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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Air Force Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
Major Stuart Hoyt, U.S. Air Force (Ret) (1957-1979)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
I have always loved airplanes as long as I can remember. My dad worked at the Boston Naval Shipyard and during WWII, he would take us aboard the big aircraft carriers to see some of the Navy fighters still aboard. I built aircraft models of balsa wood and paper and had  them hung from my ceiling. I joined the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager and got my first chance to fly. It was in my blood. I tried for the first two classes of the Air Force Academy but since the school was not finished, they limited enrollment numbers while they were in temporary facilities and only took the cream off the top. Since I couldn't afford college, I looked into other avenues to attain my goal. The Air Force had a program called Aviation Cadets.
They were accepting applications from those with two years of college or Air Force enlisted applicants who passed the test. My only option was to enlist. My recruiter told me that I needed to go to Basic training then I could apply. At Basic, they sent me to Tech School and told me to apply there. At Tech School they told me to apply once I reached my first unit assignment. Once there, they told me I must give them a minimum of one year because of the investment in the technical training. At the appropriate time, I applied and passed the test. Then they told me that I scored higher in the Navigator side than the Pilot side.
There was an eighteen-month waiting list for Pilot training but I could leave for Nav training almost immediately. They added that I could apply for pilot training after I graduated and do all that as an officer. I weighed the options and what I had been told so far, and then took the bird in the hand. Just for the record, the story was consistent throughout my career.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
After one month in Basic training we were given a battery of tests. I scored high in all five areas. My counselor told me I could have my choice of careers. I told them I wanted to fly and his reply was, 'Wait until you get to'? Then I told  him I wanted to do anything that had to do with airplanes but keep me as far from a typewriter as possible. They sent me to Reciprocating Engine Mechanics School. I worked on the R4360's of the KC-97 in the dead of winter in Maine until my class assignment to cadets.
I scored high in my Nav class and had my choice of assignments. I had no desire to sit between the legs of the co-pilot on a B-47 or in the back of a 'Gooney-bird'. They offered another class as an 'RIO' (Radar Intercept Officer). No one had any information on it other than it was in fighter. That was enough for me. During the initial phase of Vietnam, a number of RIO's were accepted into pilot training then our career field became critical. Guess where I fell?
Air Defense then went to a single seat fighter and all the RIO's that were left went to the F-4 and Vietnam. I flew reconnaissance in SEA and the fighter version in Europe but came back to reconnaissance in the states where I retired.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
 While a combat crewmember in the Air Defense Command, we were all put on alert status and deployed with Nuke weapons during the Cuban Crisis. That was a tense game of 'Chicken' with the Russian. We all thought that WW III was right around the corner and were so relieved when they backed down. I spent a year flying reconnaissance over Vietnam and Laos. I was stationed in Thailand. Our mission was to fly the northern areas. Thankfully, route-pack VI (Hanoi-Hyphong) was closed during my tour (69-70) but we still had our share of excitement. All we wanted to do was take their picture and they kept throwing rocks at us. Our motto was, 'kill 'em with film'. We were alone, unarmed and scared to death. A few didn't come back but I am thankful that I lived to tell the story.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
Even as a boy, my love for flag, and country, has always been strong. My family date back to 1630 in Boston and have served in every war since. I love the military and am proud to have been able to do my part in the service of my country. I've seen the military give direction to those who had none. It certainly guided me. I was rather a shy and quiet boy. The military helped bring the man out of me. It taught me to brief Generals and congressmen. Today, I love to teach, instruct and lead those who wish to learn.
WERE ANY OF THE MEDALS OR AWARDS YOU RECEIVED FOR VALOR? IF YES, COULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW THIS WAS EARNED?
 While in SEA, I was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf clusters. You can see my merit badges on my profile page. I tell my kids that I receive them for doing my job and that was what I was trained to do.
