Keeping busy with my wife Donna, whom I will be married to forty years in July 2009. We've traveled quite alot having gone to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria in March 2006. March 2007 we drove my inlaws to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesotta. What a snow storm we ran into in Madison Wisconsin! January 2008 we drove to Florida. Visited some of the old TDY bases Tyndall and McDill. I always enjoyed TDY's, and it brings back good memories to go their. July 2008 we drove to Albuquerque New Mexico for a wedding, then up to Colorado Spings and Denver. As you can see I enjoy driving, so I took a part time job driving. One of my "FOX HOLE BUDDIES" Joe Fenton, convinced me to look into parts delivery. I work three days a week for an auto dealership and have a four day weekend. WOW, if I knew it would be that good, I would have done it forty years ago!!
When our children were young, it opened up an avenue to our social lives, so do our five grand children. In many ways re-aquainting us with people we lost touch with. Its true, you really get to enjoy them so much more than the hectic pace of raising your own. I finally have two sons! both are really nice guys and thank God, both marriages seem to be very sound.
Other Comments:
I graduated from Cape May Vocational Technical Institute in 1966 and went to work for Weaton Plastic Co. in Mayslanding as a design draftsman. I had a technical deferment from them to avoid the draft and one from my parents' family farm but felt an obligation to serve in the military. As a child who played soldier with my cousins and admired my uncles in uniform I was inspired to join the military. The Vietnam War was going on and everyone was saying "don't join", this didn't persuade me . I joined the New Jersey Air National Guard in August and left for basic in October 1966. After graduation from Chanute AFB as a hydraulic repairman, I was hired full time by the NJANG as a technician. From that day on I knew I made the right decision about joining the military. On January 26, 1968 the 177th TFG was activated for the Pueblo Incident and we were sent to Phu Cat, Vietnam for a one year tour. After 14 years as a hydraulic technician, I cross trained to flight line and was a crew chief certified on F-106s, T-33s and F-16s. I retired from my technician job with NJANG on my 55th birthday, December 27, 2000 and stayed on as a triditional Guardsman working in the Maintenance Control section (MOCC). The first plane flew into the World Trade building at 0910 and by 0925 hours I received a phone call saying we were activated and to report to base ASAP. I stayed on active duty for two years doing Noble Eagle missions and retired from NJANG military on December 27, 2005 at age 60.
From my first day as a technician until my last day as a traditional guardsman, I knew I had a job that was the envy of my family and friends. Exotic travel to places they only heard about and TDYs to warm climates in January and Feburary always seemed like greener pastures to them and for the most part, they were correct. I couldn't imagine working any other job and being any happier than with what I was doing in the Air National Guard.
On 15 October 1962, the New Jersey Air National Guard119th Tactical Fighter Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 177th Tactical Fighter Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 119th TFS became the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 177th Headquarters, 177th Material Squadron (Maintenance), 177th Combat Support Squadron, and the 177th USAF Dispensary.
Title Forgotten Heroes U.S. ANG Fighter Squadrons Of Vietnam
by: Joseph B. Speed Maj. USAF ret.
THE FORGOTTEN SQUADRON The history of the 355th TFS Fighting Falcons, from January of 1968 until June of 1969, was unique in the annals of Air Force history. During 1968 the 355th TFS changed from a regular Air Force unit composed almost entirely of recent SEA returnees to a composite squadron consisting of approximately 50 percent ANG pilots and 80 percent ANG enlisted personnel, only to change back again by mid-1969.
