over their Army brother's and
Conditions on the Iraq forward operating bases (FOBs) quickly
sister's.
deteriorated with dining facilities and transient living areas
By late 2005 Air Force leadership decided to get our Airmen out shutting down, the fuel pumps turned into self-service and the
of the hazardous role of gun trucks only to have a new request Iraqi Army began to move in and take possession of the camps.
for forces submitted by the Army asking for our Airmen to Many of the crews were back to sleeping in or under their trucks
perform a new mission, one just as dangerous-line haul. The and eating MREs. Contractor road side assistance and quick
transporters took to this job immediately and over the next 6 reaction forces fluctuated out on the MSRs as the northern
years they excelled at setting new standards and records along bases folded up and their personnel went to Kuwait one after
the way.
the other.
Early Days:

Continued on PG 4
3

Last Combat Truckers Roll Out

On numerous occasions our Airmen were the last US

personnel on the FOB. This in effect made the convoy
commander the senior US leader on the ground and in charge of
the campamazing!
At this late stage the enemy was still active and evolving their
tactics trying to get their last few hits in. Thanks to upgraded
armor, electronics and new types of vehicles the enemy made
little impact on retrograde operations. When that final Air Force
led convoy arrived at K-Crossing a tremendous burden lifted
from everyone's shoulders as we realized the next spiral
gearing up for training at Camp Bullis would instead get to stay
with their families for the holidays.

Computers, body armor, 500+ rifles and handguns, 80

thousand rounds of ammunition, combat life saver kits,
thousands of MREs, a 20' Conex full of sugar free Rip-its, 280
tactical and commercial vehicles along with two complete
maintenance bays, workshops and a mobile armory. The
detachments accomplished this task 3 weeks ahead of
schedule; validating what 300 Airmen from 56 bases and 10
different AFSCs could accomplish in just a 60-day period.

After almost a decade of convoy operations across the Middle

East, it's hard to imagine Airmen are no longer rolling up and
down MSR Tampa, Sword, Irish or Milton. On 6 March 2012 the
387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, 424th
Medium Truck Detachment and 70th Medium Truck
Final Line Haul Accounting:
Detachment colors were officially cased bringing an end to
By 17 December 2011, Air Force personnel had conducted line Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN
haul operations for 74 consecutive months. Here are their convoy operations. We can say without hesitation that our
combat statistics:
convoy teams have successfully accomplished the mission and
2,063 Logistics Patrols Accomplished
are finally home getting ready for the next mission.
2,978,279 Tons of Cargo Transported
474 Enemy Attacks
105,227,476 Command Miles Driven

12th af convoy inactivation

Dedicated to Our Fallen Transporters

All Trucks Home

By late December the truck detachments entered a new reality.

To most it felt like a second deployment with in a deployment as
the crews conducted local Kuwait missions and prepared for
inactivation.
Meanwhile the S-staff was busy trying to identify, account for
then properly dispose of 6 years accumulation of Army and Air
Force assets. We are talking about 78,000 line items costing
over $38 Million.

2004
Staff Sgt Dustin Peters
Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson
2007
Airman 1st Class Eric Barnes
2009
SSgt Timothy Bowles
SrA Ashton Goodman
2011
A1C Zachary Cuddeback


Jan 2013

Det 1, 2nd Mule Train

We drove 1961 Ford and 1962

International deuce and a half
trucks. Tractor trailer duty was
reserved for A2c Sam Ayers and
A1c Tommy Hammond.
Towards the end of my tour we
received M-35s with dual rear
tires. These were great trucks for the job but we had to include
an extra truck full of spare tires on our convoys because of the
constant flats and of course always the inside dual.

by Roger Robertson, CMSgt (Ret/603)

The Mule Train is a trucking unit started during the Korean War
to transport supplies. At that time, it was the 5th Mule Train.
According to research on the Internet, the 5th Motor Transport
Squadron, 5th Mule Train, was located just South of Seoul,
Korea. Their job was to transport supplies to other Air Force,
Marine and Army units throughout Korea. It was much like the
famous World War II, Red Ball Express.

The paved roads ended just south of Osan and there were
virtually no civilian vehicles on the road, only us, Korean
military vehicles, buses and taxies. There were also no
sidewalks in the villages. The Korean people walked in the road
and when we came through we would blow the air horn and
they would move to the side without looking. They would also
move right back in the road without looking so the next truck
In September of 1965 I reported to the 6314 Transportation would have to blow the air horn so they would move back out of
Squadron, Osan AB, Korea. Osan is 35 kilometers south of the way. This was the procedure for every truck.
Seoul. It was a thirteen month remote assignment.
Later, when I questioned why it was thirteen months instead of
the customary twelve months, I was told it was because they
used to come over and return by ship and the tour length was
never changed when they started using airlift.
I was first assigned duty in the Motor Pool but was soon
reassigned to Det 1, 2nd Mule Train, a section separate from
the motor pool, kind of like heavy equipment.
The Mule Train was a proud unit of dedicated transporters who
carried on the tradition of hauling all types of cargo throughout
Korea to include trips to PY-Do, an island off the coast of North
Korea and Cheju-do, an island off the southern tip of Korea.
A routine stop was at an Army post at Taejon. We would buy
We always traveled in convoys usually made up of five to eight snacks there to include small cans of beans that cost nine
trucks. The ranking man was convoy commander and was cents. We would heat them up on the manifold when we made
rest stops. My first convoy was to Taegu AB.
issued a 38 caliber pistol.
Continued on PG 6
5


We used lap belts and when
After offloading our cargo at
we got to the dirt roads I was
the island base camp we
constantly bouncing up and
waited for a large LST flat
down and the lap belt was
bottom ship to arrive from
rubbing me raw. I finally
Japan.
unfastened it and promptly
The LST would bring in
bounced all the way across
hundreds of 55 gallon barrels
the front seat holding on to
of diesel fuel. The LST would
the steering wheel with my
beach itself and we would lay
left hand. I pulled myself
two lines of pierced steel
back behind the wheel and got my belt fastened. When we got planking (PSP) to get to the ship over the soft sand. We would
to Taegu, everybody, regardless of race was the color of dust.
drive up the ramp into the ship, turn around, get loaded with 23
We stayed pretty busy but when the Air Force decided to open barrels of diesel and then drive off, cross the beach on the PSP,
radar sites throughout the peninsula, the workload really picked and deliver the fuel to the base.
up as did the level of safety danger. These radar sites were on It was an interesting and satisfying job with each mission
top of mountains with access by narrow dirt roads with lots of completed giving you a feeling of accomplishment. The
sharp curves. There were no guard rails and if it rained or workload and travel also made the time pass by quicker. This
snowed they were extremely slick. Going up or coming down was important since I was separated from my wife and two
was equally harrowing. Using our driving skills and team work, young sons. We forged very strong friendships between the
we luckily made it through with nobody getting hurt.
Mule Skinners and often wondered what ever came of the guys.
On one trip I was on we were trucking down the road, came In early 2012, my friend and fellow Mule Skinner, Garry Varnes,
around a curve and saw a large rock blocking the entrance to a decided to see if we could find as many guys as we could and
bridge.
have a reunion.
The rock was there because the
dirt had eroded from the bridge and
we couldnt get on the bridge. We
found an area where we could
pass by fording the river. The most
coveted trips were the two where
we had to load our trucks on LSU
flat bottom cargo ships operated by
the Army. To get to PY Do, we
loaded our trucks with cargo and
drove north towards Seoul to Inchon Harbor where General
MacArthur landed his troops during the Korean War. We backed
our trucks onto the LSU so we could drive off onto the beach.

We spent many hours searching internet phone records. It was

46 years since we left Korea and we managed to find 42 of our
guys, now all senior citizens. Two of our guys are in their 80s,
our NCOIC SSgt Joe Cyr and A1c Russell (Pappy) Harris.
In September we had a reunion and 15 of us gathered in
Nashville. It was great seeing everyone and meeting their wives.
We traded stories and lies for three days. It was a ball. It goes to
prove how deep and lasting friendships are made among
transporters.

It was an 18 hour trip to the island. Because we came so close

to North Korea we were escorted the last 5 or 6 hours by a
South Korean gun ship. The LSU would beach itself as close as
it could to the beach and we would drive off, often in a couple
feet of water. We would deliver our cargo and then make the trip
L to R Back Row: Garry Varnes, Roger Robertson, James Bailey,
back to Inchon.
Russell Harris, Gerald Trent, Dean Garretson, Jim Lasiter, Jimmy
The other coveted trip was to Cheju-do. We loaded our trucks Mercer, Joe Cyr. L to R Front Row: Jimmy Chalmers, John Coker,
with cargo and drove two days south to Pusan, Korea. From Pat Montoya, Tommy Hammond, Eliseo Guajardo, Skeeter
there we again backed our trucks onto an Army LSU and McDowell, Israel Salinas
proceed to Cheju-do.

Feb 2013

Mechanics & Operators Select Most Hated Vehicles

Editors Comments: I think most of us are familiar with Bill
Mauldins WWII cartoon (Willie & Joe) of a sergeant shooting
his jeep.

MOST HATED VEHICLES

VOTES

Peacekeeper

Lodal Garbage Truck

Stanray Deicer
Landoll Deicer

Reading Techmatic Deicer

Eagle Bobtail

Lavatory Trucks

P-23 Fire Truck

1964 Baker 4K Forklift

1700-1800 IHC Trucks

1969 Oshkosh Transit Mixer

M-706 LAV Duck

IHC Multi-stop

1959 IHC Bus

1965-1970 Hanson 7.5 Ton Crane

P-15 Fire Truck

The sergeant in this famous cartoon is actually hiding his eyes

because he was fond of his jeep and couldnt bear to watch.
However, as mechanics and operators, weve all had a
particular vehicle in our careers that we hated and, if given an
opportunity, would have gladly shot.

25K Armored Tactical Cargo Loader

PSI MB-4 Tow Tractor

Condor/Calavar 125

With that in mind, I queried Truckin On readers to find out

which vehicles they hated most. As suspected, I received a
variety of answers, some of which were very passionate. A few
people even sent me a list of vehicles.

1962-1965 M-151A2 Jeep

Wayne 3-Wheeled Sweeper

The Peacekeeper, Lodal garbage truck, and deicers

Case Flight Line Tractor
1
(three manufacturers) topped the list with three votes each.
1959 White Demineralized Water Truck
1
Eagle Bobtail, P-23 fire tuck, and lavatory trucks, in general,
followed with two votes each. The remainder garnered one vote
apiece.
Vehicles are listed randomly based on the length of comments
The complete list of infamous vehicles is in the table to the and available space. Like vehicle types are grouped together. I
right. Comments for each submission are in the following couldnt find pics of all vehicles, so my sincere thanks goes out
to those who sent pics along with their story. This was fun!
columns and pages.
Continued on PG 8
7

Cadillac Gage Peacekeeper

Lodal Garbage Trucks

Chief Russ Robinson: The 80s model

Peacekeeper Armored Vehicle on the
Dodge Ram Charger truck chassis. They
were an absolute nightmare to work on
during the winter months at Kunsan.

Ronnie Ward: Garbage trucks we used

to maintain in the 60s and early 70s; they
were nasty to work on.

Gary McLean: Worst GP Vehicle Award

Cadillac Gage Peacekeepermelting
carburetors, kept nobody safe, and killed
some drivers.
Kevin Fecteau: Mine is the mighty
Cadillac Gauge Body Peacekeeper with
Dodge drive train.

Dan Berlenbach: The 1966 IHC Lodal

front loader refuse truck. Had an IHC gas
engine, 3 gear shifts, and it stunk. That's
where I learned about garbage juice and
maggots. Though I desperately wanted to
work on the D-6, as the new and young
airman, I got to work on the garbage truck
instead. One day I made the mistake of
bringing it into the shop to work on, as it
was summer and damn hot outside. The
shop civilian supervisor tore my head off
for stinking up his shop. So definitely the
Lodal was on my bad list.

Ronnie Ward: The Stan-Ray Deicers.

The chassis was like a tricycle; front
wheel assembly would literally break off if
you turned it too sharp on snow and ice or
if you hit a dry spot on the pavement the
front wheel assembly would snap off.
Think they were mid-1970 models.

Jerry Mattas: My worst was the old

Reading Techmatic deicers. They would
blow the tops of them when you got too
much fuel in them and scare the s--- out of
you. The batteries always froze in the
winter and would blow up when you jump
started the rear engine.a piece of
dangerous junk.

Eagle Bobtail

Average miles you could get on the

engine before melting down #7 piston
was about 45,000.

Transmission every two years or Deivis (Dave) Bliujus: Not many had
60,000 miles (Which ever came first). the opportunity to work on these but the
Torque steer beasts - step on the gas base garbage trucks on Lajes Field,
and it steered right, let up on the gas Azores back in the 90s! Working on the
cylinders inside the compactor part of the
and it steered left.
bed!! So much fun!!!
Solid tire that would burst in hot
weather and coat the sides with the Deicers (3 Manufacturers)
goo that was In them.
Gary McLean: The worst Deicer is the Joe Oswald: Eagle Bobtail with Chevy
Armor plates that only blocked Landoll; enough said.
cab, 1980-1990s. Worst designed vehicle.
access to the starter, oil filter, drain,
Had terrible suspension where the frame
plug and drive shaft u-joints.
was directly connected to the differential
Continuous rear axle separation.
housing and only had rubber cushions on
Spring loaded doors that caused
the outer axles, air compressor problems,
many concussions.
frame cracks, and just an overall junk.
Multiple TCTOs to correct the problems.
Melted typical Dodge wiring at the
That was my most hated truck.
fuse box and dash board.

Cracked bullet resistant window by

the dozen to replace.

Michael Bares: My vote; no narrative

required!
Continued on PG 9
8

Lavatory Trucks

M-706 LAV Duck

Larry Silver: Being a MHE guy I had it

pretty easy, but the #1 vehicle that sticks
out the most in my AF career would be,
and I think this pretty much trumps
anyone else so far, is a LAV truck!

Dean Smith: I remember the old M-715s

from my days as a Security Police VCO
(76-77 at Osan) that were a dog and very
hard to get parts for. I use to drive
M-113s in Vietnam and they seemed to
always be in the shop.

Changing flapper valves and finding

mysterious things in the pump housing
and hoses is not fun, let alone trying to
change a tank plug in either tanks,
Smurf juice or black tank. Having blue
skin is no fun!

But the worst had to be the M-706

Ducks that never seemed to be in
service. Also, the old International pick-up
trucks were worthless and always broke
maybe thats why they quit making them!
And the American Motors Rambler staff
Gary McLean: Humiliation AwardAny
cars were another bad model to keep in
lavatory servicing truck, especially the old
service.
F350s with manual transmission.

1959 IHC School Bus

Roger Robertson: Hands down the

worst vehicle I ever had to drive was a
1959 International bus with automatic
transmission. We used it on the base
shuttle at Edwards AFB.
When you started from a stop the
transmission would wind up and then
shift practically giving you whiplash.
The steering wheel must have had a
three foot radius. After eight hours on the
shuttle you were definitely ready for
several beers or bed.

Sewage spewing from partially open Wayne 3-Wheeled Sweeper

dump valves when jacking vehicle up to
replace clutch (over and over), and the
best of all, seeing a 2T2 get knocked silly
by a forehead blow from a blue boulder
falling out of the lavatory access door area
on a KC-10.

70s IHC Multi-stop (bread box)

1700 -1800 Series IHC Truck

They were baked to a tighter-than-Hill

condition and buried under and/or behind
impenetrable inner floorboard sheet
metal fender panels and, as lower Air
Force food chain species, thought to be
too removed from the "real Air Force
mission.

Ray Wood: The old 1700 and 1800

series International truck chassis with the
gull wing hoods seemed to fall on your
head or hands at the most inopportune Dan Berlenbach: As an airman at
Travis in 1975, I hated the Wayne
times.
3-wheeled street sweepers. I think
because they were worn out and abused,
but even more because frequently, I
would be lying on a creeper underneath,
and I'd see shiny low quarters coming
across the shop towards me and my
Also, you literally had to stand on your sweeper. It was the Trans or CE
head to work on them. I have more scars commander of course wanting to know
on my knuckles from these old when it would be done, because a general
binders (substitute word for the expletive was coming and the streets had to be
that I usually used) than any other vehicle clean you know...that was not great
motivation for me.
I worked on.

