Robert Burkett

 LOWRY AFB COLORADO

A lot happened during the short time I was at Lowry AFB. I arrived in the summer of 1956. I'm not sure of the exact date any longer but it certainly was different from Kelly where I had a semi private room and was a little spoiled. Lowry had left over WWII barracks, housing 50 or more on a floor and the heat was a coal fired furnace. Barracks inspections were reminiscent of Lackland. I enrolled in "missile" school, specifically the Matador missile. The Matador was a subsonic missile designed after the VI missle used by the Germans in WWII to terrorize the English country (England). The difference seemed to be that the Matador had a guidance system whereas the VI was like shooting a bullet. The "training" on the Matador consisted of learning which back box controlled what, not exactly a skilled job. The attraction for me was that all prior classes were sent to Cape Canaveral after graduation. My thought was that I would be reasonably close to my fiance. Well, that didn't work out! Not too far into the school, I found out that our's was to be the last class and that the missile was to be phased out of the USA arsenal. I heard a rumor that the missiles were to be "donated" to Taiwan (Formosa). Anyway, we would be done once graduated and would have to choose a base other than Cape Canaveral. I will have more on that later .

When I first arrived at Lowry I ran into another fellow from Kelly. His name was Perry McDonough from Texas. He was nicknamed Red after his hair color. We were pretty good friends at the time and we took the opportunity to do a little touring of Colorado, including Pikes Peak (14000+high), Royal Gorge Bridge (A very high suspension bridge) and Cave of the Winds (in Manitou Springs). That was really the highlight of our first few days after arriving. 

In order to get out of KP (kitchen duty) I "volunteered" to keep the furnace in our building stoked with coal. I had never seen coal before but "how hard can it be", I said! Oh well, we live and learn.

My friend Perry somehow managed to find a girl during all this. Her name was Reba, a long skinny Tennessee girl. She had a roommate to whom Red introduced me. He asked me if I wanted to go on a blind date with Reba and he with this girl named Ellen. I was a little hesitant because I was still engaged but I thought, "What the heck can it hurt". We wound up going to a drive in movie in Red's auto. Red had told me "She's not as pretty as Reba, but she's OK" His taste in women was a little suspect as Ellen was MUCH prettier that Reba. I didn't see Ellen again for a month or so.

In the meantime I came to the conclusion that my long distance romance was not going to work. I couldn't fathom being alone for 31/2 more years and expecting either my fiance or me to remain faithful. So, I called her and told her my thoughts. I went so far as to say I would still marry her if she would join me at the base (not good for her career). After some discussion we (me) decided to break off the engagement. I was sad but I certainly think it was the best course of action. I never saw or heard from her after that day. She did stop my my parent's house and dropped off the ring and ALL the letters I had written her while in Boot Camp!

As fate would have it another friend I met at Lowry (Greg) asked me to join him on a double date. My date was again a girl I had not met before. We drove to the top of Mt Evans (14000+) and she cried the whole time! I guess she thought I was going to try to rape her to which I don't believe I ever gave her such an indication. Boy, was I glad to take her home! I never touched her. I was terrified to even be in the same room.

The second date Greg and I shared was better. My date was a young hispanic girl. She was very cute but didn't speak English very well. Anyway we went to pick up Greg's date and low and behold there sits my first date Ellen. I think we said hello and we went away to see an Air Force Academy football game. I'm not sure where the game was held as the Academy was at Lowry before the Colorado Springs Academy Base was completed. That was my only date with that girl and was uneventful (NO crying, NO touching). When picking up Greg's date, a girl named Cora Lee (called Corky) we stopped at a house she shared. There was Ellen from my first date! I was surprised and happy to see her.

As it turned out Ellen had moved in with 3 other girls at the end of the runway at Lowry, so it became convenient to see her. I think by then Reba and Red were engaged. More on that later. Next I will discuss Ellen and my's relationship, but that's enough for today!

Matador Missile