A brief history is required to explain this unusual of circumstances and to highlight the resultant accolades of a largely forgotten ANG force. On 26 January 1968, the 355thTFS was ordered to deploy as a self-sufficient F-100D/F squadron to Phu Cat AB, RVN, for a 90 day Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment. To meet this commitment, the unit was deployed as an augmented squadron consisting of 343 maintenance personnel and 23 pilots, 18 of which had completed F-100 tours in SEA. Due to Air Force policy, the 18 returnees, plus many of the enlisted personnel who had also accomplished tours in SEA, could remain TDY in SEA for only 60 days. Therefore, a significant part of the squadron would need to be replaced by the end of March, 1968. Indeed, some replacements were made at the end of March with regular personnel from Luke and Cannon Air Force Bases. Further complicating the issue was the fact that on 5 April 1968 the squadron was notified that the 90-day TDY had been extended to 179 days. Additionally, the 355ths parent Wing, the 354th TFW, had been temporarily retired pending assignment to Korea. Therefore, on 22 April 1968 the squadron was assigned to the 113thTFW, which had moved to the 355ths home station of Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. The 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, history of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing April 1968 to June 1969. Air National Guard accomplishments with the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
THE FORGOTTEN SQUADRON The history of the 355thTFS ?Fighting Falcons,? from January of 1968 until June of 1969, was unique in the annals of Air Force history. During 1968 the 355thTFS changed from a regular Air Force unit composed almost entirely of recent SEA returnees to a composite squadron consisting of approximately 50 percent ANG pilots and 80 percent ANG enlisted personnel, only to change back again by mid-1969. 59 A brief history is required to explain this unusual of circumstances and to highlight the resultant accolades of a largely forgotten ANG force. On 26 January 1968, the 355thTFS was ordered to deploy as a self-sufficient F-100D/F squadron to Phu Cat AB, RVN, for a 90 day Temporary Duty (TDY) assignment. To meet this commitment, the unit was deployed as an augmented squadron consisting of 343 maintenance personnel and 23 pilots, 18 of which had completed F-100 tours in SEA. Due to Air Force policy, the 18 returnees, plus many of the enlisted personnel who had also accomplished tours in SEA, could remain TDY in SEA for only 60 days. Therefore, a significant part of the squadron would need to be replaced by the end of March, 1968. Indeed, some replacements were made at the end of March with ?regular? personnel from Luke and Cannon Air Force Bases. Further complicating the issue was the fact that on 5 April 1968 the squadron was notified that the 90-day TDY had been extended to 179 days. Additionally, the 355th?s parent Wing, the 354thTFW, had been temporarily retired pending assignment to Korea. Therefore, on 22 April 1968 the squadron was assigned to the 113th TFW, which had moved to the 355th?s ?home? station of Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. The 113th 59 History of 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, April ? June 1969, Volume II, Appendix I, ?Air National Guard Accomplishments with the 355thTactical Fighter Squadron.? 25
Best Moment My first TDY with the unit was to Otis AFB in Cape Cod Mass. in the dead of summer 1967. All of Cape Cod was a college summer vacation town. Life was easy and Vietnam was just building up. Most of the females were aware of us being in the military and wanting to know if we were going to fight the war. They were very sympathetic to us and made easy conversation with them. Throw me back into that briar patch any time!
Worst Moment Hearing on the radio on Jan. 26, 1968 that our unit along with 3 other units in the Air National Guard were activated for the Pueblo Crisis in Korea. No official word followed and the only word was from the local radio station.
When the new hangar was built one of our projects was to moved the Hydraulic Component Test Stand (HTC-6)to the new hangar. Along the way we stopped at the out side wash rack and cleaned it up. There was about 25 gallons of hydraulic fluid on the floor of the test stand and we washed it out and never gave a second thought of it. About a week later a duck farmer is wondering why his ducks were turning pink and drowning. Apparently the waste water drained up stream of the duck farm and the red fluid gave them the pink color and the oil messed up there buoyancy. SOOOORRY DUCKS. Its our little secret and we will tell no one....right????
Other Memories I turned down my second TDY. A trip to Alaska in fall of 1967. To hear all the stories and see the pictures made me realise, "NEVER TURN DOWN A TDY AGAIN DUMMY"!! To this day I long to go their and some day I will.
whom I will be married to forty years in July 2009. We've traveled quite alot having gone to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria in March 2006. March 2007 we drove my inlaws to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesotta. What a snow storm we ran into in Madison Wisconsin! 
January 2008 we drove to Florida. Visited some of the old TDY bases Tyndall and McDill. I always enjoyed TDY's, and it brings back good memories to go their. July 2008 we drove to Albuquerque New Mexico for a wedding, then up to Colorado Spings and Denver. As you can see I enjoy driving, so I took a part time job driving. One of my "FOX HOLE BUDDIES" Joe Fenton, convinced me to look into parts delivery. I work three days a week for an auto dealership and have a four day weekend. WOW, if I knew it would be that good, I would have done it forty years ago!!