Mark Dylla: I'll " see" you, the

Peacekeeper...and "raise you" the 70's
International V-8 multi-stop, specifically
the starter bolts sandwiched between the
starter housing itself and the engine
block.

Undeserving of a flight line quality tool

program, we were ineptly equipped with
the standard, government stock listed,
typical "starter wrench" within our toolbox
arsenal; they were likely of the S-K
variety, which were virtually no help at
all!
As I recall being told, it all builds
"character, or rather/mostly a disability
package for busted knuckles.
Continued on PG 10
9

25K Armored Tactical Cargo PSI MB-4 Tow Tractor

Loader

1962-1965 M-151A2 Jeep

Gary McLean: Unnecessary Evil Award

(what the???) 25K Armored Tactical
Cargo Loaderthe cab aint armored!!!

Gary McLean: Worst Tow Tractor Award

- PSI MB-4, unobtainable European drive
P-23 Fire Truck
train parts, stamped steel body panels
Larry Silver: In my final years I had the that rusted immediately, switchblade
luxury of working on the P-23 fire truck. It engine cowling that would launch forward
was either the pumping system not in hard braking conditions.
working correctly, the engine spitting oil, Honorable mentionold Coleman MB-4
or the transmission wasnt working, or with the electric clutchstabbing that
actually anything on that damn thing. It transmission was like solving world
was not fun at all!
hunger.
Mike Sarrazin: While I don't dislike 1969 Oshkosh Transit Mixer
working on the truck in general, there is
one job that I hate performing on a P-23.
I needed to change out the power divider
and had to call in a crane to remove the
agent tank in order to gain access to it.

Richard Lutz: The 62-65 Jeep in

Stuttgart GE. I think our unit was one of
the very last in Germany to have these
Jeeps. In 1987, before our Air Support
Operations Center Sq transitioned to
HMMWVs we had to keep these running.
While a mechanically simplistic vehicle,
between continuously malfunctioning foot
starter switch, poor quality fuel, and poor
parts support we had our hands full
keeping 4 of 7 assigned in commission at
any one time.
It was bad enough keeping them running
around garrison but when we had to
convoy to the Fulda Gap during
REFORGER and other FTXs it made for
some harried moments. As Tail-end
Charlie in the 5-ton wrecker, wed keep
careful eye on these elements of the
convoy. Once we started seeing the
drivers head snapping back and forth
because of fuel related misfire wed
prepare for recovery operations. A lot of
fun had by all on the side of the German
Autobahn usually in the cold and snow at
night. Ah, the memories!

I had several days of climbing up and

down ladders and working in a hole
where the tank used to be. There are a lot
of issues with the P-23s...axle/hub cracks
Al Dias: I hated the old Oshkosh cement
and the tire inflation system.
trucks we had at Kunsan RED HORSE. I
Case Flight Line Tractor
remember guys hearing them coming
Dan Berlenbach: Then there were the down the street to the shop and literally
Case flight line tractors (yes, before they hiding in the cabinets under the
had bobtails). We had like a million of workbenches because they didn't want to
P-15 Fire Truck
them and I could split one and have it have to work on them.
back together in a couple hours.

They still give me nightmares and make

the little hairs on the back of my neck
stand up! I also tore my left rotator cuff
But the pain with these was doing the climbing up on one. They were holdovers Gary McLean: Necessary Evil Award
brakes through the cab floor. We cut from Vietnam, in really bad shape, and vital to the mission but a maintenance
access plates but still they were a pain they broke down if you even sneezed.
intensive - P-15 Crash Fire Truck.
and a knuckle-buster.
Continued on PG 11
10

Condor/Calavar 125

The flippin brakes were a nightmare to First and reverse was always torn up due
disassemble and reassemble and the to the linkage and the fact you couldn't
inner seals were notorious for going out. really tell if it was in or out of gear. Let out
the clutch and you had gear pieces in the
1959 White Demineralized Water
bottom of the transmission.

Truck

A few other vehicles not on the list,

but probably should have been
you be the judge
TA-40 Lower Lobe Loader
Gary McLean: And, the grand prize,
at least for me, was selected based on
aggravation during normal duty hours
with its maintenance issues as well as
how often I was called out on standby to
fix the things at night and on weekends.
The honor goes tothe Calavar Condor
125! Worst aerial vehicle on the planet!
I was introduced to these junks at Yokota
by my boss handing me the work order
to re-power the two units we had with
underpowered Cummins diesels with the
worst throttle cable setup outside of the
old Consolidated Diesel 25K loader.
Could-not-duplicate breakdowns in the
electrical controls for the hydraulics,
mysterious malfunctions from one end of
the booms to the other, attempting to do
truck-length rewires, test-operating the
aerial right before lunch and having
some jackass turn the truck off and leave
you hanging, and on and on and on and
on. We all have our most hated trucks,
but I still see Calavars in my nightmares.

1964 Baker 4K Forklift

Roger Storman: I encountered this truck

once in my career at McConnell AFB,
Kansas in the early 70s. That was more
than enough. It was a mechanics
nightmare and obviously a cruel practical
joke perpetrated by engineers.
It was a cab-over vehicle and in order to
raise the cab, the gearshift lever had to be
removed first; otherwise, it would bend or
break the lever (happened a lot). The cab Designed for loading the lower lobe of a
was heavy and required a 24-volt motor wide body aircraft. When positioned
against the door of a KC-10 there was a
and hydraulic lift cylinder to raise it.
gap on the operator's side of the loader
If the motor or cylinder malfunctioned, we
approximately forty inches long and
had to manually free the latch, then use a
twenty inches deep from the doorsill to the
pry bar to tilt the cab forward. Once the
loader. This gap presented a safety
latch was clear, it took two people to lift
hazard. I never saw one operational, a lot
the cab. The truck was also equipped with
on the VDP line though.
a generator and a huge rectifier that kept
CL-3 Wilson Wide Body Loader
blowing diodes.
It also had two sets of windshield wipers,
one set for the windshield and another for
the windows at the floorboard level. It
made no sense to me. Last but not least,
the hose reel was made of 3/8 iron rod
and had no interlock system to keep the
hose from being pressurized while
wrapped on the reel.
I cant remember how many times POL
pressurized it and bent the reel. Wed
Notoriously unreliable. Shipped from all
have to remove the hose and reel and
over the world for remanufacture.
straighten it out. Not my idea of fun!

Hanson Crane

PSI Warehouse Tug

Brakes, steering, king pin bolts, parts

George McElwain: I believe the Hanson
support, and countless other problems
Crane was the worst vehicle to work on as
Ray Wood: The 1964 Baker 4K F/L with the transmission was always ruined by the with this hangar queen.
a gasoline engine.
munitions folks who used them.
11

Veh Mgmt Schoolhouse Update.

Apr 2013

344 TRS/Det 1, Vehicle Mgmt Schoolhouse

Update
by SMSgt Robert Haines, Det 1 Supt

In all, the Det delivers 2,800 plus instructional hours per year to
students consisting of both prior and non-prior service (NPS),
Air National Guard (ANG), Air Force Reserve (AFR) US Navy
(USN) and US Marine Corps (USMC) service members, Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, as well as international
students from various coalition countries.

Since my arrival to the schoolhouse in late 2011, there have

been numerous challenges and accomplishments. The purpose
of this article is to highlight a few of those items as well as the
many contributions made by the dedicated men and women of
Military Training Flight (MTF), led by TSgt Priscilla
this detachment. Ill also provide updates on current and future
Covarrubias, is comprised of four highly professional NCOs
changes affecting Air Force Vehicle Maintenance and Vehicle
deemed military training leaders (MTLs) who provide additional
Management training.
leadership and guidance outside the classroom for
From its impressive Excellent rating during the 2012 Second approximately 150-200 non-prior AD, ANG, and AFRC students
Air Force Training Standardization & Evaluation Visit (TSEV) to daily. During the 2012 2AF TSEV, they were awarded an
its current prep actions for the upcoming 2013 Air Education Outstanding rating, the first such rating to a detachment of the
and Training Command Inspector General (AETC/IG) 37 TRG.
Compliance Inspection in late April, this detachment continues
Currently they oversee an average daily student load of
to deliver high caliber mechanics and vehicle management &
175-200 students while also overseeing a $6M dorm renovation
analysis technicians aimed at meeting the demanding
designed to vastly improve the quality of life for AF students
operations tempo spanning ten major commands, two major
living on Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme.
weapon systems, and in direct support of war-time operations
Inter-Service Mechanic Apprentice Course (TTAI), also
in several theaters across the globe.
known as Common Core, is led by MSgt Dudley Watson who
Our mission statement: Provide Worldjointly oversees the 50 academic day course where AF students
Class t r a i n i n g t o V e h i c l e Maintenance
alongside USN students learn three phases; Gas, Diesel, and
and Vehicle Management and Analysis
Chassis phase totaling 400 hours of instruction. Recently, a
personnel worldwide while exemplifying the
major review of the Interservice Training Review Organization
highest standards of academic excellence,
(ITRO) curriculum took place between AETC/A3, and ITRO
military bearing, and safety.
representatives from the other sister services, along with which
This is accomplished through a dedicated cadre of instructors, identified 450 changes, mostly minor in nature.
support personnel and military training leaders.
There are currently twenty-two courses on-line designed to
provide students with initial skills, supplemental, and mobile
training (MTT) venues with a student body of approximately
1,500 students annually.
The detachment also manages the 2T3s 5/7-level career
development courses, as well as the 7-level Craftsman and
9-level Superintendent internet based instruction (IBI) courses
capable of providing students with 24-7 access world-wide
regardless of location.

Continued on PG 13
12

Veh Mgmt Schoolhouse Update.

From Common Core students progress to one of three The section is also undergoing a conversion of the P-19
follow-on Air Force unique courses: Vehicle/Equipment supplemental course to an ITRO based course to continue
Maintenance (2T331), Fire Truck Maintenance (2T332A), or support for USMC student throughput.
463L/Material Handling and Equipment Maintenance (2T332C).
Students from Vehicle Management & Analysis (2T337) do not
attend ITRO; rather, they begin initial skills training on day one.
Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance (TTAV), managed by
GS-11 James Shestko, recently completed course validation for
the 2T331 initial skills course in January 2013 which now aligns
course objectives with the 2010 Career Field Education and
Training Plan (CFETP).

Lastly, the Det is expecting arrival of two new P-34 Rapid

Intervention Vehicles (RIV) which offers COTS technology that
incorporates Ultra High Pressure (UHP) firefighting capability,
the first of its kind in the Air Force. The P-34 RIV will be
Additional changes include installation of two state of the art incorporated into future curriculum and intended to replace the
$26K Dynamometers which will expand the Advanced older P-19 Crash Fire Trucks.
Diagnostic Course and allow for a broader training of
objectives. Other initiatives include infusing new technology by
addition of a $130K Global Deicer Digital Schematic Tools
(DST) in block II. A commercial off-the shelf product named the
P2 Trace and Sims program, it allows for enhanced schematics
training while reducing troubleshooting times and has been
deemed a huge success for cadre and students since its
inception.
Fire Truck Maintenance (TTAA), FTM, is led by GS-11 Gary
Stanford and is also under validation of new course material to
align with 2010 CFETP. New changes include adding training
463L/Material Handling Equipment (MHE) Maintenance
for the Air Forces new $525K Striker crash fire truck.
(TTAC) is similar to the Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance
and Fire Truck Maintenance courses. The 463L/MHE course
was revised to align with the 2010 CFETP and is in final stages
of course validation. The section is managed by GS-11
Ambrosio Casanova.
Some additional changes include removal of the legacy
Southwest Mobile 25K loader due to CFETP changes removing
air system requirements. The Halverson 25K Next Generation
Service Loader (NGSL) was not affected by this change. Both
the Tunner 60K and the NGSL 25K are use in initial skills MTT
courses.
Continued on PG 14

13

Veh Mgmt Schoolhouse Update.

The Det also provides lateral support for users with the legacy In partnership with the Vehicle and Equipment Management
loaders such as the recent MTT requirement to Rota Spain in Support Office (VEMSO), students received LIMS-EV access to
support of the US Navy and USAFE requirements.
the training database. This facilitated near real-world training
while ensuring students arrived at their first duty station fully
set-up.
VM&A instructors also manage the new 9-level Superintendent
IBI course. The result of an Air Force Smart Operations for the
21st Century (AFSO-21) lean event, conversion of the old
in-residence course to the web-based (IBI) increased student
access 200% and is estimated to save the AF $605K in the first
year alone.

Vehicle Management & Analysis (TTAM), the final of four

initial skills courses under validation, is the 2T337 course led by
MSgt (s) Michael Feciuch, also received some changes.
Most notable is the replacement of outdated Automated Fleet
Information System (AFIS) curricula which has been replaced
with Logistics Installations and Mission Support Enterprise View
(LIMS-EV).
MTTs and Supplemental Courses: Deployment of mobile
training teams delivers global state of the art training designed
to mirror real-world scenarios while saving the Air Force
approximately $100K annually in travel related costs. Current
MTTs offered include Air Conditioning, Condor High Reach,
Global Deicer, P-19 and P-23 Fire Truck, and 25K/60K aircraft
loader maintenance training.
Returning students can also select from a wide variety of
supplemental courses, also referred to as advanced courses.
Current courses include; advanced diesel engine, automatic
transmission and transaxles, steering and suspension, and
vehicle diagnostics which vary in length from 10 to 20 days.
Vehicle Maintenance (TTAX): The detachment also has its
very own Vehicle Maintenance section responsible for
maintaining a fleet of training and support vehicles valued in
excess of $22M.
To support the LIMS-EV conversion, the VM&A schoolhouse
underwent a $17K upgrade of its existing Local Area Network
(LAN), plus an additional $24K in computers, monitors, and
switch boxes to support delivery of the new course training
material.

MSgt Michael Batres and his team of three mechanics ensure

assets remain fully mission capable to avoid potential training
deficiencies from occurring. A force multiplier, his staff allows
the instructors to concentrate on teaching the students to
provide a quality training experience.
Continued on PG 15
14

Veh Mgmt Schoolhouse Update.

Training Development Element (TDE), led by the
Detachment/TDE Chief, GS-12 Clarence Price Jr., maintains
and manages 22 course records set in the Interactive
Courseware Implementation System IAW AECTI 36-2203,
develops new course training material ensuring all course
documents are in inspection order and meet current CFETP
and CTS training objectives.
The unit includes Instructional Systems Specialists, GS-11
Brian Burgess and GS-11 James Shestko (temp) as well as
subject matter experts (SMEs) from the other sections to aid in
course re-writes. In an ongoing initiative, TDE has begun efforts
to implement automated testing, a first for the detachment.
Converting will reduce labor, some management of the old
paper based system, and reduce waste 100%.

Way ahead: 2013 will no doubt carry additional challenges,

especially with the current fiscal environment and on-going
sequestration. However, the Det remains fully engaged and up
to the challenge. After the April 2013 AETC/IG CI, the Det will
begin to prepare for the upcoming 2013 Utilization and Training
Workshop (U&TW), which will take place here on Port
Hueneme 4-8 November. We are looking forward to the event
which is expected to discuss key issues affecting the career
field. Subjects such as infusion of hybrid vehicle technology
training, something weve been looking forward to adding to our
curriculum since the first Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion
hybrids arrived here at the schoolhouse.

Career Development Course (CDC), is also managed by

GS-12 Clarence C Price, Jr. There are three full-time CDC
writers on staff covering Vehicle Maintenance (5 & 7 level)
written by MSgt Eugene Lanson, MSgt Steven Fadden, and
Vehicle Management and Analysis CDC writer, MSgt Sean
McDowell.
They ensure all CDC documents are in inspection order and
meet current CFETP training requirements. All three writers
work year round managing and updating seven sets and
seventeen volumes of distance learning material enabling 2K
Airmen across four separate Air Force Specialty Codes Other topics include what to do with the Dets $1.3M welding
bay which was initially built for the 2T331 initial skills course,
(AFSCs) to complete their upgrade training on time.
but is now being looked at for a supplemental course.
Recent changes to the 2010 CFETP (change 4) approved by
the Career Field Manager, CMSgt Campbell, initiated Theres also the ongoing refueling maintenance migration back
pre-production efforts to migrate course material from the to vehicle maintenance and how we should update the CFETP
current 7-level Craftsman Course (IBI) to the 7-level CDCs. to properly capture refueling specific STS items.
Estimated completion for the migration is by 15 December 2013 Additionally, while MRAPs have already been incorporated into
with the web-based Craftsman course being discontinued after current curriculum, M-ATVs have not, another topic for the
1 October 2013. Another of the Dets and TDEs initiatives was U&TW.
the construction of a new $284K/15K square-foot, soft-side
clamshell building designed to protect the schools diverse
$22M vehicle/equipment fleet from the corrosive west coast
environment.

