US AIR FORCE

I was inducted into the USAF on February 12, 1956 and was flown to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas for boot camp. I flew on a TWA Constellation,; the first time ever flying. In 1956 the Air Force was still using an 11 week bootcamp, so there I was. We were not allowed off base during that time so I had virtually no social life other than drills, class, eating and sleeping (though not too much). Most of my memories are of a rifle range, a bivouac and marching. The Air Force had not learned that we were not part of the army any more! I took a battery of written tests to determine what school I should attend after boot camp. I only had one altercation with another airman. It turned out the taller airmen were selected to be kind of "in charge"(quite a system). On this particular day we had been on a march and were tracking in dirt to the barracks (about 50 people). The "leader" decided I was his prey for the day and "ordered" me to clean the stairs. I took offense to that and informed him that I desired for his mother to bite him during the night. He took offense at that and was threatening me. I pulled out a metal separation piece from the bunk bed and may have made some more inappropriate threats such as come on, I dare you. Well, the instructors (notice the plural) called me in to chastise me, one in my face, the other behind me with a bat. They informed me loudly that I was not allowed to make such threats, At least by then I had sense enough to keep my mouth shut! Ironically the other airman and I became good friends for the rest of boot camp ( He did not ask me to wipe the floor again). At the end of boot camp I was asked if I wanted to go to language school. I was informed this was a great honor as only the highest test scores were selected (salesman tactics). I would study 6 weeks of English and 6 weeks of Russian. If still in the program after that time I would go to a university for further language studies. The most enticing part of that was that, if I phased out, I could choose any school for which I qualified. The powers to be neglected to look at my Spanish grades from high school. I was then sent to Kelly AFB for school. This was a very hush-hush area where a secret clearance was required to gain access. No one was saluted below the grade of Colonel which seemed strange after wearing my arm out saluting in boot camp. I had a 2 man room and mess hall was open for hours,  not confined to a particular hour. I also had a pass which allowed me to go off base when not in school. It might be hard to believe but some how the Air Force managed 8 hours a day, 5 days a week of English, We learned grammar and wrote out exams every day, so much so that it is enough to nauseate one. I breezed through those lessons. Next up was Russian with the same criteria: not good for me! I found out that if you went through all the schooling the next base was the Aleutian Islands. If you don't know where that is, it's a group of islands close to Alaska, not appealing to this Florida boy! I quickly lost all interest in Russian but I did enjoy the San Antonio area and made many trips to Mexico and the USO. I wrote regularly to my fiance while at this base. I did meet a cute Mexican girl at the USO. That was the first time I heard of a chaperon. Neither of them spoke much English, and, of course my Spanish was minimal. Interestingly she wrote to me at the next base and sent photos (no nudes). I was not interested as I was in love already, or at least thought I was.

I "phased out" of Russian and the Air Force was as good as its word, letting me choose my next school. I decided on Avionics, specifically on the Matador Missile. This was for 2 reasons; The school was at Lowry AFB in Colorado where my brother Warren had been in WWII. Secondly, everyone who graduated from this school went to Cape Canaveral, Florida, which was close to home. I'll have more to say on that later but for now, it's off to Colorado for Matador training!


TWA Constellation




Lackland AFB BootCamp

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