Causey, Gerald, A2C

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE?
I was a young man in South Georgia in 1955 and in the 11th grade. I was not happy the way my life was going. There where a lot of the men in school that where joining the services. Well, I got to thinking and came up with the idea that it was for me. I looked at all the branches and I decided to join the Air Force. I have always admired aircraft. I ended up going to Lackland Air Force Base. Man, did I get a feeling of what the service was all about. Marching before daylight, running, you name it, the basic training was rough. In the evening polishing floors getting every speck of dust out of your room and if you were ever in Texas, you know what I mean. The time came for graduation, man that was awesome. Class A uniforms, and spit shined boots. My outfit was assigned to other base's. Meanwhile, we got to take furlough and come home. Well you can add it with one word, awesome.

Once home, boy did I strut my skeeter wings. My chest was exploding with pride. My girlfriend was so proud of me, I loved that! Well, being all things come to an end, I left and went to my next base. North Texas up in the panhandle. Boot training and class's in aircraft engines. The mechanic training was rough. You were never allowed to say "I THINK SO" you better know so. I passed everything and was assigned to Hunter Air Force Base Savannah, Georgia, where I was assigned to a B-47 crew. I had a good life there. I was discharged in 1959, I choose. 70 years later, to let the country hear what really happened to my career in the Air Force I was a jam up Airman, did what I was told, was proud in my work, On a rainy day in Jul, we where winding down from a 36 hr. alert. Myself and 4 more airman,Jerrall Francis, J. Jordan, Bob Downing, and Sgt. Briskie, our crew boss, where standing by for our B-47 to taxi into the parking area. The flight crew dismounted the Aircraft and was standing by for the debriefing wagon. We the crew started to secure the aircraft. All this time we where experiencing a bad electrical storm. At this time I was taken out by a bolt of lighting. When I came to someone was giving me Life support ARE CPR. The meat wagon pulled up and they loaded me up and transported me to the Emergency room. A buddy of mine stayed with me for 30 mins before personnel for the emergency room came to checked me out. The doc asked how do you feel? SAC did not allow it's personal to have an sarcastic attitude. O well!!!!! I responded like I was hit by lighting. I was sent home without the proper procedure for a lighting strike. 12 months later, I had a bad reaction to nervous system. I left the service 1 Dec 1959. THE REST IS History! I still would serve my country in the AIR FORCE /SAC if I where called.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO FOR BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
I started at Lackland AFB for basic training. Afterward, I shipped to Hunter AFB in Georgia as an Aircraft Mechanic on the B-47E. I ended up TDY to Greenland, Alaska and eventually discharged in December 1959.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
"BROKEN ARROW". We had to drop the bomb on board one of the B-47s that had been in a accident with a F-86. The H-Bomb was drop in the Savannah Sounds offshore near Savannah, Georgia.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
The one medal most meaningful to me was the Outstanding Unit Award. During an alert at SAC Hunter Base in Ga. my unit put more B-47e in the air, fully armed and fueled. 9 B-47's airborne with in 30 minutes, keep-um flying.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
Second Class Davis at Lackland AFB. At the time, I was going through basic training and I was one asshole. He made me a man with the Air Force (Airman) Pride. It followed me through life. I thank TI Davis.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
The time one of our crew members forgot to hookup the static line to the aircraft and the crew chief reached to climb in the cock pit door when fire shot from his hand to the A/C. And you know the rest of the story. We all paid, LOL.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
Went into law enforcement for 30 years. Now I'm retired as of 2009.

IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
American Legion Post 59. Stay in touch with some of the guys.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
I was given a whole new outlook on life in basic training by my TI Airman 2nd Class Davis. I learned to think before opening my mouth.

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Serve with pride. We salute you.

HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
Just brings all of us together. We can share old times and meet new friends.

DB 9/12/2016