Continued on PG 16
15

Veh Mgmt Schoolhouse Update.

Our goal is to also continue to synchronize efforts with our
European and Pacific Technical Training Centers (ETTC and
PTTC) in USAFE and PACAF to further bridge the training gap
where AETC cannot.
As you can see, the detachment continues to transform to meet
the many and diverse challenges bestowed upon them despite
ongoing Air Force and AETC fiscal constraints. The men and
women of Det 1 remain ready and will no doubt continue to rise
to the challenge.
On behalf of the current Det 1 Commander, Maj Richard W.
Henderson, and this Detachment, a special thanks to those
instructors, vehicle maintainers and operators, and fleet
managers, past and present, who paved the way in making this
the #1 of 10 Detachments within the 37 Training Group.
Check out the new Det
www.facebook.com/344TrsDet1.

Facebook

page:

Det 1 Top Performers

GS-12 Clarence C. Price Jr.

AETC Outstanding Logistics

Readiness Senior Civilian of
the Year 2012

MSgt Dawn M. Potter

AETC nominee for the GSA

Bob Baker Fleet Manager
(Small Fleet) of the Year
Award 2012

MSgt Jason M. Cantu

AETC National Defense

Transportation Association
(NDTA) Outstanding
Instructor of the Year 2012

GS-09 Kevin T. Chandler

344 TRS Tech Training

Civilian Instructor of the Year
2012

GS-11 Brian A. Burgess

344 TRS Tech Training

Support Civilian of the Year
2012

MSgt Steven J. Fadden

344 TRS Tech Training

Support SNCO of the Year
2012

TSgt Adam J. West

344 TRS Tech Training Junior

MTL of the Year 2012

MSgt Glenn A. Sivells

Det 1 and 344 TRS First

Sergeant of the Year 2012

GS-09 Kevin T. Chandler

Det 1 and 344 TRS Civilian of

the Year 2012 (Cat II,
Non-Supervisory)

GS-11 Brian A. Burgess

Det 1 and 344 TRS Civilian of

the Year 2012
(Cat III, Non-Supervisory)

MSgt Dawn M. Potter

Det 1 SNCO of the Year 2012

TSgt Justin J. Lafler

Det 1 NCO of the Year 2012

https://

Its managed by TSgt Thomas Kessler (TTAV) and designed for

students, family members and alumni, to see some of their
great accomplishments taking place in VM tech training.

344 TRS, DET 1

16

Best & Worst Assignments...

Apr 2013

Special Edition

Best & worst assignments: Survey Finally, however, the household goods I had the time of my life traveling
reveals transporters satisfied with were packed (thanks TMO) and on their throughout the island of Luzon, seeing
career
way; suitcases were stuffed to the max the sites, experiencing the food and
Editors Comments: FIGMO! Thats a
term rarely heard anymore. There are
variations of its meaning, but for the
purpose of this article it stands for,
Finally, I got my orders.

and you were off on a new adventure. culture. I enjoyed working with most of
We have all experienced it multiple times the people in my shop...refueling
in our careers.
maintenance, a.k.a. Shop 6.
So, what led up to this article on
assignments? Well, as you know, we did
a survey on the most hated vehicle and
published it in Februarys Truckin On. It
was fun and we got a lot of interesting
feedback.

It was customary for barracks or dorm

residents, especially overseas, to post a
copy of their orders on their doors and
write FIGMO in large letters across the
front.
Shortly after that Gary McLean suggested
It was usually an indicator that someone that we do a future survey on favorite and
was happy to be leaving for another least favorite assignments, which I
thought was a great idea. Now seemed to
assignment...or maybe not.
be as good a time as any.

We had a supervisor in the latter part of

my tour who became a problem for all of
us due to his excessive drinking, but
management handled it successfully.
Best of all, I met my wife there and well
celebrate our 42nd anniversary this year.

Hickam AFB was on par with Clark AB for

me. I was assigned there after my
second tour at Clark (90-91) was cut short
by Mt. Pinatubo. Being assigned to
Hickam and the PACAF staff was the
Obviously, there are no right or wrong fulfillment of a dream and capped off my
answers to this survey and a vote count is career nicely in 1993. I really didnt have
pointless because a lot people, including a bad assignment.
me, had multiple favorites.
Little did I know, however, that I would
Interestingly enough, many had no least
favorite base, stating, in general terms,
that they accepted the challenges for
what they were and made the best of
their assignments.now thats career
satisfaction.

return to Hawaii after eight years in

Florida and stay for nearly 10 more years
as a civilian employee. Working with Tim
Peris, Mike Holcomb and the rest of the
vehicle maintenance and operations team
at Hickam was truly a privilege.

A couple of folks even listed the same

location as their best and worst
assignments. It makes sense when you
read their remarks.

Terry Kinney: I spent almost 33 years

in uniform and really never had a bad
assignment.

Here are the comments from those

who replied to the survey:
Roger Storman:
In 25 years of active duty I averaged a
move every 18 months. The vast majority
New assignments have always brought of my time was spent in the PacificI
with them a bag of mixed emotions. The loved it there.
anticipation of seeing new places was I have two favorite assignments Clark
exciting, but sometimes it meant leaving AB, Philippines and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
loved ones behind.
My first tour at Clark (70-72) was
PCS Orders w/FIGMO

Then, of course, there were the memorable for me. I was 21 years old
good-byes to friends and co-workers, and overseas for the first time. Look out
Philippines!
which were always difficult.

I did spend 3 plus years in Athens Greece

working at the port...probably my best
assignment for its beauty and culture.
Opposed to that I spent 4 years at Loring
AFB, Maine. While the weather was a
challenge it had its own beauty and
culture so bottom line...I never had a bad
assignment/base.

Continued on PG 18
17

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Stevie Holloway: My favorite duty
assignment was to Naval Base Ventura
County, Port Hueneme, California. I was a
Tech School Instructor. I was doing a job I
really wanted to doteach.

Being there in the mid-90s to 2001, I was

constantly getting involved in another
conflict, humanitarian effort or the
constant deployments in Bosnia, Turkey,
and the pass-through at Moron Spain.

SMSgt Robert Haines: I've had so

many good assignments over the past 25
yearsEglin, Keflavik, HQ/ACC, Qatar,
and now here at Port Hueneme. It's hard
to select just one good one, but here it is:

After the rapid drawdown in Europe,

things were kind of still disarray when I
arrived mostly due to manning cuts to
reduce the fleets and manage all the
MSgt Clayton Sorenson: Most favorite excess vehicles throughout the continent.
Howard AFB, Panama. The fishing Cleaning up the excess, finishing the
was awesome and that is where I met my right-sizing of the fleet, and re-posturing
wife!
the WRM and CE RRR fleets were huge
My least favoriteHolloman AFB, New tasks that kept me on the go all the time.

Best - USAFCENT/A4RV, Shaw AFB, SC

(2008-2011); the team and total mission
focus, being able to support our men and
women down range, and the travel to
multiple SWA countries was great. I was
truly blessed and fortunate to work with
such amazing people.

My least favorite was RAF Lakenheath.

Ops tempo was very high and we were
either preparing for an inspection or in an
inspection.worked lots of overtime.

Mexico. It was an ok assignment, it's The folks, working with all the Ops and
just that I have had more awesome Mx troops I dealt with during my time
assignments such as Sembach and there was great!
Howard.
I couldnt have had a better team to supMark Hiles: Well the worst assignment is port my ideas and to tell me the truth on
easy. My last one was Gunter Annex how it would impact their station. As hard
Maxwell AFB working as the OLVIMS as I worked over there, I had it made with
functional lead. The folks I worked with having the others there around me.
were great. The politics and how things Eglin was a great place, location, folks
functioned or didnt function drove me and just a different mission. Definitely not
nuts on a daily basis to the point where I the hardest assignment I had.
didnt see me being productive to help my
peers in the field anymore and finally Kunsan, must have been a favorite seeing
retired. Although, if I wouldnt have come as how I was nuts enough to do three
to Gunter, I wouldnt have the job I have tours there, and volunteered for all three.
today working with Asset Management That place is about as close to family that
you can have in the Air Force. It was
and Maintenance Systems for the DOD.
never a dull day working there.
So even as my worst assignment, it had
Dean Smith: Being an eternal optimist,
several pluses.
all 19 were the best while I was there, as I
Best Assignment: Kind of a 3-way tie learned and grew in different ways at
between Kunsan AB, Korea, Ramstein, each location.
AB, Germany, and Eglin AFB, FL.
Plus, the side benefit of all the lifelong
Would have to say Ramstein had to be friendships established around the world!
my favorite because of what I had the
opportunity to affect for the whole There wasnt a single one that I could
command. Being on the USAFE staff honestly call the worst.
allowed me to see the big picture on how The most beneficial of all my assignments
the many bases always pitched in to (that others have consistently considered
support the theater no matter what the their worst) actually would be places such
as Vietnam, Iraq, and Korea.
mission.

Worst (TDY) - Turkey...need I say more?

I was TDY to Incirlik in the early 90s as a
FTM mechanic. The work was rewarding,
but the living arrangements were bad.
Tent city flooded often. Went off base a
few times and was not impressed. Maybe
I just didn't go to the right places. It was
also during Ramadan.
Richard Chilson: Least Favorite - Altus
AFB, Oklahoma, 1983-1985 as a 60350. I
was a SSgt in the Field Maintenance
Squadron towing AGE, driving the
specialist taxi van, and towing C5s and
141s. Even my two years at Minot were
better and most people don't care much
for that one.
Hahn AB, Germany and RAF Lakenheath
had to be my favorites.
Michael Pirson: Blytheville/Eaker AFB,
AR 1984-1988...not the end of the world,
but on a clear day you can see it...closest
mall...70 miles...closest airport...80 miles.
Assignment to Sembach AB, Germany
priceless!!

Continued on PG 19
18

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Troy Wheeley: I was at Howard AFB
Panama during the draw down in 1999
and even though most of the base
infrastructure was gone it still was one of
the best assignments I ever hadhot
weather, beaches, scuba diving, and most
of all the fishing.

Zane Butcher: My favorite assignment My worst assignment was at Holloman

was Howard AFB, Panama.
AFB, NM from 1979-80. During this
I was there twice and loved it both times. timeframe, I ran the base auto hobby
The weather was great and fishing for shop as a Senior Airman. Had to work
peacock bass was a lot of fun; Saturday's and Sunday's. Worked late on
the 24th Transportation Squadron was Friday nights. So much for being
like a family. Also, I enjoyed working single at this time. The only advantage
around the men and women of the other was no maintenance standby. However,
services. The Army was the dominate dealing with people who had no clue how
service in Panama and I got a chance to to work on a car was frustrating. I
see what Army life was like and it was surprised how some of them knew
made me appreciate the Air Force more. how to fuel it up.

We would go to Lake Gatun every

weekend we could and catch tons of
peacock bass. The village kids, where our
guide was would take and clean our fish
for a dime each and we would always give
During my second tour in Panama we
at least half the catch to the village.
worked hard and put in some long hours
As for my least favorite, well I didn't really but I still had a great time
have one. All of my assignments were
greatYokota, Luke, Howard, Pope, then My least favorite assignment was Griffiss
Seymour Johnson. One could make valid AFB, NY. When I arrived at Griffiss the
arguments about the last two but I am 416th Transportation Squadron was just
from NC (Durham) so I was able to easily beginning to get GIs in vehicle
disconnect from the military, and truthfully maintenance. I was the 15th GI assigned
the
ranking
person
as
a
I felt almost like I was on leave every and
TSgt.
Many
of
the
civilians
were
not
weekend.
happy to see military come into the
Now, if you want to include TDY bases organization. I was made the training
then I would say Prince Sultan AFB, NCO and was given very little
Saudi. It was tent city, hardly anything to responsibility. I made MSgt shortly after
do, and Eskan Village was far superior at arriving and the commander gave me the
being able to have a better quality of life.
job of additional duty First Sergeant. I
Joe Oswald: I had many favorite appreciated the additional responsibility
assignments, but for different reasons. but started looking for an assignment as
Favorite party place: Clark
AB, soon as I had one year on station. I was
Philippines. Favorite weather place: fortunate to leave at the two year mark.
Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
Larry Baker: My best assignment was
Favorite place with the most things to
do: Spangdahlem AB, Germany
traveling Europe. Favorite places to work,
Osan AB, Korea (554 RED HORSE) and
Spangdahlem AB. Germany.

Chanute AFB from 1983-87. I was an

instructor/instructor supervisor. It was
great teaching the young airman the basic
automotive skills and watching their faces
light up when they understood that I was
My least favorite assignment hands down, teaching. Plus, you couldn't beat the
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Working there working hours. 8-hour days, 5 days a
week, no maintenance standby, etc. In
was a career killer.
addition, I was selected for MSgt while I
The area was not a good place for kids,
was there.
mainly teenagers. Too many civilians, the
military seemed to be treated like second Teaching the basic classes (brakes,
power trains, heating and AC, and diesel)
class citizens.
made me feel like I wrote the SKT.

MSgt Matthew Lair: Worst: Shemya

AFB, AK. No man's land on a 2 by 4 mile
island for a year, 1,500 miles from
Anchorage, 300 miles from Russia, wind
blows EVERY DAY, sometimes bad
enough to keep you locked down in the
building you're in. Covered in Fog 50% of
the time, hard to count on leaving with
certain a date because the weather was
changing 10 times day. The Blue Fox
(scruffies) that inhabit the Island would
crap all over vehicles that came into MX.
See the same people over and over and
over again for a year! Cold, damp, windy,
so isolated.
Best: Hanscom AFB, MA. It was 20 miles
from downtown Boston; great sports
teams. Atlantic City not too far of a drive,
beaches in Maine and New Hampshire,
Cape Cod, Nantucketvery small fleet.
At the time I was there, 90-94, we didn't
have a whole lot of work. NYC airplane
shuttle back then was less than $50. Four
seasons, lots of American history in the
whole state; Paul Revere, Plymouth Rock,
Tea Party, etc. Great Fishing and hunting.

Continued on PG 20
19

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Editors Note: Ray Wood took this Kadena AB, Okinawa: Back overseas. One of the best command decisions made
question seriously and was enthusiastic Can honestly say this was probably my when the 13 AF commander decided to
with his answer.
best overseas assignment.
evacuate against political pressure.
With his permission, I edited the original
text, which is over three pages long. The
following is the Readers Digest version
of his reply.
Ray Wood: Interesting question. Not
sure I have a best or worst. I took the
approach that my best assignment was
my last one and my worst was going to be
my next one.
Having said that, I tried to make the best
of what Fred Rochelle, Billy Dover, Chuck
Raney and their peers dealt to me over
the years. I treated each new assignment
as a new cultural experience with various
characteristics and characters.
Lackland AFB, TX: Introduction to the
Air Force and dive bombing, white-winged
blackbirds, magpies, or whatever the hell
they were. I think they were specifically
trained to terrify rainbows who were still in
mufti.
Nellis AFB outside of Lost Wages, (Las
Vegas) NV: What can I say? To a 19
year old farm boy from Nebraska coming
direct duty from Lackland, that definitely
was an eye-opening culture shock.
Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines:
First overseas assignment. Life was good.
Wife and I lived off base in Don Bonifacio
subdivision.
Live-in maid, yard boy, and San Miguel for
about 12-15 cents a bottle. We couldnt
drink the water off base, but the beer was
OK.
Grand Forks AFB, ND: Back in the US
to the Northland where we had 3
seasonsJuly, August, and Winter.

