Currently and permanently retired, however still serving. Living now in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee and enjoying work with our church, community, American Legion Post 72 as First Vice Commander, Commander and Post 50th Vietnam War Commemoration Partner Chairman. Was recognixed as the 2021-2022 Department of Tennessee Legionaire of the Year. Very pleased to be able to recognize those Vietnam Veterans that did not return to a Welcome Home celebration. Also widows of Vietnam Veterans that did make it home, and to date 33 Brothers listed on the Vietnam Wall and 107 members of their families.
Other Comments:
Enlisted in the 1092 Combat Engineer Battalion, West Virginia Army National Guard on 9 Jun 1957, went on 6 months active duty with the Regular Army in June 1958 thru December 1958. With basic Infantry training at Fort Knox, KY, basic Engineer training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and a further two months assigned to the 82nd Engineer Battalion (Combat) at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Discharged from the WVANG on as a Private First Class on 10 March 1959. Enlisted in the Air Force on 11 March 1959, trained as a communications equipment maintenance technician, and retired from the Air Force on 1 March 1982 at Homestead AFB, FL. After which I entered employment with the Navidyne Corporation (no longer in business) of Newport News, VA as the Director of Quality Assurance in the manufacture of Maritime Satellite Navigational and Communications equipment. On 19 April 1984 I was hired to a civil service position with the U.S. Army Electronics Material Readiness Activity at Vint Hill farms in Warrenton, VA as an Equipment Specialist (Electronic). Two and a half years later I moved on the the National Security Agency at Ft George Meade, MD on 4 Aug 1986 as an Engineering Specialist. During service with NSA I was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation, a Directors Distinguished Station Award and the Directors Productivity Award and retired as a Senior Engineering Specialist. After numerous Air Force, Army and NSA TDY's and overseas tours, I retired on 1 June 2005 for the final time. A very fruitful and enjoyable government career.
Being in Radio Maintenance, my only association with aircraft was transportation to and from. Ones listed were the only special ones. The C-118 was my ride to and from Iceland on my first overseas tour. And was assigned to MATS (Military Air Transport Service), but flown by Navy Pilots.
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C-118 Liftmaster Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Civil DC-6s were built alongside 166 aircraft for the U.S Air Force and Navy designated the C-118 and R6D Liftmaster respectively. One C-118 was given a VIP interior for President Truman and designated the VC-118 The Independence. Other VC-118s also served as Air Force One.
