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Service Details |
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Personal Details
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Home State
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Year of Birth 1940 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Hans Rohm
to remember
Higuera, John, CMSgt USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Hanford |
Last Address 3148 Fountain Plaza Dr Hanford, Ca 93230
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Date of Passing Mar 28, 2015 |
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Location of Interment Hanford Cemetery - Hanford, California |
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Last Known Activity:
John Richard "Buddy'" Higuera, 74, of Hanford, CA, died on Saturday, March 28, 2015. John was born in Yuma, AZ on December 7, 1940, son of the late Ignacio and Mary Higuera.
John grew up in Yuma, Arizona and shortly after graduating from Yuma High School, he enlisted in the US Air Force in February of 1960. He served honorably for 30 years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force in February of 1990 after achieving the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and logged over 8,400 hours of aircrew time which included over 700 combat hours in Vietnam. Always seeking adventure, John was able to travel the world and especially enjoyed his overseas assignments to the Philippines and Germany. After his retirement from the Air Force, John worked as a Real Estate agent in Sacramento, California and Hanford, California.
John married his wife, Fely Higuera, in 1969 at Clark AFB in the Philippines. They were happily married for 46 years. Together they enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. John also managed to always find the time for a cold beer and a BBQ.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Eloise Wise of Yuma, Arizona and Margaret McNamara, of San Diego, California. He is survived by his spouse, Fely, of Hanford, California, his son Tim of Sacramento, California, his son Stephen of San Diego, California, his daughter Sonia Cervantes of Sacramento, California, his daughter Angie Higuera, of Las Vegas, Nevada, his sisters Maryann Heald, of Turlock, California, Ida Valdez of Mesa, Arizona, and Pauline Murphy of Mesa, Arizona, and his brothers, Hank Higuera of San Diego, California, Paul Higuera, of Yuma, Arizona, and Pat Higuera, of Mesa, Arizona. He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at People's Funeral Chapel 501 N Douty St. Hanford, CA from 4-7pm. A memorial service will be held at People's Funeral Chapel 501 N Douty St. Hanford, CA at 9am. Burial will follow at Hanford Cemetery 10500 S 10th Ave Hanford, Ca 93230.
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1960-1962, 90230, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - Davis-Monthan
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1960-1962, 90230, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - Davis-Monthan
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1961-1962, 90250A, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - Davis-Monthan
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1962-1964, 90250A, 1454th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1964-1965, 90250A, 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1965-1967, 90250A, 11th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1967-1968, 90250A, 903rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1968-1973, 90250A, 902nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1973-1973, 90270A, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - Wurtsmith AFB
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1973-1974, 90270A, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - Clark
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1974-1979, 90270A, 9th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1979-1984, 90299, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - England AFB
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1984-1988, 90299, 2nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
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1988-1990, USAF Hospital/Medical Center - Mather
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Reflections on CMSgt Higuera's
US Air Force Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
I did not want to get drafted into the Army, First I went to the Navy Recruiter, but he was not in so I saw the USAF Recruiter.
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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?
I few Air Evac in Vietnam, out of Pleiku AB. Was involved in The Battle of Dak To, Kae San, Dang Ha, and special mission destination unknown. What stationed out Clark I flew Baby lift missions, was scheduled to fly on the C-5A that crash; however I was taken off the Flight. I managed to fly 820 Combat flying hours and earned six Air MedalsI.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I was fortunate to be stationed at Rhein Main AB, Germany twice for seven and a half years and twice at Clark AB, Philippines for a total of eleven years.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The Vietnam War.
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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?
My six Air Medals
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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?
Can't it SECRET
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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 was a Real Estate Agent, Sold Insurance, Sold Cars, and was Customer Service for two Auto dealerships in Sacramento. I sseven two and can't work because of age and illness.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
American Leigon, was a member of Vietnam Veterans association.
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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?
Sure
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