Huge fleet of over 1500 AF, Navy, and Scott AFB, IL: HQ AMC staff where I
Army vehicles. Great civilian work force replaced Kevin Williams. Obviously more
too.
staff assistance visits and travel. During
We took Best Vehicle Mx in PACAF three my time there I had the pleasure of
years straight and Best in the AF in 1982. working with some very knowledgeable
maintainers who were on the 60K loader
March AFB, CA: Then I diverted to acquisition team.
Fairchild AFB, WA and finally diverted to
HQ SAC Offutt AFB, NE. Didnt think I Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi
would ever get my household goods Arabia: (USAF now closed): Permanent
party tour for a year while rotating a
again.
transitory force of 93 deployed vehicle
I was on the SAC staff. Many SAVs. maintainers.
Visited bases that I was able to put on my
list of I dont want to be stationed there. Incredible job performed by VMX teams
under harsh working conditions. The 130
Shemya AFB, AK: The Rock (Closed degree temps forced them to work at night
and renamed Eareckson AS) or as one in primitive tent structures. We lived in
commander called it The Black Pearl of tent city for the first 5 months before the
the Aleutians. Wind blown island 2 miles new dormitories were opened.
wide and 4 miles long. It had no trees and
This was another of my most challenging
downtown was 1500 miles east.
but rewarding assignments. Due to the
I was the Chief of Transportation. I think efforts of talented vehicle maintainers we
we had about 30 days of sunshine the were able to turn around a chronically
entire year I was there. It wasnt quite the high out-of-commission rate.
end of the world but you could see it from
I cant brag enough about the efforts and
there.
sacrifices those men and women endured
Torrejon AB, Spain16 AF LGTV: with repeated deployments into that AOR.
(No longer USAF base) Three-year tour
as the first VMS at 16 AF. Traveled Scott AFB, ILHQ AMC Staff: Followextensively on SAVs throughout the Med. on assignment back to wind up my Air
Force career. As I have indicated, most
Several SAVs to Incirlik AB, Turkey, assignments were pretty good. I have
especially during the mid summer, caused good memories of all of them, but most of
me to put that base on my list of dont get all are the fond memories of the incredibly
stationed there too.
talented Transporters throughout the Air
Hickam AFB, HIHQ PACAF Staff: Force. I thoroughly enjoyed working for
Spent 4 years there. Started playing them all.
golf a couple times a week. Well, who
wouldnt?

I was in the PACAF command post during

Experienced winter storms and temps Rogers volcanic ordeal at Clark.
hitting 27 below w/accompanying wind Incredible amount of airlift to evacuate
chills of 85 below. Did I say cold?
nonessential personnel and dependents.
Continued on PG 21
20

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Robert (Bob) Sherrill: Best and Worst
Assignmentsame location: Yokota AB: I
had Dan Berlenbach, Gene Dutton, Gary
McLean and more I'm not remembering in
vehicle maintenance; Gary Reynolds,
Hyon Lee, Kirk Lester, Sonja Furse, Flo
Palting, Eric Pleger, Eric Balough, Bob
Yensko and more in TMO, plus a rigger/
air delivery/air drop unit that kept me on
my toes.
There was also Kevin Ludwig and his
vehicle operations supervisors and
drivers who performed outstandingly and
then would screw it up with a DV or off
duty; the 150 local nationals/MLCs were a
treasure, as well as several outstanding
officers now Col Todd Hackett, Col Tim
Lee, NCIS Agent Kevin Mulligan, and Lt
Col Dan Lemon.
I had chiefs or chief equivalents in all the
flights, but not when I arrived. I had three
officers and was able to double that
with MPC so I could train these young
officers in logistics transportation and get
them on the path for promotion.
Earthquake response proved our metal as
we worked together and were duly
recognized at the PACAF and Air Force
levels. And it was the worst or most
challenging assignment: The death of my
TMO one week after taking command.
Personnel and family members deaths,
emergency leaves, DUIs, domestic
abuses, weight management and all the
other actions that are the downers of
commandwe persevered.
I also had an RM who went off the
deep end in doing his job, his attitude, his
foul language and his open prejudices
which made all of our lives extremely
difficult.

It was the greatest of times, it was the

worst of times--the highest highs and the
lowest lows and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Bob King: For me, professionally, my
favorite assignment was Kunsan AB,
Korea. Commanding the 8TH TRNS SQ,
and helping keep the North Koreans in
check, was one of the highlights of my
career. Unfortunately or fortunately,
depending on how you look at it, I didn't
have a least favorite assignment. I guess
I just made the most out of wherever I
was during my 37 year active duty
career!!!
Doug Steward: Favorite base - Clark ...
from my wife's perspective, that is. She
got to live like a fairytale princess
(house girl, yard boy, caddies at the golf
course, massages and nails, etc.) and all
for extremely cheap prices. Of course, our
2 1/2 year ORI (that's what it felt like,
what with earthquakes at Cabanatuan
and Baguio, base strikes, Kunsan airman
getting killed, base restrictions and, of
course, Mt. Pinatubo and base closing) is
both the best (most rewarding in terms of
working with the world's greatest in
accomplishing great things) and worst
(most demanding, stressful, etc.). So, as
Dickens said, it was the best of times; it
was the worst of times.

Yokota is a favorite because of the

country and Japanese people. We were
fortunate to have a number of local
national civilian employees in the shop,
and they were superb mechanics.
Self-motivated and proud, they carried
most of the workload while we GIs were
playing in exercises, going to training,
TDY, etc. We were able to form a great
team of military and civilians and we had
a lot of fun at work. We had a pavilion in
the compound behind the shop and most
Fridays we were there to socialize, BBQ,
celebrate, or just BS. It was a truly unique
environment and a great team. As for the
country, Japan was and is a most
fascinating tour with huge opportunities to
experience new things and have fun.

My second choice, Hickam, makes my list

because Hawaii IS truly paradise! The
weather, food, beach, and people...what's
not to love? We used to say (working at
the HQ): look out the window at the palm
trees and blue sky--nothing can be that
bad that living and working here cannot
overcome. As a beach-lover all my life, to
be able to surf and play in Hawaii was as
good as it gets. I also had one of the best
jobs in the AF, working on the PACAF
staff. We had an exceptional team and
were able to accomplish a lot, change
things for the better in the command (at
least I hope so!), and have more fun than
Dan Berlenbach: I've been blessed with we deserved. My hat's always off to the
so many great assignments, I am very people there I am so proud to have
fortunate. They were great for different worked with!
reasons and answering this question is
like asking a small child what was your Now, as for my least favorite? I don't have
one. I had nothing but 29 years of great
favorite ____?
assignments and great people to work
They can't decide on just one. Anyway, with/for.
since I cannot choose, I will disregard
your instructions and give you two:
Yokota AB and Hickam AFB.

I was personally challenged but came

through it. It's amazing what a bad boss Note that they are both in the Pacific and I
can influence. However, his eventual due am proud to be a PACAF Rat with four
assignments in that part of the world.
was a 3-star LOR.

Continued on PG 22
21

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Mike Ritz: I've had a lot of great My favorite was Patrick AFB, Florida. I
assignments, they are as follows in order: was a brand new 2LT assigned to the
Patrick AFB, FL (2nd Combat COMM GP) vehicle maintenance shop in the 6550th
Transportation Squadron.
RAF Upper Heyford, UK
Gila Bend AFAF, AZ
Nellis AFB, NV
Osan AB, ROK 51st TRNS
Hickam AFB, HI
Charleston AFB, SC

It was located in a terrific region

and everything was within walking
distance. I was one of the last people to
leave before closure...of course, we were
When I arrived, much to my surprise, it Trans!
was CWO 4 Nick Vislocky as the chief Worst - Minot AFB, North Dakota ...'nuff
and George Reynolds, GS-14, as his said! : )
deputy. Nick was not moving and had no Roger Robertson: My best and worst
plans to move.
assignment are the sameBolling AFB,

Personally, I think I was placed there

temporarily while something else opened
Langley AFB, VA (HQ ACC)
up. I learned a lot, but fell behind in the
Best assignment: Gila Bend AFAF. Why? diplomatic arena. So, something did open
The people and camaraderie were up, which I categorize as one of two least
awesome, like no other place I was ever favorite assignments.
stationed. Yeah, we were out in the
That was Wheelus AB, Libya. Yep, that
middle of nowhere, but who cares? The
opened up and I got shoved in. Needless
duty was great and best of all no
to say, it was not a pleasant experience.
exercises. Its the only assignment I've
Worked out of lean-to sheds where sand
had where I still keep in touch with former
got into everything. And, the sand there
co-workers...Dan Hemmert and Dennis
was finer than talcum powder.
Sarver.
My cohort in crime when I arrived was
Worst assignment: I've had all pretty good
CMSgt Don Christiansen. He was one
assignments, but if I have to pick one...
tough cookie, but had a wealth of
Nellis AFB. No particular reason why, just
knowledge, some of which rubbed off on
didn't like it.
me.
TSgt Valentine Lara: I would say my best
Not sure of the timing, but while there,
assignment was Kelly AFB, TX (Security
SMSgt Robert C. Adams came on board,
Hill) back in 1994-1997. The reason is
another cigar smoking hard charger. I
because of the people.
spent 2 1/2 years there; tour shortened
We had an 8-10 person sub-motor pool because of the Arab/Israeli war.
that provided protocol service and
My second least favorite, but really close
classified courier service. We were more
to Wheelus, was Phu Cat AB, Vietnam.
family than co-workers.
Having been only commissioned 6 years,
My worst assignment was Minot AFB, ND I really felt thrust into the grinder with this
after the "nuke incident".
The reason assignment.
being that Minot was blamed for all
So, there you have it. Maybe some of
nuclear deficiencies in the AF. We were
your readers and I crossed paths.
inspected over a dozen times my first two
Hopefully, those who remember the good
years on station.
times.
Joe Cupurdija: I didn't participate in
MSgt Ted Vandenbrink: Best base your "most hated vehicle" survey because
Zweibrucken AB, Germany. It was my first
I couldn't recall any at the time. Still don't.
assignment in 1990; hated it at the
However, favorite and least favorite
time, but looking back, it was awesome!
assignments is fairly easy.
Elmendorf AFB, AK

Washington DC. I was sent there after a

tour at Osan, Korea. After a short while, I
started driving for the USAF Band.
The band people were great and treated
the six bus drivers like we were part of the
band. What ever they received, food,
certificates, etc., we were included. The
TDYs all over the country were fun and
interesting.
Bolling AFB was my worst assignment
because the crime was terrible. The hood
to my 1965 Dodge Dart was stolen. My
neighbors trunk was popped and his
spare tire stolen.
My oldest son started school there. There
was not a single window in the school that
was not broken.
We were advised to never send money
with him because it would be stolen and
to warn him not to play outside on the
school grounds near the creek because
there was danger from the older kids.
Even with the great job I had there, I was
not going to reenlist if I was still there.
Luckily I got an assignment to Brunssum,
Netherlands, which is a very close runner
up to my best assignment.

Continued on PG 23
22

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Ronnie Ward: The 23rd Air Defense
Squadron, Cudjoe Key Air Force Station
Florida: In 1984 I was a TSgt and got an
assignment rip sheet sending me to
Cudjoe Key.
My first thought was that I was going to
Japan or some other foreign country. As I
read further, finally I saw that Cudjoe Key
was located in the Florida Keys near Key
West.
Then I thought what to heck is a 47271
going to be doing in the Florida Keys.
Once I was able to locate a POC at
Cudjoe I called the person who ended up
being my supervisor once I arrived.

I bought me an 18 foot Renken boat with

a 85HP Mercury and spent most of my
free time on the water catching grouper
and snapper and during lobster season
we would snorkel for spiny lobster in the
shallow waters. Duty was very good and it
sure was a lot different type of work for a
47271 being in the Florida Keys instead of
being in a shop working on snowplows
and sweepers, etc. After two years of
basking in sun, the fun came to end and it
was back to the Air Force vehicle world.

After a year or so we finally got

notification they were landing, they wore
white baseball caps with red letters MSET
and a blue dickie around their neck and
bloused their boots. We met them at the
The 96th Transportation Squadron, Dyess flight line with government vehicles for
AFB Texas: In 1972 I reported in at Dyess them and they started inspecting the
AFB thinking I would be working in the VM vehicles right then.
shop. I was a seasoned Buck Sgt after We did make it through our first MSET
spending 3 years at my first overseas inspection with barely a satisfactory but
assignment, Ramstein AB Germany.
before I had to go through another one I

He informed me that I would be the only

Transporter and would be the Quality
Assurance Evaluator (QAE) responsible
for monitoring the logistics function that Anyway when I signed in I was told that I
was contracted to Pan American and RCA would be working as a Quality Control
Inspector (QC). This was back in the day
Corp at the time.
when SAC HQ decided to put
Plus I would be responsible for the few transportation under the Maintenance
GSA vehicles that were assigned to the Standardization
Evaluation
Program
blue suit organization consisting of radar (SAC MSET), a program that was fight
maintenance, or as we called them scope line driven. I and a TSgt were responsible
dopes.
for launching the program and getting it
They would literally spend an 8-hour shift ready for our first evaluation from SAC
sitting in a dark room monitoring a scope HQs. A crusty old SMSgt came from the
overlooking an activity in the Atlantic flight line and worked with us a couple of
Ocean and Gulf of Mexico along with months to get the program started. He
other things I cannot discuss.
would inspect a jack stand or floor jack
We only had enlisted people plus the and find a write up.
contractors and our site chief was a
CMSgt. We had no BX or club and
depended on the Navy Base at Boca
Chica Key for those functions.
I had several additional duties such as
ground safety NCO and Unit Career
Advisor, which I did not mind. My family
and I lived in Navy Housing in Key West
which was adequate.
The water on the Atlantic and Gulf side
was absolutely beautiful and fishing was
the best ever.

We were not welcomed by vehicle

maintenance management and would
never be invited to the Friday afternoon
beer parties at the shop. You never knew
when SAC HQs MSET were coming until
the plane was 30 minutes out from
landing at your base.

Many of you might remember SAC Reg

77-3 as being the governing directive that
provided mandatory guidance for the
program. Bottom line we were in-house
inspectors from within the squadron and
wore a purple hat with white QC letters.
We worked for the commander out of the
orderly room and could walk into the VM
shop unannounced at anytime and
inspect shop equipment, ready line, look
for safety violations, perform maintenance
evaluations as to watching a mechanic do
an oil change to a brake job, etc.

was on my way to NKP Thailand working

back as a mechanic in the shop.
Nothing bad to say about Dyess AFB or
Abilene Texas, it was the job that I did not
like and was never comfortable doing
what I had to do, but someone had to do it
and I did it to the best of my ability.
Kevin Fecteau: Best assignment was
George AFB. I was stuck in the BRAC
closure of bases. George was the 4th
based I'd helped close in three years. The
sense of history and change was
incredible.
Worst assignment: Lackland AFB. Great
people, but the "O" had no planes to play
with so they focused on vehicles as the
next thing to stick there noses into. That
had a lot to do with changing from Trans
to LRS

Continued on PG 24
23

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
Roger Yalung: Well, favorite and least
favorite assignments? Easily my favorite
would be Clark AB since I was there two
times, 75-81 then 87-91, up to just
before Pinatubo. Main reasons would be
the following:

Home for me

From the ridiculous overtime situation to

the complete lack of adult leadership to
the crappy winters, I just couldnt stand
that place. I truly believe OSHA and
AFOSH were created in response to the
mayhem that occurred at Little Rock on a
daily basis. I actually put Balad AB, Iraq
above Little Rock as a better assignment!

George McElwain: The best possible

assignment was Kadena AB Okinawa,
Japan. When I arrived the first time as a
MSgt, my boss (SMSgt) stated to me,
This base needs a chief assigned, so my
first job was to rewrite the position for a
chief. I gather, as he had been there
several years as an E-8 and couldn't
make chief, his logic was to write it for
chief so he could get promoted into it and
remain on Okinawa. Well, we rewrote the
job and he was rotated/retired and I
assumed the position as a MSgt.

