After retirement from the Air Force, I served as a full-time Baptist Minister until February 2011. I served in churches in Oklahoma and Louisiana and was ordained in 1991. I must admit that it was trying at times, but it was good to be in my true calling. In February 2011, I fully retired.
One of the most important parts of my life is my family. I married a widow with children and have children of my own from a prior marriage. We have both lost a child. Her son was killed when hit on the side of the road by a truck, my daughter was killed by a hit-and-run driver. That leaves us with 2 sons and 2 daughters (step to me) and 11 grandchildren, two great-grandsons, and one great-granddaughter. We love and accept them all and try our best to do right by each of them.
Other Comments:
I miss the Air Force in a lot of ways, especially the common dedication to a cause. The type of comradery we had in the military is unlike anything else in the world. I speak with active duty folks sometimes and sense the same sense of dedication in most of them that we saw in previous eras. I am especially impressed with many of the young people I meet.
I can tell you that when I entered the Air Force, I was a green kid who had never been away from home. I was overprotected and had a lot of maturing to do and a lot to learn. I made a lot of mistakes and was in trouble several times in the early years. I really don't know how I made it to retirement, but I did. The Air Force taught me a number of values that have stayed with me all of these years.
I just hope us older folks set the kind of example that will out-live our time.
Feel free to view my dad's profile on the ATWS Site.
Aircraft/Missile Information
The Boeing Company's model 367-80 was the basic design for the commercial 707 passenger plane as well as the KC-135A Stratotanker. In 1954 the Air Force purchased the first 29 of its future 732-plane fleet. The first aircraft flew in August 1956 and the initial production Stratotanker was delivered to Castle Air Force Base, Calif., in June 1957. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.
Of the original KC-135A's, more than 415 have been modified with new CFM-56 engines produced by CFM-International. The re-engined tanker, designated either the KC-135R or KC-135T, can offload 50 percent more fuel, is 25 percent more fuel efficient, costs 25 percent less to operate and is 96 percent quieter than the KC-135A.
Specifications StatsCentral Model Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker Length 136.25 ft | 41.53 m Width 130.84 ft | 39.88 m Height 41.67 ft | 12.70 m Engine(s) 4 x CFM F108 turbofan engines generating 22,000lbs of thrust each. Empty Weight 106,307 lbs | 48,220 kg MTOW 322,503 lbs | 146,285 kg Max Speed 610 mph | 982 km/h | 530 kts Max Range 2,880 miles | 4,635 km Ceiling 41,719 ft | 12,716 m | 7.9 miles Climb Rate 1,290 ft/min (393.2 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 3
