I've done many things over the years: (a sort of jack-of-all-trades-guy) everything from a manufacturing executive, instrument rated private pilot, owned, flew and operated 3 aircraft over those manufacturing years, Realtor, banking and commercial and residential mortgages, teaching and mentoring new real estate agents, training dogs for the blind, motorcycle (Harleys and chopper hybrids and the like) sales and services, seasonal catastrophic storm insurance adjusting. Now, I'm working as a certified caregiver for Home Instead Senior Care. In my spare time, I have resurrected my old hobby of building and flying giant-scale model aircraft (go to www.rccd.org). But, the best part of my life these days is living happily with my wonderful wife and best friend, Claudia, simply enjoying our lives together. I am totally blessed! Life is good!
Update: We moved from our home in Berkley, MI to Sterling Heights, MI in the summerof 2016. A ranch style with all rooms on one floor...for ease of getting around...getting older, as many of you know, requires fewer steps to climb up and down. All is good with the two of us. We now have another grandson living close by these days. I gave up my Harley Road King some years ago...vision, hearing and good reaction time not as good as it used to be. I'm still working part-time as a Realtor helping specifically Veterans of all wars and conflicts and so-called "Police Actions". Beyond all of that, God is always in our lives, therefore, all is good!
UPDATE:
Retired 1 NOV 2018
Other Comments:
I have been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to serve with all the guys surrounding my 4 years in the Air Force as a Dog Handler. For those guys remaining on this beautifully designed planet I pray all are doing well. For those past on, I look forward to joining them one day. Lessons learned over the past 68 years?...Well, I wish I had learned this simple fact earlier in life: God has a plan for all of us. The trick is to be and live in His word every day...listen intently for His guidance and follow His lead. This will...WILL... guarantee a rewarding and fruitful life as He promised, provide all you will ever need. No matter what may happen to you, remember...it's God's plan...not for us to necessarily understand why, but it's His plan. Be blessed, all...
Otis AFB: Loved to hear them start up...reminded me of the days when I flew on the commercial (Eastern Airlines) versions to FL to visit my grandparents.
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EC-121 Warning Star Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star was a US Air Force/US Navy airborne early warning radar surveillance aircraft. A military version of the Lockheed Constellation, it was designed to serve as an airborne early warning system to supplement the Distant Early Warning Line, using two large radomes, a vertical dome above and a horizontal one below the fuselage. EC-121's were also used for intelligence gathering (SIGINT).
It was introduced in 1955 and retired from service in 1978, although a single specially-modified EW aircraft remained in service with the U.S. Navy until 1982. The US Navy versions when initially procured were designated WV-2 and WV-3. Warning Stars of the U.S. Air Force served during the Vietnam War as both electronic sensor monitors and as a forerunner to the E-3 Sentry AWACS. U.S. Air Force aircrews adopted the civil nickname, "Connie" (diminutive of Constellation) as reference.