Helped my family and sent relatives

However, I do have a bunch of crazy war
to school
stories about Little Rock AFB that are
Met my wife, Lita
hard to believe but can be corroborated
I was able to adopt two relatives (one by many folks that I can name if a
from my side of the family and one from subpoena appears :o)
Lita's side) and bring them to US.
Glenda Ferrara: I think my least After 4-plus years on my first tour, our Col
Least favorite - none. All other favorite was Lackland AFB, TX for basic said you can't leave and extended us until
assignments provided different levels of training. Had a lot of foot and shin splint the new chief was assigned. Six months
experience and opportunities working with problems; learned to "dig in those heels" went by and I was promoted to E-8 and
sent to our next assignment, SAC HQ,
many different kinds of people. Overall, too well!
the AF was the greatest thing that ever My best was ROK Osan AB. That was Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Three years later I
happened to me and my entire family. I because of the job. The mission of was promoted to chief and volunteered for
Kadena; off we went again. After the first
would do it all over again!
everyone on that base and any others in 3 years and nowhere to go in the world as
Gary McLean: Favorite assignment, country was the same. Playing golf a chief, I took an in-place COT for 3 more
hands-down, was Yokota AB, Japan. I amongst Patriot missiles is a once in a life years.so much to do and so little time.
actually broke my rule of you can never time event! And every Airman had at least We had a great cast of folks, super
go home again by doing two tours there a 5 level when they arrived, or shortly leadership and a desire to be PACAFs
with just a 3-year break between.
thereafter. Never below 100% manning. finest, which I believe we were.
I guess I felt like I had unfinished A Chief's dream!
We earned Best Vehicle Maintenance in
business, and it worked out because the Billy Dover: Thinking about this subject, the AF, PACAF, Best in 5AF, but the
second tour was better than the first!
in hindsight I cant really say I had a bad challenge to stay the best was tough as
From the awesome civilian technicians in assignment out of eleven.
corrosion control was our biggest
the shop to the crazy GIs I was stationed The people I worked with and for helped
with to the Japanese lifestyle, it was just me a great deal and the other aspects of
the best.
the assignment such as weather, local
The weather left a little to be desired, but activities, etc. wasnt a big deal for me
as they say in Seattle, if youre waiting for personally. Each of my assignments was
the rain to stop to do anything, youre valuable and taught me a lot.

problem. The fleet of 1800 vehicles

was the real job. The Okinawan civilians,
added to our cast of 160 people, made
the job easy; they worked hard and had
so many ideas, especially when it came to
saving money and making things last.
never going to do anything. Plus, the icing Richard Bunce: I had a lot of Just when we thought it was beyond
on the cake, the best mountain biking Ive assignments, deployments and TDYs repair it was fixed like magic.
ever done with the best mountain bike over 30 years and can honestly say this:
crew ever!
All had some great times and some even
Worst assignment by far was Little Rock
AFB, Arkansas. I was stationed there from
1983 1986 and couldnt wait to get out
of that hellhole.

the ultimate in tragedy, but what makes

me think back and grin are the men and
women I served with over those three
decades. That being said, they were all
the best!

Continued on PG 25
24

Best & Worst Assignments...

Special Edition
Special Edition
George McElwain: My worst assignment
was Grenier AFS in Manchester, NH. We
tracked satellites around the world and I
was assigned as special purpose
mechanic, 47271, to be NCOIC of
Vehicle Management.
The base had 61 people assigned and 65
vehicles. We lived in WW2 barracks that
had been converted to family housing;
"substandard" is being nice.
We had to transport our children to the
local schools, tiny BX, and that was about
it. The station was closed and all personnel
were assigned to other bases. We ended
up at Eglin AFB in Ft Walton Beach, FL.
Nothing of significance happened except
one day lots of aircraft landed and my
troops and I were able to wash and wax
the president's vehicle fleet.you can't
imagine what a buzz that was. My thirteen
assignments gave me an opportunity to
serve 30 years, accomplish so much, meet
so many people, and make life-long
friends.
Well folks, thats it. Once again, we thank
you for participating in our survey. I hope
youve enjoyed reading through the
comments as much as I did.
There are a couple of places I didnt even
know existed, like Grenier AFS and Cudjoe
Key. Who knew? That might be an
interesting subject in itselfobscure and
little known air force bases.
As I said in the beginning, theres no point
in a vote count. This was strictly an
opinion
poll
based
on
personal
experiences.
After all, how do you vote for a best or
worst base if youve never been there?
However, I decided to consolidate the
responses for favorite assignment in the
table on the right. See individual responses
for least favorite assignments.

Top Favorites
Favorite Assignment

Clark

# Responses

Clark

Hickam

Howard

Kadena

Osan

Yokota

Nellis

Athens, Greece

Port Hueneme

Ramstein

Shaw

Hahn

Lakenheath

Sembach

Spangdahlem

Chanute

Hanscom

Lackland

Grand Forks

March

Shemya

Torrejon

Prince Sultan

Scott

Kunsan

Gila Bend

Kelly

Patrick

Zweibrucken

Bolling

Cudjoe Key

George

Hickam

Howard

Howard

Kadena

Osan

Yokota

25

Jun 2013

Top AF Vehicle Manager

Recalls Career
MSgt Bob Wileyformer top AF vehicle manager So, by the time I tailored mine, the hem on my legs almost
reached my knees, and so did the crotch, come to think of it.
recalls career
Can you believe: one size fits all?
One of the pleasures of publishing Truckin On is having the
Dec 55 Apr 57, Patrick AFB Florida: Having survived the
opportunity to spotlight senior transporters.
rigors of a 13-week period of basic training, Airman Third Class
Bob Wiley needs no introduction for most
of us; however, for those whove been Robert Wiley began his working career in the AF.
around for 10 years or less, or retired
before 1988, you might not know that he
once held the top civilian vehicle
management position in the Air Force and
that he was an architect in shaping
todays vehicle maintenance career field.
Background: Shortly after the Korean Police Action
17-year old Bob Wiley enlisted in the Air Force. He served
almost 22 years in Air Force Blue, 18 months as an RCA
Service Co. contractor employee to the AF, and about 25
years in civil service; proudly, it was all in the vehicle
business...except 5-months as a 1st shirt.

I was a dreaded direct-duty Airman, (no tech school)

assigned to the Air Research and Development Commands
Patrick AFB, as a vehicle maintenance, allied trades metals
specialist.
But I wasnt assigned to the Transportation Squadron because
in those days there wasnt such a thing, so I was in the 6550th
Air Base Group for a while. As I was trying to become
proficient in my allied trades specialty, I was detailed to the
motor pool (back then those werent fighting words) as a driver.
I recall operating a 1 ton stake and platform truck
double-clutching to several different locations on the base to
pick up mostly office furniture, to deliver to a central location.

Bob started out as a sheet metals specialist, which was then a

47xxx, and then converted to what was known as Records &
Analysis and evolved into Maintenance Control & Analysis.

That central location was a Transportation Squadron facility;

hence those of us in the several TRANSRON specialties were
no longer assigned to the ABG.

He just recently learned of Truckin On and hopes to become a

contributor to future issues. Bob now resides in Pelham, AL
(just outside Bham) and will turn 75 in Sep 2013.

It was during this tour that I met my sweetheart, Miss Nancy

Queen.

He has been married for 55 years (to the same womanbless

her heart). They have three children, six grand-children and
two great-grandchildren to love and enjoy.
This is his story in his own words:
Sep to Dec 55, Sampson AFB New York: Located in
upstate New York in the Syracuse/Geneva area, basic training
was what it was designed to bea life-changing experience.
Nobody told Airman Basic Robert Wiley it was going to be
enjoyable; and sure enough, it wasnt. But it was very cold
there in upstate New York in November and December.
We were issued AF blue dress uniforms, but the
summer-weight uniforms issued to us were khakis. Army
khakis for AF wear preceded AF summer-weight AF 505s and
AF 1505s uniforms (can you say: pith helmet?) and
summer-weight blues.
We were also issued one-piece work habitats/coveralls
(fatigues) and each of us was responsible to make em fit.

May 57 May 58, Keflavik AB Iceland: After almost

2- years or so at Patrick, I was reassigned to a 1-year tour to
Keflavik AB Iceland, a Military Air Transport Service (MATS)
base.
After my tour in Iceland, I returned to Florida to marry Nancy
Queen, before heading to my (our) new assignment in New
Hampshire.
Jun 58 Jan 61, Pease AFB New Hampshire. I was
assigned to vehicle maintenance within Strategic Air
Commands 100 Bomb Wing, Pease AFB.
Initially, there were B47 and B52 bombers and KC97 and
KC135 tankers assigned to the Wing, but during my time
there, those B47 and KC97 aircraft departed, and a second
Wing, the 509th with their B52 and KC135 aircraft was hosted
there. It was during this tour that the AF instituted a vehicle
maintenance specialty code (MOS) for allied trades, at which
time I traded my metals-working AFSC for that one. So I now
became an official Transporter-by-specialty.
Continued on PG 27
26

Top AF Vehicle Manager

Recalls Career
Feb 61 Jan 63, Andersen AFB Guam: Now an Airman At about the half-way point in this tour, the Air Base Group
First Class, I was off to another SAC base, this one on Guam.
found itself without a first sergeant, so I, a Technical Sergeant
By this time, Nancy was authorized to join me overseas, at this point, was selected to be the shirt for the second half of
because, having re-enlisted, I was now a three-striper with over my tour there. During this time, one of SACs B-52 bombers
four years service. It had to be quick though because Nancy crashed into the ice near Thuleweapons and all. Following
recovery of the weapons (thankfully intact), part of the
was already seven months pregnant with our first child.
remediation of the crash site called for lots of airmen to go out
Her doctor allowed her to make the trip, so we were able to on the ice and spread sand over that site.
celebrate that milestone in our lives together when our first
The premise being that the sand would capture what little
child, Randall, was born in the Agana Naval hospital.
warmth there was from the sun at that latitude, melt the ice and
During the second half of my Guam assignment, I was drafted allow the debris to sink into the ocean. Interestingly, this was
to maintenance control, assigned the job of keypunching and the same time at which three-stripers, (First Class Airman)
data collection. The AF was just now transitioning to this were now considered NCOs, or buck sergeants. So guess who
automation thing. I liked that work because the office was air now thought, and voiced the opinion, that a sand-spreading
conditionedthe body shop wasnt. And check this: the air detail was beneath the dignity of an NCO? Now guess who
conditioning in the office was via a self-help work order using disabused those brand new NCOs of that thinking? Whyit
the refrigeration unit salvaged from a refrigerated van on its was First Sergeant Bob, of course; and yes, the sand was
way to the bone yard. It worked very efficiently too.
spread.
Three months or so before our DEROS date, Typhoon Karen Jun 68 May 70, Fairchild AFB Washington: I requested
struck the island, tearing it up for a fare-thee-well, so Nancy a second tour at SACs Fairchild AFB, hoping for another
and my son was evacuated back to the U.S. early, while I was almost 4-year tour there, but that wasnt to be. I had shed the
held to help with the base recovery.
shirts diamond and was once again back to vehicle
Once reunited upon my return from Guam, we did what military maintenance. Big difference being I had changed my AFSC to
families often do upon returning from overseas. We hit the road that of the Maintenance Control and Analysis (MC&A)
again; this time, heading to Fairchild AFB in Washington State. specialty. After less than a year, duty called again for a remote
Jan 63 May 67, Fairchild AFB Washington: Though still assignmentthis time to the Pacific Air Forces Theater, in the
holding an allied trades AFSC, my first job there was as the Republic of Vietnam. Thats rightPACAFbecause at that
vehicle maintenance data collection guy, using IBM cardpunch time there was no CENTAF or CENTCOM.
machines and the most unfriendly reports packages any Jun 70 Jun 71, Tan Son Nhut AB Vietnam: During my
mainframe computer system had ever produced.
time in Vietnam, I was initially assigned as NCOIC of
at the squadron level; and
I went on to become the NCOIC, of what was then called maintenance control and analysis
th
then
to
Headquarters
7
Air
Force,
PACAFs in-country
Records, Reports and Control (RR&C) in vehicle maintenance.
Numbered Air Force, for my last six months in Vietnam.
Oh, and if youve ever wondered where the idea for the Despite the meaningful work and adventurous environment,
AF1252, USAF Vehicle Serv-O-Plate was conceived, it was after spending one full year and one full day in Vietnam, I was
here at Fairchild via an AF Suggestion submitted by yours truly. more than willing to return to the states.
Fairchild was an exciting and rewarding assignment for us;
doubly so because our second and third sons (Mark and Brian) Jul 71 May 72, Moody AFB Georgia: It seems that
during much of this period of service, I could only stay put for
were born in the base hospital there.
about a year at a time.
Jun 67 Jun 68, Thule AB Greenland: The vehicle
maintenance and operations work at Thule AB, an AF After Vietnam, I was stationed for less than a year at Moody
Communications Service (AFCS) base, was contracted, so, I AFB again as a vehicle maintenance Quality Assurance
was assigned as a quality assurance evaluator (QAE) for my Evaluator, because at that time, that work was contracted at
Moody.
tour in Greenland.
Continued on PG 28

27

Top AF Vehicle Manager

Recalls Career
The Moody AFB of this timeframe was an Air Training Feb 86 Dec 88, Andrews AFB, Maryland: After working
Command base, in existence, back then, to conduct VIMS and the Command/Air Force Vehicle Integrated
undergraduate pilot training.
Management System, and the Vehicle Priority Buy System for
Jun 72 May 75, Randolph AFB, Texas: The one-year eight years at Gunter, the beltwaymore specifically, a
tours finally came to an end, and my family and I were able to promotionbegan to appeal to me. In 1986 I was selected to be
stay at Randolph AFB, TX for almost three years. I was Air Force Systems Commands (AFSCs) Vehicle and Equipment
assigned as one of the two MAJCOM-level NCOICs for Division Chief, and did that for close to three years. Then I was
Maintenance Control and Analysis. I thoroughly enjoyed my fortunate enough to be selected for another promotion, this time
to the Air Staff. It was about this time that AFSC and Air Force
tour in the Lone Star State.
Logistics Command (AFLC) merged, thus forming the
May 75 May 77, Gunter AFS, Alabama: Then came my newly-created Air Force Materiel Command.
most interesting military job of all time. Assigned to a Special
Operating Agency (SOA) in what was then called the Air Force Dec 88 Apr 03: Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia: I was
Data Systems Design Center at Gunter AFS, Alabama as a brought to my final Air Force job as a Transportation Officer,
Vehicle Integrated Management System (VIMS) functional Motor Vehicle Manager, on the Air Staff. For my first seven
analyst. (VIMS was the forerunner to what eventually evolved to years on the staff, if the work was oriented or related to vehicle
become the then-current OLVIMS). Then in May, 1977, the first maintenance; or to VIMS or Short-VIMS, OLVIMS, CAFVIMS or
phase of my working career came to an end when I retired from PRIBUY, I was the single go-to guythe functional manager on
staff. Think about it. For seven long years, for vehicle
the military after almost 22 years.
maintenance and its systems work, across the entire Air Force, I
CIVILIAN ASSIGNMENTS
was the single procedures and policy person, as well as the
May 77 Oct 78: Six days after my military retirement, my career field and training manager for the Vehicle Maintenance
family and I moved to Columbus, Mississippi, where I took a career fields. A considerable amount of work to keep up with,
position with the RCA Service Company at ATCs Columbus but I loved it.
AFB. I was the contractors project manager, responsible for the I couldnt possibly do all the work needed to be done by myself
vehicle operations and maintenance programs for the base.
though. I had considerable help from very talented and
Though there was a Chief of Transportation on the base, I and
my contract activity came under the Base Contracting Office, in
Procurement, for oversight. Interesting times because I was the
bases first contract manager and many blue-suiters werent
happy about a contractor displacing the AF vehicle program
military and civilians on the base. After seventeen months as a
contractor, I just couldnt stay away from my Air Force roots,
and thus ending phase two of my working career.
CIVIL SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS

industrious people at many MAJCOMs and operating agencies,

and others on the Air Staff as well. That doesnt mean I coasted
from that point on. What it did mean was that for my remaining
seven years or so on-staff, I could devote more time to a smaller
slice of the total work that still demanded constant shepherding.
Thus ended the third and final phase of my working career in,
for and with AF Transportation vehicle management.
From Airman Basic in 1955 thru to GM-14
in 2003, I cant think of a working life any
better than what the Air Force offered me.

Oct 78 Feb 86, Gunter AFS, Alabama: I rejoined the AF,

this time in civil service. And once again, among a host of other
Heres how Id sum it all up: If there
programs, I was assigned to nurture the VIMS, the predecessor
were any successes attributed to me, those
system to OLVIMS. Some of us thought the work was important,
successes could not have been achieved
and knew it was varied. I started going on TDYs it seemed
without the direction and/or assistance of
Mr. Bob Wiley
almost as much as I lived at home. During my tour there, I spent
many, many talented and industrious Air
a great deal of my time TDY to Wright-Patterson and Robins Force people across the entire spectrum: military and civilian,
AFBs, such that they probably could have added me to their and enlisted and officer grade, with whom I worked...and special
personnel rolls.
thanks to my bride, Nancy, for all her support.