My DFC was received for running a search for a pipeline used to service trucks running supplies along the HCM trail. We were assigned to search a pass running between North and South Vietnam. We did this while being hosed by at least one 23MM gunner. We picked up the pipeline on the last run and the fighters were able to take it out.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 There were many who were a positive influence on my Air Force career but two stand out. One was the Operations Officer in my first flying squadron. His name was Major Bill Gutches. I could do no wrong under Bill's direction and he had the confidence in me to allow me to excel in whatever assignment he gave to me. The other was one of my fellow officers and a member of my flight in my first squadron. His name was Lt. Tom Havel. Tom helped me to understand his unique relationship with God. That relationship has lasted over 47 years and although we probably get together once every 10 years, we haven't missed a day. He helped me establish God's standard for my life and living it before other. My time in the Air force has supported that goal and I proudly walk that walk.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I mentioned the deployment during the Cuban Crisis. We were flying McDonnell's F-101B, 'The Voodoo', at that time. It had an armament bay door under the crew cockpit that housed missiles on one side and nuke rockets on the other. We were returning from our deployed site. Since we were carrying no armament we used the armament bay to store our baggage. We would manually rotate the door enough to push the bags in then close the door. A strange electron found its way into the armament circuit of one of the returning birds and rotated and ejected their baggage somewhere over New York State. The crew felt the action but couldn't confirm their horrors until they landed. Funny part was that two hunters found their bags about three months later and returned them to the crew.
Another time, one of the pilots, on a cross-country trip, couldn't fit his shoes into his bag and set then inside the armament bay along side his bag. As he retracted his landing gear, on take off, the armament door crept open just enough to let the toes of his shoes slip out. As soon as the gear was fully retracted, the door cycled shut and cut the toes right off his shoes.
We think back and laugh at those tragedies!!
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
There wasn't a demand for fighter navigators in the civilian world. Yes, I was a professional backseat driver but in civilian life I couldn't tell anyone where to go. At least if I did, they wouldn't listen. A friend offered me a job in sales with his company. It was  selling solar hot water installations in sunny Texas. The problem was that the public wasn't quite ready to go green back then.
My job lasted a year. The first six months were fine then the well went dry. I lost my first civilian job. A friend told me of a company that was looking for somebody with college and military experience to work the graveyard shift in a warehouse.
I finished my degree in night school and through the Boot-Strap Program while in the service. Then Motorola hired me. This division made semi-conductors for the emerging electronics market. I worked my way up to Customer Service Manager for one of the divisions in 21 years, then got caught in a 'down-sizing' exercise. I was forced into retirement at 62 with two girls in high school. Another friend convinced me to get my Life and Health Insurance license, which has managed to keep me solvent for the last few years.
Today I am almost retired but busier than ever.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Why do you prefer the one? I am a lifetime member of the Air Force Association and I joined it because of an insurance program that I held at the time but I am not currently involved in any other service related organizations, at this time.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
 Serving in the military helped to give me a goal and direction. Before I entered the service, I had people tell me that I would never make anything of myself in life. That only gave me determination to succeed. The square corners and browbeating of cadet life helped me to dig in and maintain my course. Nothing can deter the one who never takes his eye off his target. That is what got me through and what keeps me on course today.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
A military career is a go or no-go condition. If it is go then give it your all and stay the course. If not, then get off the train while you are still young, take advantage of the military's educational benefits and start a career in civilian life. Military life is a good life but it is not your own.
Anyone who thinks it is, is in the wrong business.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
 Thankfully, I was a member of some great units with great camaraderie. We meet in reunions as often as possible. We are all much older and fewer in numbers but when we are together it is just like we were back there then. I joined Together We Served because it has a great vehicle to organize my 21 year career in picture form.
One of my hobbies in genealogy and this collection of history fits right in with my plan. If it helps others to share, I am better for it.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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For current and former serving Members of the United States Air Force, Army Air Corps, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource helping Airmen reconnect with lost Wingmen, share memories and tell their Air Force story.
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them hung from my ceiling. I joined the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager and got my first chance to fly. It was in my blood. I tried for the first two classes of the Air Force Academy but since the school was not finished, they limited enrollment numbers while they were in temporary facilities and only took the cream off the top. Since I couldn't afford college, I looked into other avenues to attain my goal. The Air Force had a program called Aviation Cadets.
him I wanted to do anything that had to do with airplanes but keep me as far from a typewriter as possible. They sent me to Reciprocating Engine Mechanics School. I worked on the R4360's of the KC-97 in the dead of winter in Maine until my class assignment to cadets. 
selling solar hot water installations in sunny Texas. The problem was that the public wasn't quite ready to go green back then. 
