Jim joined the Air Force, on the Anniversary of the service, September 18, 1964 and sent to Lackland AFB for eight weeks of basic training. From Lackland he went to Amarillo AFB for maintenance school on B-47 aircraft and graduated as an Outstanding Graduate.

My first assignment was at Travis AFB, CA, 1513^th OMS, working on C-130E aircraft and eventually started working on C-141A when they arrived on station. Mainly working on the Lead The Force C-141’s. I departed Travis in March 1967. I headed for McChord AFB, WA and the 62^nd FMS, Aero Repair. I worked on C-124 Globemaster and

C-141A’s.

I left McChord in August of 1967, for an assignment to Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Korat, Thailand. Jim worked on many different aircraft such as C-130’s, C-133’s,

C-141’s and C-124’s. I enjoyed the country the people and of course the food.

My next assignment was to Andrews AFB, MD and the 89^th Military Airlift Wing working on VC-137’s. The controlled tour of three years lasted until October 1970. Enroute to my next assignment I went to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio to learn how to become an Illuminator Operator, spending three months in training. After that I was sent to the Philippines for Jungle Survival School and then onto, the 16^th SOS, Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Ubon Thailand. I was an Illuminator Operator on AC-130A Gunships, the person that hangs out the ramp and calls AAA fire at us, and giving the pilot the information needed for us not to be shot down. It was a great assignment and I am glad I had a chance to do it; I departed Ubon in December of 1971.

After I left Thailand, I received an assignment to Norton AFB, CA. I started out as a crew chief on a C-141A. However, it was short lived as I was given the job of shift supervisor within a year. I was there for about three years before I was sent to Okinawa, Japan.

I was assigned to the 1^st SOS as a crew chief on MC-130E aircraft. A small group of men and women that always worked well together. I spent time TDY, to Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It was another 3-year assignment. However, when it came time to rotate back to the states I was given the chance to become a Flight Engineer on C-141 aircraft.

My next assignment was to the 8^th Military Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, WA. I finished Basic Engineer School and Flight Training in January 1978. That is when I really started to learn more about the plane. I became an Instructor in August of 1980. I then volunteered to go to Altus and given the assignment in September of 1981.

At Altus, AFB OK I was assigned to the 57^th Military Airlift Squadron. In was upgraded to Flight Engineer Flight Examiner in November 1983. I left Altus for my last assignment I departed in January 1985. I was attached to the 41^st Military Airlift Squadron at Charleston. I went straight to the simulator and eventually was given the job of NCOIC. I went back to the Squadron in August 1987 as Chief of Standardization for Flight Engineers. I completed my tour at Charleston in September 1990, and retired after 26 years.