28

Aug 2013

The Safest Bet in Vegas!

by Kevin Thomas, MSgt (2T3)
99th Logistics Readiness Squadron

The facilities were old and extremely undersized for a large

fleet of 1.2K vehicles. Anything larger than a 60K aircraft loader
or 44 passenger bus was just too big to repair inside the shop,
so work was done outside.
In many areas of the world this may not be a big issue, but
when you consider the extreme heat of 110+ degrees during
the summer months, working outside was particularly
hazardous to our mechanics.
Now add in a numbered air force, five wings, 14 groups and
70+ units with diverse missions along with the average 1,500
personnel TDY to Nellis every day of the year for the numerous
RED, GREEN and SILVER FLAG exercises Nellis is famous
forand you get the picture of a poor facility with a huge
workload.

SSgt Gigliotti inspects k-loader

Las Vegas: The city where fortunes can be made or lost. Sin
City is best known for its awesome night life and culture of
anything goes, and its litany of gambling opportunities.
Whats not well known, however, is that a few miles north of the
world famous Las Vegas Strip is Nellis Air Force Base and the
99th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) Vehicle
Management Flight!
Nestled in the far northeast end of the Las Vegas valley is
Nellis Air Force Base, home of the 99th and 57th Wings. Its
Old VM facility
here where the men and women of the 99th Logistics
Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance Flight call home, Well times have changed in the last 10 years. In 2004, we
and its here where they keep the mission on point every day!
were able to increase our manning to support FLAG exercises
Comprised of 91 military personnel and 27 civilian work leaders by 20+ mechanics, and with the assistance of Senator Harry
and technicians, the vehicle management crew manages a fleet Reid, we received funding for our new maintenance facility and
of over 1,800 vehicles and maintains a fleet of over 1,200 to renovate the existing facility as well.
vehicles ensuring mission readiness, and keeping aircraft flying
every day!
Without us, pilots are pedestrians, and everyone on base
would become an ABU-wearing bicycle gang!
Forget I said that: with sequestration in full swing, I dont want
to put ideas in anyones head.
Just over 10 years ago the 99 LRS Vehicle Management Flight
was considered one of the least desirable assignments in the
vehicle maintenance community.
Because of our reputation we were known as a meat grinder, a
true sweat factory of all the vehicle maintenance flights; it was
an assignment most of us avoided.

New VM facility
Continued on PG 30
29

In January 2006 we moved into a brand new state of the art

80K square feet building. We still have the hectic pace that
comes with managing a massive fleet and ensuring our
customers from Nellis, Creech, Ft Irwin and from all across the
3.6M acre Nevada Test and Training Range are supported to
the best of our ability.
However, now we do it in a modern facility with the space we
need to operate efficiently.
Now that you know a little about the complexity and history of
the 99 LRS VM flight, let me tell you about how maintaining a
massive fleet like this is possible.
At Nellis, under the leadership of our Flight Chief, retired Chief
Master Sergeant Honolito Hoey Directo, our Vehicle Fleet
Manager, Chief Master Sergeant Roman Jaye and our Vehicle
A1C Managaya & A1C Basa adjust valves
Management Superintendent, Senior Master Sergeant Martin
Bedford, the VM flight is divided into 4 Vehicle Repair Teams Like their Team 1 counterparts, they do any and all level of
with each team led by a retired military member.
repairs, and specialize in hydraulic system repairs and also
Heres how they are comprised: Team 1 is led by retired house our machine and welding shops. In addition to fixing all
the heavy stuff, they service a large fleet of material handling
Master Sergeant Leonard Heuring.
equipment; this includes forklifts of all sizes, and aircraft cargo
Mr. Heuring and his shop service mainly general purpose
loaders (K-loaders).
assets, as well as the huge bus fleet that Nellis utilizes. In
addition, they also perform alignments on anything that can be Also, this is where you will find our fire truck technicians,
aligned, and know a lot about keeping things cold (they service keeping the Nellis runway open and families safe. Lastly,
Team 2 is also home to our refueling mechanics.
air conditioning).
The airmen in Team 1 also service all military designed Nellis VM was one of the first flights to re-integrate all refueling
vehicles on Nellis. They perform repairs ranging from oil maintenance operations fully back into VM from our
changes to engine overhauls to full electrical system fuel-pumping POL brethren. These folks keep our huge fleet of
50+ refueling assets mission ready, and assisted our POL folks
refurbishments, all with quality and style!
to win the American Petroleum Institute trophy for Best Fuels
Also, Team 1 is responsible for installing the AFs new AIM2
Flight in the Air Force for 2012.
system into the entire fleet. This system will allow for vehicle
data to be remotely accessed from several points around the Vehicle Team 3 is led by retired Master Sergeant Johnny
base, and will help result in better mileage tracking on vehicles, Gaines, and is the home of our customer service (CSC) team,
allied trades (AT) folks, and our tire and emissions section.
and eliminate countless man-hours of data retrieval.
If it takes our personnel up and down the road, the folks in The CSC folks in-check all vehicles entering the shops, and
handle anything that can be done in under two hours via minor
Team 1 make sure it rolls!
maintenance. They also serve as the quality control function to
Vehicle Team 2 is led by retired Senior Master Sergeant Ray
ensure the VM teams are consistently putting out high quality
Heick, and they handle all of our special purpose vehicles.
work.
From bobtails to sweepers, forklifts to construction equipment,
In addition, we have one of the few stateside fully functioning
if its big and belongs on Nellis, these folks fix it.
AT sections, handling anything from minor paint and accident
Team 2 is responsible for keeping all of our aircraft tow and repairs to full paint and major accident repairs.
base maintenance fleet rolling.

Continued on PG 31
30

The tire shop airmen do anything from passenger tires to huge The materiel control section orders all of our parts, handles all
fire truck tires, and they utilize recapped tires for any and all of our chemical authorizations, controls our tool programs, and
vehicles they can.
makes it rain by handling our budget as well!
Lastly, the flight support section keeps us out of jail by handling
all our safety and environmental compliance issues, as well as
keeping our operating instructions up to date.
This team is our back-room office folks, and they are as much
a part of our success as any wrench-turner!
Our aforementioned success is pretty darn impressive, to say
the least! In addition to consistently keeping our
vehicle-in-commission (VIC) rate at over 90 percent for five
straight years, the VM flight is in no small part responsible for
the 99 LRS capturing the 2012 Vern Orr Award, the POL flight
capturing the 2012 Air Combat Command Drake Award for
Best Fuels Flight in ACC, and the crowning jewel: Winning
the prestigious 2012 General Warren R. Carter Order of the
Daedalian Award.
New VM facility

This award recognizes the 99 LRS as being the Best Logistics

Our emissions shop performs testing on all gas and diesel Readiness Squadron in the entire Air Force for 2012!
powered over-the-road assets. We recently installed a new So, the next time you come to Vegas, and are looking to strike
dyno machine, ensuring all of our assets meet Nevada state it rich, you can try your hand at blackjack, craps, or any of the
emissions standards!
other many games the casinos have to offer.
Last, but certainly not least, is Team 4, led by retired Senior However, the safest bet in town is still that the men and women
Master Sergeant Kelly Keebler who recently won the 2013 of the 99 LRS Vehicle Management Flight who will be keeping
GSA Fleet Manager of the Year Awardcongratulations Kelly! Nellis AFB rolling and ready to fight!
This team is home to our vehicle management and analysis
(VM&A) section, as well as our materiel control folks. The
VM&A section handles all of our work order processing, fleet
management, scheduling for all vehicles, and keeps our vehicle
records accurate and up to date.

MSgt (Ret) Jimbo Pehan, a former TMO transporter, sent this YouTube/MotorWeek video to me and I thought it was
exceptional. Its a car show held annually in Minnesota. I think youll enjoy it too, so just click on the link below and see for
yourself. Thanks, Jimbo!

www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GDEn3i6g3qo

31

Veterans Day 2013

Nov 2013

Remembering Americas Veterans

Richard Overton is believed to be Americas oldest living

veteran. Mr. Overton is a WWII veteran and is 107 years old.
by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
He served with the Army Air Forces in the Pacific, including
When I was a kid, what is now known as Veterans Day was Hawaii, Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima, and currently resides in
called Armistice Day, although in 1954 President Eisenhower Austin, Texas. Please see the following websites for the video
signed the law that officially changed the name. It was a day and story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKhP-pdL9xQ
originally set aside to honor those who served and fought in http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/26/america-oldest-veteran
WWI. The holiday was observed on November 11, the date on -to-spend-quiet-memorial-day-at-texas-home/
which the armistice (ceasefire) went into effect and would end
the war to end all wars.
Our teacher would always instruct the class to pause for a
moment of silence at 11:00 A.M. the fighting ended on the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Note: The
official end of WWI (Treaty of Versailles) was June 28, 1919.
Im not sure if this tradition is still observed in schools or not. I
have my doubts. WWI ended almost 100 years ago and the
last American Doughboy died on Feb 27, 2011. His name
was Frank Buckles and he was 110 years old at the time of his
death. His story is fascinating. Please see the following
website for the full story:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/lastdoughboy.html
Richard Overton 1906 In 1968 Veterans Day was included in the Uniform Holiday Bill,
which was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal
employees by celebrating four national holidays on Monday.
Due to the fact that Veterans Day was a matter of pride and
historic significance, President Ford signed a law in 1975 to
restore the annual observance to its original date of November
11, beginning in 1978.

Frank Buckles 1901-2011

I wanted to spotlight Frank Buckles because he represents the

generation for whom Armistice/Veterans Day was established
and is no longer with us. Richard Overton is the oldest living
veteran and represents The Greatest Generation who is
leaving us at a rapid pace and to whom we owe so much.
Today, Veterans Day honors veterans from all eras for their
patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and
sacrifice for the common good. In an age when veterans have
become political bargaining chips, theres no time more
crucial than right now to show your appreciation and support
for Americas veterans.
32

Grease, Grit & Grime

Dec 2013

A Salute to Vehicle Operators and Maintainers

by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
Its hard for me to express how I feel about vehicle operators
and maintainers. Im not a vehicle operator by trade, but Im
proud to have managed this inspired group of hard-working,
dedicated peopleboth military and civilians.

The vehicle business is not a glamorous occupation; its rare

when we make the headlines, although our Combat Truckers
have been in the news for their exploits, and deservedly so.
They put their lives on the line for mission and country.

Vehicle maintenance is home for me; its where I grew up. This
article, however, is not about me. Its about the men and
women of vehicle operations and maintenance who get the job
done every daythe sled dogs who make the mission
happen.
Maintainers are a special breed, a no nonsense, resolute bunch
who take their craft seriously. They routinely accept challenges
that would overwhelm many, yet prove time and again that
theyre up to the task, confident in what they do.
In sports these types of people are known as gamers. Theyre
the ones who come off the field sweaty and with dirty uniforms Motor pool, once considered a derisive term among Air Force
because theyve been in the battle. Its the same in our vehicle operators, is now used informally by the rank and file
with a sense of pride. These men and women have earned an
profession.
esteemed reputation and stand tall among their peers.
I suppose every specialty could claim to be a key link in the
chain, but if it were not for mechanics and operators, mission
critical vehicles wouldnt get repaired, cargo wouldnt move, and
aircrews would become pedestrians. Its that simple.
These airmen endure lonely nights in remote places, far away
from family and friends, with modest pay, bad coffee, and
usually without a complaint. Its not new. Air Force vehicle
operators and maintainers have been doing this for decades.
Uniforms have changed, vehicles have changed, and society
has changed; however, the mission and these skilled
transporters have remained steadfast.
In my minds eye, I see mechanics with greasy hands and
coveralls, tired and bleeding from skinned knuckles, but with a
look of satisfaction knowing that the job is done, and done right.
Theyre the ones we managers go to when we need an
important task performed or overtime is required. They can be
counted on every time. They have an innate talent to diagnose
and repair complex malfunctions, and even fabricate parts if
necessary. Simply put, theyre the backbone of the shop.

Whether its at home or in some far-flung corner of the world,

theyll be there providing maintenance and transportation
services to keep em flying.
These men and women are my heroes. However, theyre not
looking for medals, certificates, or special treatment. A simple
thank you and a hand shake will suffice, and if their hand
appears to be a little greasy, shake it anyway. Itll wash off.

We at Truckin On thank you and salute you for what you do

The same can be said of vehicle operators who work 24/7 every day.
transporting cargo, aircraft parts, and aircrews. Images of
chains, binders, tie-down straps, and cargo nets come to mind.
These are the Road Warriors who drive the mission and
provide a continuous life line of logistics support to and from the
airfield.
33

Vietnam a look back

Mar 2014

Transporters recall what it was like for

them over 40 years ago

History doesnt record the everyday experiences of Air Force

ground transporters, so we offered them a chance to tell their
Editors Comments: It is not our intent to discuss the own stories here. This newsletter is dedicated to them and
politics of the Vietnam War in this article. Those issues have others who served in Vietnam.
been debated endlessly since the war ended many years ago. The map below depicts major USAF bases in Southeast Asia at
We simply wanted to capture the thoughts of a few members the time of the war and serves as a point of reference.
who were therein country.
Continued on PG 35

34

Vietnam a look back

Phu Cat

We stuck some poles in the ground and boards across the roof
and laid a tarp. We scrounged materials from all over base and
George McElwain, 37th Transportation Squadron, Phu Cat
moved them to our location with a 1 1/2 ton truck. We needed a
AB, RVN, Feb 67Feb 68, NCOIC MHE/463L Shops
place for tools, parts, and a break area, so we built a "hot dog
The flight to the RVN landed at Tan Son Nhut AB in Saigon; stand" with windows that opened for air, and it provided
however, I was unable to walk as my right ankle had swollen shelter from the rain. The shop truck served as our office.
twice its normal size. I was hospitalized for 7 days in Qui Nhon
I explained to supply that we just opened a new shop, so they
before making the onward flight to Phu Cat. We arrived at Phu
agreed to issue jacks, stands, battery chargers and all the other
Cat late at night, but had no place to sleep. Everyone was
equipment we needed. We were so excited, but when we
issued a cot, blanket, and pillow and told to find a barracks. We
opened the boxes the waterproof paper and most of the
found an empty building and grabbed some shuteye, only to be
equipment wrapped in it were ruined. Parts were a real
awakened to the sound of rain, and the fact that we were getproblem; the overhaul kits that were sent only had parts for IHC
ting wet as the barracks we selected had no roof.
trucks, but none for Hyster, Baker, or Minneapolis Moline. We
I reported for in-processing and duty assignment and the ordered them, but the due outs didn't match what came in. So,
NCOIC told me I was assigned to the MHE/463L shop. I asked we found small parts, nuts, and bolts in a nearby Army junkyard
him where it was and he said under the shade tree behind the at Phu Bai; they took apart blown up equipment.
supply tent. It was also close to the constant hum of a 60KW
After 9 months of the tree and tent, we moved into the
generator that provided power for all the shops.
RMK-BRJ building vacated by the base construction crew. Life
I went looking for the shop and found several mechanics busy was better after that, but we kept the hot dog stand for parts,
with forklifts and tugs. I found some tools and was introduced to etc. The remaining time was just hard work and we said that we
an older SSgt. He informed me that he was in charge, which worked from can to can't and that was from can see to can't
the boss confirmed; however, he only had a 5-skill level. I had see.
already passed the 7-skill level test, so I was now in charge and
We worked 7 days a week, but we were able to sneak off
the shade tree was mine!
occasionally on an afternoon and then show up late for roll call
the next day. Troops at some locations were not able to leave
the base, but the town of Qui Nhon was secure.
MHE/463L Shop Phu Cat

It was one tough year, but we opened a new base with nothing
but resourceful mechanics with a ton of talent, and the job was
accomplished. We only had to defend the base once, which
proved you should never give weapons to mechanics.

The first thing we needed was a shop floor and the RMK-BRJ
construction company (contractor) was busy pouring the
runway and taxiways.
We found out they had some bad loads of concrete, so we laid
forms, found some steel, and prayed for more bad batches,
especially the soupy stuff. Damn nice floor!
Continued on PG 36
35

Vietnam a look back

Tan Son Nhut
Al Baird, 377th Transportation Squadron, Tan Son Nhut AB,
RVN, Aug 68Aug 69, Vehicle Maintenance Superintendent
In 1968 my four-year tour at the USAF academy, current
enlistment and 20 years of service expired all at once. I had not
been to Vietnam, so when I reenlisted for four years I got my
orders for Tan Son Nhut AB, Saigon faster than the speed of
light.
Shortly after relocating my family, I was aboard a chartered
aircraft headed to Saigon. When I arrived there I was met at the
airport by our maintenance officer and the E-8 I was
replacing. I was impressed by that, so from that day on I
personally picked up everyone at the airport who reported to our
organization and delivered them to it when they departed.

