Best Friends
When I transferred to McGuire, I got married and lived in Mount Holly, NJ. So I didn't really have any "tight " friends on base.
Best Moment
The best moments were having our daughter and son at Walson Army Hospital at Fort Dix, NJ.
Worst Moment
The worst moment was when I was Courts Martialed. My flight worked the midnight shift. An airman on the night shift didn't seem too motivated about doing any work: the 781's showed he rarely did anything. So we would be stuck with making up the slack. One night he left his tool box in the flight van and we divided up his tools. We eventually got caught. I thought it was a very serious charge. We ended up having some money taken out of our pay for three months - and I made staff sargent the next go around. As I said in court, "We have our military men and women dying in Vietnam and we're stealing our fellow airmen's tools." I felt very bad about that, for a long time.
Chain of Command
Don't remember.
Other Memories
What struck me when I arrived at McGuire was the seemingly lack of security. I guess, coming from SAC, was a whole new ball game. I was briefed on the organization and was told I could go out and look around the flight line. I said, " Oh, I don't have my security badge yet. They said, you don't need one..
I also had "culture shock" . At Lincoln we were a very close knit squadron. We wore red baseball hats(98th Bomb Wing color), When on Alert Duty we lived and ate with the officers(flight crews) in the same quarters. On weekends when I wasn't on alert duty or TDY (REFLEX) in England or Spain, I would usually be out working on my B-47 on my own time.The AP's didn't seem too comfortable with me doing that , at first. But they got used to "this weirdo".
But McGuire was a different experience and that's what makes life interesting.
Criteria It is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Air Force Long... It is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Air Force Longevity Service Award is a ribbon that replaces the Federal Service Stripes previously worn on the uniform. MoreHide
Criteria The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members of the Army who distinguish themselves by exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity during a specified period of conti... The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members of the Army who distinguish themselves by exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity during a specified period of continuous enlisted active service (normally three years in peacetime). MoreHide
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria
The NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon is awarded for successful completion of all levels of resident professional military education.
Comments I attended the Air Force NCO Preparatory School at Lincoln AFB, NE. in 1963. It was such an exciting adventure for me.
At the end of our training we were to give a speech about the Air Force. and the ... I attended the Air Force NCO Preparatory School at Lincoln AFB, NE. in 1963. It was such an exciting adventure for me.
At the end of our training we were to give a speech about the Air Force. and the name of my speech was, "Why you should not stay in the Air Force."
After my speech the instructor said, "This is the first time I've ever given an "A" speech a zero"
He must have changed his mind because I graduated! MoreHide
Description The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the Caribbean Crisis or the Missile Scare, was a 13-day (October 16–28, 1962) confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union concerning American bThe Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the Caribbean Crisis or the Missile Scare, was a 13-day (October 16–28, 1962) confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union concerning American ballistic missile deployment in Italy and Turkey with consequent Soviet ballistic missile deployment in Cuba. The confrontation, elements of which were televised, was the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.
In response to the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961, and the presence of American Jupiter ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev decided to agree to Cuba's request to place nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter future harassment of Cuba. An agreement was reached during a secret meeting between Khrushchev and Fidel Castro in July 1962 and construction of a number of missile launch facilities started later that summer.
The 1962 midterm elections were under way in the United States and the White House had denied charges that it was ignoring dangerous Soviet missiles 90 miles from Florida. These missile preparations were confirmed when an Air Force U-2 spy plane produced clear photographic evidence of medium-range (SS-4) and intermediate-range (R-14) ballistic missile facilities. The United States established a military blockade to prevent further missiles from entering Cuba. It announced that they would not permit offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba and demanded that the weapons already in Cuba be dismantled and returned to the USSR.
After a long period of tense negotiations, an agreement was reached between President John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev. Publicly, the Soviets would dismantle their offensive weapons in Cuba and return them to the Soviet Union, subject to United Nations verification, in exchange for a U.S. public declaration and agreement never to invade Cuba again without direct provocation. Secretly, the United States also agreed that it would dismantle all U.S.-built Jupiter MRBMs, which were deployed in Turkey and Italy against the Soviet Union but were not known to the public.
