Sierzchulski, Mark, Sgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
My father passed away when I was 9. He was a WWII Army vet, fought in the Pacific Theater and was wounded in New Guinea. He was proud of his service, as were all of my relatives. My family looked at military service as part of your duty as being a citizen. During my senior year in high school, 1968, one of my uncles talked to me about my future and if I was planning on going into the military. We talked for a long time about the different branches and what each had to offer. I had a pamphlet from the Air Force containing all of their career fields and became interested in the jet engine maintenance field. I was always tearing things apart and rebuilding them, so this seemed like a good fit.

I knew I didn't want to get drafted, my grades were not good enough for me to get a college deferment, so after graduation I went to an Air Force recruiter and got more info and started filling out papers to enlist. I had to have my mother sign them, since I was not yet 18. She balked a bit, but I told her that I would be learning a trade, would be able to use the GI Bill to go to school when I got out and by enlisting in the Air Force, my chances of going to Nam were very, very low. She finally agreed and signed the waiver. I was on a wait list for induction and turned 18 during that time. Finally on Friday, December 13, 1968 I took the oath of enlistment.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
At the end of basic training orders were being handed out for tech schools. I received mine and they were for Chanute AFB and the jet engine maintenance school, just like my recruiter had promised. Hats off to him! My first PCS after that was to Norton AFB in California with the 63rd MAW/FMS. I worked in the jet engine overhaul shop repairing TF33 turbofan engines used on the Wings C-141s. I was promoted to Airman First Class and was selected as the shop's Airman of the Month twice and for the squadron once. Went up against the other squadrons for Airman of the Year, but finished third. I was there about a year when I received orders for Clark Air Base in the Philippines. It was to be an 18 month tour, but when I got there it was cut to 15 months. I was assigned to the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing/FMS. We flew C-130s and I worked the flight-line on the midnight shift. We did rotations into Vietnam and shortly after I sewed on my Sergeant stripes I found myself in Cam Rahn Bay.

I did another rotation into Danang in 1971. Ended up in country for a total of six months So much for enlisting and not going to Vietnam! Going back stateside I was assigned to SAC's 449th Bomb Wing at Kincheloe AFB in the U.P. of Michigan. It was snowing when I got there in October,1971. What a drastic change from the tropics! The winter there was brutal. I became "Sac-cumsized" rather quickly, but in a perverse way, enjoyed the discipline and regimentation. SAC was THE command to be in, what I felt the real Air Force was all about. In April of 1972 I left for a six month TDY to U-Tapao,Thailand and the 307th Strategic Wing. When I left Kincheloe there was still 10 feet of snow on the ground. Came back in October of that year during, you guessed it, a blizzard. I had three months left in the service at that time and on December 7, 1972 I was released from active duty and headed home to Milwaukee. Yes, it was snowing.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
While with the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing, 834th Air Division in Vietnam we flew into every little airfield and large airbase supporting operations all over the country along with some of the neighboring countries. On my second rotation in country I was sent up to Danang air base, near the DMZ, to support operation Lam Son 719/Dewey Canyon II. This was the ARVN's incursion into Laos to disrupt the NVA's supply chain coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In my opinion the operation was a disaster and most of the ARVN turned tail and ran. Danang was known as "rocket alley" and we were hit twice while I was there.

On one attack, the NVA scored a direct hit on one of our C-130s with a 122mm rocket. In 1972, while I was in SAC, I was TDY to U-Tapao air base in Thailand for the Easter offensive and operation Linebacker I. We flew our B-52s daily, around the clock, for strike missions into Vietnam and surrounding areas. A strike mission was code named Arclight and usually consisted of a 3 ship cell. The devastation of a total of 324 bombs from three aircraft raining down from 30,000 feet all at once was mind boggling!

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I spent half of my enlistment overseas, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, all in support of combat operations. Being able to visit foreign lands, learn some of their customs, meet their people. Those opportunities are priceless. However, the down side was witnessing the brutality and insanity of war. All of those memories are etched in my mind forever and some can never be explained to those who weren't there.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Only unit awards. I have the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with the Combat 'V' Device and Two Oak Leafs. These were from my time with the 463rd TAW, 834th Air Division and 307th Strategic Wing. Also the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry unit award.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The Vietnam Service Medal along with the campaign stars. Although I opposed the war, I'm proud of my service.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
TSgt James "JC" Clingan when we were with the 463rd in the Philippines. He was tough, but always straight with his troops.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Actually more embarrassing then funny. On my first rotation to Vietnam at Cam Rahn Bay, we worked 12 hour shifts. A few of us NCO's also had to train the FNGs while in a combat theater. Wasn't to happy about that. Anyway, a few of us decided to see how long we could say awake so we worked our 12 hour shift, went to the NCO club and drank and then back for our shift again. It was 36 hours straight of being awake. While back on shift after 12 hours at the club, my NCOIC told me to take two new guys and do an engine change. I told him I was in no condition to do that, but lost the argument. We could normally do an engine change in five hours, but this one was far from normal.

I told the two new guys what to disconnect from the engine while I went up on top of the wing to disconnect hydraulic and fuel lines and electrical harnesses in the pylon access. This involved laying on my stomach to reach most of the connections. I promptly fell asleep. Four hours later my NCOIC came out and asked the FNGs were I was. He found me asleep on top of the wing and chewed me out for not having the engine even disconnected yet. I told him I'd get it done and he left. I fell asleep again. Two hours later he's back, really pissed, but brought me an in-flight lunch and some juice to keep me awake. Finally got the engine change done, but it took the entire 12 hour shift. Last time I pulled a stunt like that.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I stayed in aviation. In 1975 I earned my private pilot's license and in 1978 I went to Parks College and earned my Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics along with my airframe and power plant technician license. I taught A&P classes while in college and also worked at a FBO on private and corporate aircraft. Later I worked on helicopters on off shore oil rigs and also EMS operations. I was director of maintenance, briefly, at a helicopter FBO at Midway airport in Chicago. After that I was hired by Northwest Airlines and worked my way up through the ranks as an inspector and later as an aircraft maintenance manager. When we merged with Delta I became a lead aircraft maintenance technician. That's where I am today. So, so far, 40+ years in the aviation career field.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I'm a member of a few veterans organizations. Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1; Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 331; American Legion Post 111 and a charter member of the 463rd Airlifter's Association.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I learned the meaning of assertiveness, teamwork and discipline, three attributes I carry with me to this day. Aviation is an unforgiving career field, doesn't tolerate short cuts. It takes discipline to do the job right, safely, the first time. As a lead technician, I stress that daily to my team. In the 40+ years I've been in aviation I have not lost an aircraft due to any issue induced by myself or any member of my team. Something I can hold my head up about.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Make the most out of your time in the military. Explore every opportunity available to you, even if it means changing your AFSC. Keep a copy of all your orders, take pictures, get addresses of all your friends. These may all come in handy if needed to file a claim for a service connected illness and/or issue.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and The USAF

Can't think of a better way to stay in touch with other Air Force vets. The site is perfect for that.

DS 3/6/17