After settling in, it quickly became quite clear that "we were no
longer in Kansas." Our lube section consisted of a concrete hole
in the ground (grease pit) with no lights, a few handoperated
grease guns, and some
hand-operated
oilCat
pumps that fit 55-gal
MHE/463L
Shop Phu
drums, but equipment wasn't the real problem.
Many of our customers were scattered all over the place doing
important work that they could not accomplish without their
limited transportation. So, many of their vehicles went without
service and were only delivered to us when they were on life
support. We could not communicate with most of our
customers, and we could barely communicate with our outlying
shops a mile away (primitive land line system).
Later on they built us a new service station maintenance shop
with a great lube rack, which, after a short time, presented its
own maintenance problems. However, as you might expect,
obtaining replacement parts for our vehicles and equipment was
the real problem, and it could not be solved.

On the brighter side, our maintenance officer was one of the

good guys. I still communicate with him. Our shop foremen and
our mechanics were highly skilled and could do whatever it took
to get the job done. We didn't have all the fancy tools we
needed, but a lot of us older guys were taught to do a lot of
things without fancy tools. It would be nice to say that the
longer we were there the better things got, but they didn't. We
just did the best we could with what was available.
Just to let you know that we had a corrosion problem, I need to
tell this story: We had a jeep in our back lot with the left front
wheel folded straight out from under the vehicle and lying flat on
the ground with the wheel hub pointing skyward. The lower
control arm had rusted through and broken completely off, a
sad sight indeed. We were technically in a war zone but
our Security friends pretty well kept between us and the Viet
Cong. The area that we occupied had been overrun a few
months before I arrived during the Tet offensive, but nothing
serious happened while I was there. They did fire a few rockets
at our base, but only at night. When they attacked, a siren
sounded and we made a mad dash for our bunker.
My most lasting personal impression of our country's
involvement in Vietnam was after working there and talking with
some of the local national workers it became obvious to me
that most of them had no idea why this war was going on. The
average citizen didn't really know what form of government they
were living under at the time or the difference between a
communist, democratic or theocratic form of government, or
that their millions and millions of citizens lives would hardly
change or be affected in any significant way no matter who
won the war. More than three million of us were involved in
some way in this war. More than 58,000 of us died and now,
years later, the lives of these Vietnamese people are basically
unchanged and they live on, day after day and year after year.
The average citizen didn't really know what form
of government they were living under at the
time or the difference between a communist,
democratic or theocratic form of government, or
that their millions and millions of citizens lives
would hardly change or be affected in any
significant way no matter who won the war.

Vehicle maintenance, and everyone else on base, was ordering

thousands and thousands of parts and supplies, so the system
became saturated. Furthermore, with the procurement system
the Air Force had in place at that time, we just had to accept
the fact that it was the best we could do.
Continued on PG 37
36

Vietnam a look back

Tan Son Nhut

Once finished with this in-process goat roping, we, newly

arrived, were bussed to Tan Son Nhuts transient area, and it
Bob Wiley, 377th Transportation Squadron & 7th Air Force,
Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, Jun 70Jun 71, Supervisor, struck me as pretty dismal, though I think some of that was
because I was separated from my wife and kids. But we had to
Maintenance Analysis
hang around there until more in-processing was completed.
Like most contract flights into Vietnam, they flew high and
dropped rather suddenly once in the airfields airspace to We all needed to be issued our tropical weight fatigues and
minimize the amount of time we were vulnerable to ground fire nylon cloth-upper boots, squadron billets, bedding, tobacco and
beer/liquor ration cards, and final in-processing at the orderly
during conventional low altitude approaches.
room. Im thinkin.one of these days Ill finally get to go to
work.
TSgt Bob Wiley Tan Son Nhut 1970

While at the 377th, I supervised the R&A office with three other
analysts and one Vietnamese clerk assigned. One benefit of
working R&A was we operated the cardpunch machine to
capture vehicle MX data, and the punch cards were rather
sensitive to humidity; that meant our work area had to be air
conditioned. How tough was that? Capt Truetler was the MX
officer when I first got there; when he rotated, Capt Jerry Gallo
replaced him.
The Vietnamese clerk I had, named Miss Voc, did a lot of
keypunching and if you saw how long her fingernails were youd
have to wonder how she could keypunch with them. The way
she did it was to hold a pencil upside down and speed around
the numeric keyboard tapping the keys with the eraser. By the
way, in their culture, long nails on women signified a certain
status so asking them to trim their nails was out of the question.

Once deplaned, in-processing began immediately, and it was

pretty chaotic, what with instructions on how to hunker down
quickly if we beganMHE/463L
taking fire;
moving
Shop
Phufrom
Cat place to place for
personnel and finance concerns; and converting our US
MHE/463L
Phu Cat
currency into military
scrip,Shop
thatpaper
currency our country
printed that substituted for US currency and coin in foreign
countries.

The R&A office was upstairs over one of the several shops in
the MX compound, almost right up against the cyclone-type
fence that separated the airfield from some of the Saigon
neighborhood. Id have to say I was never totally comfortable
with that arrangement.
Though in reality, Tan Son Nhut was secure, and while I was
there we never had mortars or rockets, or sappers infiltrating
the base, we were still in a combat zone. There was, however,
an abundance of bunkers scattered throughout the base. We
were supposed to hunker down in them in the event of an
attack.

It was during this in-processing that I got my first look at the

traditional clothing item most Vietnamese women of some
status wore, the "o Di". Its very simple, consisting of a
close-fitting blouse, with long panels in the front and back,
which is worn over loose white or black trousers and almost
always with heels. Women of a lesser status typically wore very Speaking of where to go in the event of an attack, if we had
loose fitting pajama-like garments, usually white tops with black been told we needed the M-16 weapon that was assigned to
each of us, we had to hustle over to our motor pool area, and
pants.
hope someone who had the key to the weapon storage area
was there to issue the weapon and some ammo; that was
another reason to be a bit uneasy. But just about all of us did
get an opportunity to hold our weapon for about ten minutes
or so every other month when we received no-fire weapons
training.
MPC or Scrip

Continued on PG 38
37

Vietnam a look back

Our squadron troops occupied several two story barracks and
they, along with other units barracks, flanked a sprawling
latrine facility that was used by a large number of GIs. One end
of it was showers, and up and down both sides of the
remainder of this facility were urinals, commodes, and sinks; it
seemed like 1/3 of each group of those items was out of order
at any one time; I mean really out of order. Fortunately, the
upper third of this building, on all sides, was screening, and that
was a good thingsort of odor control.
After a short while in-country it became commonplace to see a
lot of wheeled armored vehicles patrolling the base; and some
of RVNs no-nonsense military police officers (we referred to
em as white mice) directing traffic. The white mice stood out
by wearing a distinctive arm band and a bright white US forces
helmet liner. Nobody gave the White Mice any lip.
I got an appreciation for our MX troops doing more with less;
base contracting specialists providing some amazing support,
and inter-service support agreements with the US Army
providing in-country depot-like support for some of our outsized
stuff. It was also surprising to me to see how industrious and
capable many Vietnamese were in a land that was way less
than being industrialized. If you gave them a widget,
unavailable anywhere, theyd copy it and make however many
of them you needed.

We argued that we had no change of clothes or grooming gear

because this was supposed to be only a single day soiree,
whereupon he told us hed get us whatever we needed to
freshen up the following morning. If you guessed that he never
came through with any of that stuff, you were correct. If you
also guessed we didnt look or smell so great the next day, you
were likewise correct.
There was some hostile activity going on at those TDY
locations. I found myself TDY to Cam Rahn Bay and Da Nang,
and several other locations I cant recall anymore. But what I
can remember is that almost anywhere I went TDY the
Vietcong had just paid the base some attention, or was trying to
pay the base some attention, so we were on alert for a
while. All things considered, Id rather have stayed put at Tan
Son Nhut. But the enemy didnt have to fear meremember Im
the one that didnt have a weapon to carry around.

Was it all bad? Not at all. Saigon was a truly interesting place,
and 7 AF people were frequently doing things to help take the
edge off being in Vietnam. For example, I had attended my first
ever luau there, an authentic luau with the pig buried
underground. Saigons also the place where I took my first
cyclo ride. The cyclo was a three-wheeled conveyance you
would hire to zip you around the city. Some were powered by
scooters and others by bicycles. You would be seated in the
front of this thing and the cowboy driving it apparently wanted
to be a race car driver. Saigon streets were full of a variety of
conveyances powered by 2-cycle engines, so you can pretty
well imagine how polluted the air was in the city proper. But
MHE/463LShop
Shop
Phu
PhuCat
Cat
MHE/463L
So then I find myself at 7AF HQ, assigned as a Veh Ops unless youve seen it, you cant begin to know how much stuff
can be transported on a conventional or motorized bicycle.
supervisor. My immediate
Major
MHE/463Lboss
Shopwas
Phu
Cat Russ Pentz, who
had previously spent quite a bit of his career at SAC.
As my tour was winding down, the Vietnamization Program was
This assignment was a typical HQ thing which meant a fair spinning up; the US forces were working very hard to try to
amount of time was spent on TDY. Much of my travel was by make the RVN troops self-sustaining and capable of militarily
C-130 and the C-7 Caribou (pretty much a smaller, two-engine protecting the South from the North. The US put a tremendous
amount of time and materiel into this Vietnamization thing, only
version of the C-130).
to see it totally fall apart while we were in the final throes of
The word was that the Caribou could actually fly backward in a closing down our US military presence. Despite peace accords
strong enough headwind, though I never personally signed in Paris, as soon as the US forces were gone, the NVA
experienced that, nor did I want to. But it was true that some invaded the south and the RVN capitulated almost
in-country flights carried a few indigenous passengers to immediately. Kind of reminds me of our current Iraq
include their live poultry and a goat or two. And it was during experience.
these TDYs that I got a taste of actually being less secure than
Cyclo
I was accustomed to at Tan Son Nhut.
I recall a TDY to Binh Thuy (bin tooey) with another of my HQs
mates, and it was supposed to be a one-day affair. But then the
commander of the unit we were visiting said hed need us there
through the following day as well, and hed call our boss to
square it away.

Ao Dai

Continued on PG 39
38

Vietnam a look back

Final Salute.

Brigadier General Steve Ritchie Vietnam War Ace

by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)

submitted by Larry Kearns, Col, USAF (Ret)

As a Vietnam Era veteran, putting this article together has been

special for me. The stories submitted here arent heroic, but
theyre real and describe the everyday grind of ordinary men
serving their country in a war zone, and at a time when it wasnt
popular to do so. To all those who served in Southeast Asia,
men and women, thank you.

On July 8, 1972, then-Capt Steve Ritchie downed two MiGs

with three missiles in 1 minute, 29 seconds. Less than two
months later, on Aug. 28, Ritchie downed his fifth MiG 21 to
become the Air Force's only pilot ace of the Vietnam War -and the only American pilot in history to shoot down five of the
legendary Russian-made fighter planes.

There are two more tributes on this page that I urge you to take
time to watch and listen. The first, submitted by Col Larry
Kearns, features Brigadier General Steve Ritchie, a real-life
hero of Vietnam. The story he tells in this 8-minute/44-second
video is riveting and inspirational.

In this YouTube video, Brig Gen Ritchie addresses the Rotary

Club of Eustis, Florida and talks about the rescue of fellow
pilot, Roger Locher. This is an outstanding story of heroism
and camaraderie. Click on the link below.

The second homage to Vietnam veterans is in a song I found,

also on YouTube, called The Eagle Cried. Its a heart
wrenching song accompanied by scenes of the war and tells
the story of a soldier who survived and returned home to a
country that had turned its back on its military.
It describes how attitudes toward our military have changed in a
generation and how our men and women in uniform are once
again appreciated. So, to all those who served in Iraq and
Afghanistan and are still serving today, we thank you too.
The song also reminds us to never again lose sight of the
sacrifices paid by our veterans, a lesson that seems to be lost
on many of our leaders and representatives in Washington
today.
MHE/463L Shop Phu Cat

Note: The Eagle Cried (bottom right) is embedded so just

click on the arrow and
it will take
directly
MHE/463L
Shopyou
Phu
Cat to the video where
you can select play to watch and listen to it.

Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie and the Rescue of Roger Locher

The Eagle Cried

by U.S. Army Major J. Billington

39

Remembering Our Fallen Transporters

1 May 2014

Memorial Day 2014

All gave some, and some gave all

In Memoriam

by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)

The words in this title are, of course, from Billy Ray Cyruss 1992
song and tribute to Americas armed forces. It tells of the
sacrifices our military has paid for the liberties we enjoy today.
Although this song predates 9/11, its still as meaningful as ever,
perhaps even more so. We are now engaged in our nations
longest war, over 12 years.
Another line in the song says, Love your country and live with
pride and dont forget those who died.
In this current war, many of our fellow transporters have been
assigned to a direct combat role, something we traditionally
have not performed. As a result, weve lost several of our
comrades, but they are not forgotten.
They were taken from us in the prime of their lives doing what
they loved to do, serving their country and their Air Force.
In the words of former President Ronald Reagan, We owe this
freedom of choice and action to those men and women in
uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of
need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have
given their lives that we might be free.
It is with this in mind that we honor our fallen transporters on
Memorial Day 2014.

SSgt Dustin W. Peters

Operation Iraqi Freedom
25 years old, of El Dorado, Kan.; assigned to the 314th
Logistics Readiness Squadron, Little Rock Air Force
Base, Ark.; killed July 11, 2004 by enemy action near
Forward Operating Base Summerall, Iraq.

We remember in order of their passing:

SSgt Dustin W. Peters

A1C Carl L. Anderson, Jr.

A1C Eric M. Barnes

SSgt Timothy L. Bowles

SrA Ashton L. M. Goodman

A1C Zachary R. Cuddeback

Capt David I. Lyon

A1C Carl L. Anderson, Jr.

Operation Iraqi Freedom
21 years old, Georgetown, S.C.; assigned to the 3rd
Logistics Readiness Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force
Base, Alaska; killed Aug 29, 2004 by enemy action near
Mosul, Iraq.
Continued on PG 41
40

Remembering Our Fallen Transporters

In Memoriam

A1C Eric M. Barnes

A1C Zachary R. Cuddeback

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Terrorist Attack

20 years old, of Lorain, Ohio; assigned to the 90th Logistics

Readiness Squadron, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.;
died June 10, 2007 as result of an improvised explosive
device attack on an Air Force convoy about 100 miles south
of Baghdad.

21 years old, of St Louis, MO; assigned to the 86th Vehicle

Readiness Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany; died as a
result of small arms fire on March 2, 2011 at Frankfurt
International Airport.

SSgt Timothy L. Bowles

Capt David I. Lyon

Operation Enduring Freedom

Operation Enduring Freedom

24 years old, of Tucson, Ariz.; assigned to the 3rd Logistics

Readiness Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska;
died March 15, 2009 of wounds sustained when his vehicle
encountered an improvised explosive device near the town
of Kot, Afghanistan.

28 years old, of Sandpoint, Idaho; assigned to 21st Logistics

Readiness Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; died Dec
27, 2013 in Kabul, Afghanistan from wounds caused by an
improvised explosive device.