When all offensive missiles and Ilyushin Il-28 light bombers had been withdrawn from Cuba, the blockade was formally ended on November 20, 1962. The negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union pointed out the necessity of a quick, clear, and direct communication line between Washington and Moscow. As a result, the Moscow–Washington hotline was established. A series of agreements sharply reduced U.S.–Soviet tensions during the following years.... More
People You Remember I was deployed to Niagara Falls Municipal Airport with B-47E, 53-2379, loaded with nuclear weapons. I was deployed to Niagara Falls Municipal Airport with B-47E, 53-2379, loaded with nuclear weapons. My most memorable experience, at that time, was the wonderful Citizens of Niagara Falls bringing us a homemade dinner on Thanksgiving Day !
See my Cuban Crisis experience on YouTube at "MY AIR FORCE STORY - SSGT KEN BROWN"... More
Best Friends
I was the Barracks Chief. I did not have best friends. But they all treated me with respect and I treated all of them with respect. In fact, I bought them cans of transparent shoe polish to prepare the floors for inspection. At that time we were making $73/ per month. Later, we were allowed to go to San Antonio to see the Kingston Trio, but I had no money. The Flight took up a collection for my ticket.. We were the best damn flight at Lackland!
Best Moment
The best moment was diffenately when my Flight bought me a ticket to see The Kingston Trio.
Worst Moment
The worst moment was when another Sgt(?) ask if he could borrow $3.(that was a No-No). But I was a country boy( Something like Gomer Pile. I suddenly became Latrine Chief ! Two days later I was back to Barracks Chief..
Instructors
My instructor was SSgt Mahue. He was a real nice guy, at night, during our "fireside chats" But look out when the sun came up!
Other Memories
When we arrived at boot camp, we had to empty our pockets on our bunk. Sgt Mahue got to me, and said, "What's this Brown? ! I said, "They're gag jokes, Sargent." Among other things I had a sugar spoon with a hole in it. I was going to put it in the sugar bowl and someone would get "punked". I never saw the stuff again.
Criteria The United States Air Force awards a single ribbon, known as the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, for an expert qualification on either the M-16 rifle, M-4 carbine or the individuals AFSC's (dut... The United States Air Force awards a single ribbon, known as the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, for an expert qualification on either the M-16 rifle, M-4 carbine or the individuals AFSC's (duty) designated handgun weapon. The ribbon is issued in only one degree; however, a bronze service star may be worn on the ribbon for those who have qualified expert on both the service rifle and handgun. MoreHide
When I transferred to McGuire, I got married and lived in Mount Holly, NJ. So I didn't really have any "tight " friends on base.
The best moments were having our daughter and son at Walson Army Hospital at Fort Dix, NJ.
The worst moment was when I was Courts Martialed. My flight worked the midnight shift. An airman on the night shift didn't seem too motivated about doing any work: the 781's showed he rarely did anything. So we would be stuck with making up the slack. One night he left his tool box in the flight van and we divided up his tools. We eventually got caught. I thought it was a very serious charge. We ended up having some money taken out of our pay for three months - and I made staff sargent the next go around. As I said in court, "We have our military men and women dying in Vietnam and we're stealing our fellow airmen's tools." I felt very bad about that, for a long time.
Don't remember.
What struck me when I arrived at McGuire was the seemingly lack of security. I guess, coming from SAC, was a whole new ball game. I was briefed on the organization and was told I could go out and look around the flight line. I said, " Oh, I don't have my security badge yet. They said, you don't need one..
I also had "culture shock" . At Lincoln we were a very close knit squadron. We wore red baseball hats(98th Bomb Wing color), When on Alert Duty we lived and ate with the officers(flight crews) in the same quarters. On weekends when I wasn't on alert duty or TDY (REFLEX) in England or Spain, I would usually be out working on my B-47 on my own time.The AP's didn't seem too comfortable with me doing that , at first. But they got used to "this weirdo".
But McGuire was a different experience and that's what makes life interesting.