SrA Ashton L. M. Goodman

Operation Enduring Freedom
21 years old, of Indianapolis, Indiana; assigned to the 43rd
Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.;
died May 26, 2009 near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan of
wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

This moving YouTube video is offered in tribute to our fallen

transporters, and to fellow service members from all wars who
have perished in service to our country. We shall never forget
their sacrifice. May they rest in eternal peace.
41

The Fighting 9th

Jun 2014

Website yields a rare look into USAF vehicle mx I think youll enjoy reading through this website even if you
dont know the people on it. I added it to my favorites.
history
by Roger Storman, SMSgt, (Ret/2T3)

If you were ever stationed at Kadena or if youre there now, it

In April I sent a special news story to Truckin On members should be of particular interest to you. For Chief Al Baird, it was
about Chief Master Sergeant Harold Bergbower, one of the last a trip down memory lane.
13 survivors of the Bataan Death March.
The following page is extracted from the website. It describes
This email sparked some interest with a few folks telling me the mission of the 9th AVRS, and reads like it was written by
that they had served with or knew of a Bataan Death March the troops.
survivor.
Chief (Ret) Al Baird told me there was a survivor in his
squadron on Okinawa in the 1950s, but he couldnt remember
his name.
Chief Baird supplied me with the name of his squadron, so I
typed it into my search engine to see what I could find, if
anything.
I was hoping for at least a vague reference in Wikipedia.
Historical information on Air Force vehicle operations and
maintenance units is hard to find. Well, I found this website:
http://mickmc.tripod.com/hyatt-index.html.
It was put together by two guys, Ron Hyatt and Louis Amari,
and it tells the story of the 9th Air Vehicle Repair Squadron
(AVRS) at Kadena Air Base during the Korean War.
This website is a treasure trove for military history buffs,
9th Air Vehicle Repair Squadron
particularly for a USAF transporter who is interested in our
roots.
Its the 9th AVRS, known to many as the Fighting 9th, or to
Its not just another historical piece; its a memoir from the guys many as the Striving 9th, who keep this red ball express on
Kadena Air Base and other units around Kadena Air Base in
who were actually there.
constant mobility. The Field Maintenance Shops and its hard
Anyway, I sent the website to Chief Baird. I thought he would working men are responsible, through the maintenance and
be interested in knowing that these two guys had actually taken repair of vehicles, for the movement of all troop transportation,
time to document his units history.
cargo, and working equipment, etc.
In addition to actual photos, there are 656 links to other photos We of the 9th keep the 19th Air Police riding around on their
on this website and each one is numbered.
patrols in good shape jeeps. We keep their troop trucks
Chief Baird replied in a couple of days and said he found the constantly in good shape so they can pick up and post their
guy who was a Bataan Death March survivor, photo # 80. His guards along with the guards that the 9th supplies for the same
name was TSgt Hendricks, a heavy equipment mechanic.
security protection.
The narrative that goes along with this photo is fascinating, and
sad. Today we hear a lot about PTSD. This man, in my
unprofessional opinion, was clearly battling those demons in
the only way he knew how. It was a different time when we
understood a lot less about the affects of war than we know
now.

We keep all of the bomb squadrons bomb service truck in

hurriedly but excellent repair, so they can keep those bombs
coming in from the far off munitions depots to supply the
waiting B-29s. The vehicles that tow the B-29s on and off the
hard stands, those that refuel and others used in performing
maintenance on them are all maintained by our organization.
Continued on PG 43
42

The Fighting 9th

These, along with other vehicles, are kept in A-1 appearance
by our troops who clean them at the steam rack, do necessary
repair at the body and welding shop, and who put that excellent
painting finish on them at the paint shop.
For all those special bushings, gears, special bolts, shafts, etc.,
which cannot be ordered through our tech supply, we have one
of the best machine shops on the rock. We have a glass shop
that keeps our vehicles in safe condition with clear vision, a
carpenter that keeps truck beds like new, rebuilt and recharged
batteries for more than two other organizations on the island.
Our back shops of generator repair and construction equipment
rebuild do a job not to be matched in the Far East. All our
shops carry a motto, If it can be done, we can do it.
Through our constant daily strife we are thinking what dividends
it will pay in the end. Our ever important place as a link in a
great chain keeps up with the everlasting thought of being the
Fighting 9th who will do their share in ending the Korean
conflict.
TSgt Hendricks Bataan Death March Survivor

This photo of the 9th AVRS is not from the website. Chief Baird is in the upper left (see inset). Zoom page for a closer view.

43

SAC IGINBOUND!
Nov 2014

PANIC TIME!
by Roger Robertson, CMSgt (Ret/2T1)

The Chief Dispatcher tells the OMS VCO she can't support
EWO vehicle requirements and the IG team. The inspector is
informed of this and provides an Obligation Authority to rent
additional vehicles. Now we need to talk to Contracting and
prepare a Form 9. The phones are all ringing. More recall
vehicles arrive. More vehicles are delivered across the base to
the inspectors. Fast Ride vehicles need to be delivered and
crew buses are due. Dispatch operators to pick up rental
vehicles. Finally things begin to slow down. Not all the phones
are ringing now.

This is a "fictional situation" that could take place at any SAC

base on any given day. It could happen to you and soon. Hot
Line rings, "This is the Command Post! The SAC IG is 30
minutes out! Implement OPlan 509-82, Wing Reception Plan,
Annex E. The dispatcher on duty PANICS! Why me, one more
hour and the day shift would have been here. The dispatcher
finally recovers and grabs the reception plan. Five vehicles
required, and only three operators available.
Strength Report due. Everyone present for duty or accounted
Get help from the dorm or deliver two sedans, return and take for. A + 2 hours and IG vehicle requirements have been met.
the two buses and baggage truck. The first important step is Time to think about 12-hour shifts. Release the night shift to get
taken. The Wing and Transportation are off to a good start. The some sleep. The IG has in briefed and performed a walk-thru
IG lands and the ORI is initiated. The work-load on Dispatch housekeeping and safety inspection. The hurricane is over.
Office is now overwhelming. The 440 War Support Plan (WSP) Time to regroup and prepare for Disaster Preparedness,
has kicked off a personnel and vehicle recall. Above all, "follow Alternate Recovery Base, mobility, terrorist activity, shelter
the checklist."
exercise, etc., A + 4 hours, vehicle requirements strain available
Start the pyramid alert. Telephone the Vehicle Control Officers assets, but with rental vehicles we'll make it. It's a relief, actually
(VCO) for recall vehicles. Start a sign-in roster. All phones are a relief now that the IG has arrived, because for the last six
ringing off the hook. The transportation inspectors arrive with a months all we've heard is "we're hot for the IG." We've practiced
slight grin on their faces. They hand the superintendent a list of and practiced until we're very proficient in IG reception. All
42 vehicles required. Recall vehicles are beginning to arrive. dispatchers had received initial and semiannual training on
Set up a team to inspect the recalls as they come in. All the implementation plans so they know what to do. Now, if we
phones are still ringing. Assign someone to put reception have effectively used the self-inspection program, IG cross
packages in each vehicle and to check for spare tire, jack, lug feeds and staff assistance visit reports, we should breeze
wrench, wheel chocks, wipe rag and ice scraper if necessary. through the ORI and MEI.
Are the vehicles clean, fully serviced and the Operator
Inspection Guide and Trouble Report signed off?
Base security personnel are at the window wanting additional
vehicles.. It's time to start delivering vehicles to the IG team.
Need more operators. Get someone to put inspection team
placards in the windows of IG team vehicles. Need someone to
shuttle operators back to Vehicle Ops after dropping off
vehicles. The Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS)
wants their Emergency War Order (EWO) vehicles, Civil
Engineering Squadron (CES) cannot provide all required recall
vehicles.
Airman Indra, on the night shift, wants to know when he will get
off. No one has had breakfast; 35 people on meal cards.
Sergeant Henpeck's wife needs the car right now! There are no
brake lights on a recalled station wagon. The IG needs a good,
sharp operator for the work center. The Orderly Room wants a
Strength Report.

Editors Comments: Having had four assignments in SAC,

the fictional scenario played out in Chief (Ret) Robertsons
PANIC TIME is all too real for me and many others. Stories
like this are legendary among SAC veterans. One such
account of a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) is
documented by Chris Adams in his 1999 book, Inside the
Cold War A Cold Warriors Reflections. The following
paragraph is an excerpt from the book.
The most dreaded announcement within a SAC wing was, The
IG has landed! The SAC Inspector General (IG) and his team
of 40 to 60 inspectors would suddenly appear out of nowhere
in his KC-135 tanker-transport and be on final approach to the
base before anyone knew it. The speculation about when he
would be coming almost became a lottery event, which the IG
Team usually won sometimes by arriving in the dead hours
of the night to catch the unit unaware.

44

3rd Motor Transport Squadron

Mar 2015
Editors Comments: This is perhaps the most unique
story weve ever published in Truckin On. We transporters
are familiar with stories about vehicle ops, maintenance or
TMO, but not a drum & bugle corps! Well, thanks to Joe
OConnor, let me introduce you to the 3rd Motor Transport
Squadron Drum & Bugle Corps.

As we grew in fame, we started doing goodwill appearances at

small towns and villages in the local area, helping with
celebrations and fetes.
Alas, it lasted only a year or more as the base was slated for
closure. The good thing is that it was our extra duty, which
removed us from KP, base policing duties and such. I look back
on it as probably my best assignment!

Transportations finest.drum & bugle corps

Oh, by the way, 3rd Motor was the Air Force freight line for
England, picking up supplies and equipment at the English
ports and delivering them to the bases around the country, lots
Just thought I would share a by-gone time with transporters. In
of stories to tell there!!
early 1956 my very first duty assignment after automotive
mechanic tech school was RAF Sealand in Wales, Great Our fleet was all M-Series vehicles, 5 ton truck tractors, 2.5 ton
truck tractors, 2.5 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucks, 12 ton Kentucky
Britain.
trailers, 40 foot trailers and a few Jeeps, not a commercial
One Saturday of each month was parade Saturday. The base
vehicle in house!
squadrons would form up on the concrete parade ground and
pass in review for the commanding officer & staff.
by Joe OConnor, MSgt (Ret/472)

3rd Motor Transport Squadron Drum & Bugle Corps.

The music was presented through the speakers located around

the area, static and all. I was with the 3rd Motor Transport
Squadron and our commander was Captain Jack Bartuska.
He was not very happy with the music being piped in as it would
fade in the wind and troops would lose cadence, so he got
permission to form a drum & bugle corps made up of only
transporters, of which I became a part. We became quite
popular with the base personnel as our sound invigorated the
marching.

Newspaper clipping commenting on the 3rd Motor

Transport Squadrons appearance at the UK Truck Rodeo
finals at Denham Studios.

45

Snuffys Corner
T.O. Troubles (Oct 2013)
by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)

So, he got in the cage to protect himself, connected the air

hose, and was inflating the tire and checking its pressure with
the inline gauge.

This story involves a young mechanic (Airman Snuffy) who

Cue Strother Martin from Cool Hand Luke: What were dealing
managed to get us all into hot water.
with here is failure to communicate. I told him to go to lunch,
A general officer was touring vehicle maintenance and stopped and afterwards, we had a little OJT and safety combined
to visit our minor maintenance shop where he saw a young session on the floor.
airman under the hood of a vehicle performing a tune-up
Blowin in the Wind (Dec 2013)
without a tech order.
The general asked the airman the whereabouts of his tech by Bob Wiley, MSgt/GM-14 (Ret)
order. The airman said it was in the T.O. library. The general
then asked, How do you know what youre doing is right
without your tech order? The airman replied, Its running, aint
it?

Airman Snuffy liked to get stick-time in many different vehicles

and equipment items. Often, that opportunity presented itself to
him when he had to bring a vehicle into or out of the shop. It
didnt so much matter to him whether hed been checked out on
Needless to say, we all had tech orders nearby after thatat the vehicle he wanted to drive or not.
least until the heat subsided.
So Snuffy finds himself at Fairchild AFB WA in the middle of
winter; working into the evening hours on a weekend eve, and a
The Tire Cage (Dec 2013)
lull in workload makes him feel just a little bored. So the bright
by John Fig Newton, Col (Ret)
idea bulb goes on above Snuffys head, and he walks outside to
Back in the late 70s, I was VMO at Langley. Our shop at that the ready line where a humongous snow blower was awaiting
time was the building used as the carriage house during the CE pickup.
Billy Mitchell days. The offices were all in the center of the back So lets see...First, theres a lot of snow piled around the
wall, which had a sort of H pattern going back off toward the parking area between vehicle ops and mx. Second, theres a
rear on each side.
snow blower waiting to be operated; the temptation was
The tire shop was over in one of the back wings. We used to overpowering.
shut the shop down for lunch every day, leaving just So Snuffy climbs up into this large cab, in the operators
Maintenance Control manned.
position, fires that puppy up, reads some labels on various
One day during the lunch hour, I walked out of my office onto levers n knobs n such, and heads for a direct onslaught of the
the shop floor and started toward the back personnel door. I snow berm he thought needed to be blown somewhere else.
heard the big compressor running, and the sound of And so he maneuvers this behemoth to the berm, grabs levers,
compressed air, but did not see a soul.
moves knobs, adjusts the snow chute, engages the impeller,
I stopped and looked all around, and couldnt figure out where
the air was coming from or going to. There was a large split rim
wheel and tire leaning up against the outside of the tire cage,
but absolutely no one was around.

and begins forward motion.

I immediately walked over to the tire cage, and there was Amn
Snuffy (a newbie) inside the cage. I asked him what he was
doing, and he said he had been told by his civilian supervisor to
inflate the tire, and to always use the tire cage because split
rims were dangerous.

all the many, many glass window panes that were blasted and
blown out by the snow the blower sent, and there was a fair
amount of snow on the shop floor too. SSgt Wiley never fired up
another snow blower either.

At the end of the run hes satisfied with his work, so he disengages all the blower paraphernalia and heads back to the ready
line to park this beast. Walking into the shop, one of the
I probably stood there about a minute trying to think this supervisors asked him if he was just operating a snow blower
through, and then all of a sudden---two arms appeared from out in the yard, and he answered yes.
INSIDE the tire cage reaching out to the wheel/tire assembly.
The supervisor then waved his arm, finger extended to point to

Continued on PG 47
46

Snuffys Corner
Snuffy and the Fine Art of Oral Expression (Mar 2014)

I arrived at the flight line and could see the fire truck, but it was
across the active runway so instead of going around the
by Gary McLean, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
perimeter road to get to it, I decided to take a shortcut across
When I was a young, superior C-shred mechanic, I was loaned
the active runway big mistake. However, I did get out of my
out to refueling maintenance (RFM) during a manning shortage
mobile truck to make sure no F4 aircraft were approaching.
while assigned at Little Rock AFB. We always thought RFM
mechanics behaved as if they were impaired, and we figured it I did not realize that I needed clearance from the tower to cross,
even though there was a sticker on the dashboard of my truck
was the JP-4 fumes (they always had the munchies).
with warnings telling me so. I got to the fire truck and was trying
Anyway, Im out in the shop trying to rebuild one of those SPR
to get it started and all of a sudden I hear sirens and see red
manifold things that stick out of the bottom of an R-9 tank when
lights blinking in a distance. I thought to myself, what is going
I look over at Snuffy B-shred, who is looking at one of those
on? Well, little did I know they were headed straight for my
V40-B something valves with a mystified look on his
location.
face. Earlier he told me it wasnt flowing fuel, so I stupidly said
to just swap it out with another one to see what would
happen.
Instead, he continued to stare at the valve and spin it around
like a Rubiks Cube. Finally, he comes to a troubleshooting
decision and sticks one of the fittings in his mouth, to blow out
the obstruction maybe? Anyway, this valves interior circuit was
basically a U and Snuffy proceeds to blow JP-4 right into his
eyes! Now hes blind and staggering around looking for the
eyewash, so his B-shred buddies steer him toward the combo
eyewash that has a foot-pedal operated shower in addition to
However, I did get the fire truck started before they arrived
the hand-operated eyewash tray.
(mission accomplished in my book) but I was not able to drive
Well, the B-shreds had rigged the foot pedal with a trip wire so my mobile truck back to the shop as I was escorted by the Air
that when Snuff walked under the shower to get to the Police, as they were called in those days, to detention and was
eyewash, he drenched himself with the shower at the same not released until my TSgt supervisor and commander came to
time. Oh, did I say it was February in an unheated shop? sign for me. Needless to say, I did not drive mobile
Moral of the story: Snuffy, be careful what you stick in your maintenance again until I attended the base drivers school and
mouth!
flight line course for the second time.
Flight Line Driving Woes (Apr 2015)

Guess I didnt pay close attention during my first course. I did

get my mobile maintenance job back after completing the
by Ronnie Ward, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
course so all was good; however, it was a valuable lesson
I was a 19 year old two striper (A1C Snuffy) and arrived at
learned for a young Airman.
Ramstein AB, Germany in 1969 and was assigned to the
special purpose shop.
Editors Comments: I reviewed our recurring feature,
After I became acclimated to the base, I was assigned as the
mobile maintenance mechanic, which was a great job because I
was on my own for the most part. I had my flight line driver
license certification and I thought I was untouchable.
Well, one day I got a call from radio dispatch and was told to
immediately go to the flight line because of a disabled fire truck;
we all know the priority of a down fire truck.

Snuffys Corner, and selected my favorite stories. It was hard

because all the stories are excellent. My choices are purely
subjective.
Im sure some of you have your favorites too. If theyre not
featured here, it doesnt mean they werent as enjoyable or
funny. If it were practical, I would use all of them; however,
space is a concern.

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