Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
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Year of Birth 1939 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MSgt Scott Rogers, Jr.
to remember
Bush, Ronald H., SMSgt 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 Holly, MI |
Last Address SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL
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Date of Passing Apr 09, 2017 |
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Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia |
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 76, Site 1344 |
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1957-1957, 3726th Basic Military Training Squadron (Cadre)
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1957-1958, 43131A, 3755th School Squadron (Cadre)
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1958-1959, 6314th Support Squadron
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1959-1960, 43151A, 4130th Aircraft Support Squadron
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1960-1961, 19th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium
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1962-1963, 3405th School Squadron (Cadre)
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1963-1967, 30450, 1969th Communications Squadron
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1967-1968, 30450, 4th Mobile Communications Group
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1968-1968, 30450, 1137th Special Activity Squadron
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1968-1969, 30450, 1131st USAF Special Activities Squadron
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1968-1969, 30450, 1137th Special Activity Squadron
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1969-1970, 30470, Detachment 1, 507th Tactical Air Control Group
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1970-1972, 2006th Communications Group
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1972-1975, 30470, 2179th Communications Squadron
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1975-1977, 30470, 2187th Communications Group
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1977-1980, 30496, 606th Tactical Control Squadron
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1980-1981, 30499, 2019th Communications Squadron
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Reflections on SMSgt Bush's
US Air Force Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE?
I graduated from high school in June 1957 in Holly, Michigan. This was a small village surrounded by farms which is located about midway between Flint and Pontiac. My choices were to go to college, build cars for General Motors in Flint, build cars for Ford in Pontiac, go in the military. I decided to go in the military and that the Air Force would give me the best chance for training in a technical job.
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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?
On August 2, 1957, I had my first plane ride down to Lackland Air Force Base for basic training. After 4 weeks of phase 1 basic training, I was off to phase 2 basic training and air craft maintenance school. This training took place at Sheppard AFB Texas.
After my first leave I was headed to Osan, Korea to work on C-47 air craft. The interesting thing there was taking passengers, fresh produce, and mail out to a radar site. The radar site was located on an island off the west coast of South Korea near the DMZ. We landed on the beach at low tide because there wasn't room for a landing strip on the island.
After assignments working on the flight line at Austin Texas and Otis AFB in Massachusetts, I decided to leave the Air Force when my four years was up. It took me only 9 months after I had left before I became bored and I returned to the Air Force and training into a new job.
So my wife and I were off to Keesler AFB to spend 9 months retraining into Radio Relay equipment maintenance. I didn't know until I was given my first assignment to London, England that my job was used primarily overseas. After 4 years in London, I was off to Altus Oklahoma with the 4th MOB for 1 year.
Not only was my job used overseas, but they would be unusual. After 12 months I was assigned to Vietnam for a year and a day. Did I mention my assignments would be unusual? I was assigned to a special activities squadron with the Defense Communications Agency with first duty station at NaTrang.
Our detachment was made up of an Army major commander, Air Force captain and lieutenant, Army captain and me, Air Force staff sergeant. Our office was located on the perimeter of the air base with an Army communication unit. Several times when I was pulling night duty, there would be a helicopter gun ship sitting above me firing rockets into the field beyond the fence.
After 3 months, I was replaced with an army master sergeant and sent to a hilltop next to the Pleiku AFB. Our detachment was made up of an Army major selectee, Air Force Captain, Marine Captain, Navy Senior cChief and me. My job in both detachments required travel throughout the II Corp area. One of the officers or the Navy Chief would go with me when I had to travel by Jeep. Otherwise, I traveled by myself.
After one year and one day I was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida. Eighteen months later I was off to Tehran, Iran on my first civilian clothes assignment. We worked with the embassy and had diplomatic immunity.
Two years later, back to the U. S. at Patrick AFB. I stayed at Patrick for 30 months, and then on to my second civilian clothes assignment. This was to Mt. Corna, Italy as the operating location chief. I was responsible for 15 guys and their families. We were 150 miles west of Aviano, Italy between Verona and Milan. This was my favorite assignment. Our comm site was located next to a small town and all the locals went out of their way to make us feel at home.
When my two year tour was up, the assignment people had trouble finding me a position in the states. Eventually I volunteered to stay in Europe and was assigned to Bremerhaven, Germany. This was a new unit and I was to assist in setting it up. It was the 606th TacConTrol Squadron with people and equipment coming in from all over the US. For the first six months we in maintenance worked 12-16 hour days, 7 days a week. After we became operational, our duty days became more normal. As a tactical unit we spent a lot of time in the field including a 30-day deployment to Denmark. This was by far my worst assignment.
Back to the states to Griffiss AFB at Rome, NY. While at Griffiss I attended the Senior NCO Academy. Seven months after returning to the states, I was handed an assignment back to Germany. I decided my family and I had spent enough time overseas, so I put in my retirement papers.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Most of my assignments were as a radio relay supervisor, I arrived on site after my predecessor had gone on to another assignment. Whether in Vietnam or Italy, this meant I had to figure out the job and the best way to do it. I learned to think on my feet and make the most of my situation. I carried this way of thinking throughout my follow-on career in the Federal Government.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
While in Saigon, Vietnam processing out for my return to the states, I was called into our group commander's office (Army Col). He presented me with the Bronze Star Medal. This was in recognition for being in harm's way while traveling around II Corp to meet with army fixed communications personnel. Our unit also earned the Army Meritorious Unit Award.
At Patrick AFB I was presented with the AF Commendation Medal. My work center provided a microwave link from NASA launch control to downrange transmitters. By never putting a launch on hold due to loss of the down range communications was the reason for the award.
My next assignment was to Mt. Corna, Italy. At the end of my 26-month tour I was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. I earned this medal for bringing the station communications reliability up from 90% to 99.9%.
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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?
Ken Miller was from Ohio and I was from Michigan when we met at basic training. We went on to Sheppard AFB for Air Craft maintenance school. Our first duty station together was Osan, Korea. During the first four weeks I was detailed to drive a 6 by as a shuttle bus around the flight line. Ken went right to work on the C-47 aircraft. After 4 weeks as a truck driver, I finally was assigned to work as a mechanic. My aircraft had tail number 965 and my Crew Chief was Ken. We flew with our plane during the day and worked on it at night. This was 6 to 7 days a week for the final 11 months of our tour. After Korea we went our separate ways and I have not heard of him since then.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
I went on terminal leave October 1, 1980 with an actual retirement date of January 1, 1981. For 2 years I worked in industry as an electronic technician. I followed this by working for the Defense Department as a quality assurance specialist on defense contracts throughout central New York state area.
To escape from the cold and snow I transferred to the Navy at Kings Bay, Georgia. I am a plank owner (member of a new Navy unit) in the civilian unit overseeing the assembly of the ballistic missile for the Trident II submarine.
Four years later I was on my way to Portland, Oregon as a GS-12 to set up a central maintenance facility for the equipment used to measure the snow pack throughout the Western States. I worked at this job for the last 11 years of my 20 years in civil service.
I retired out of federal service and headed to our condo on the beach in Florida. Two years of hurricanes and my wife and I were on the move again. This time to a small town in Georgia. That lasted 10 years then back to Florida. We are currently living half way between Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
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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?
Because of the nature of my AFSC I was never stationed on an air base on the last 5 overseas assignments. I always had to be self-reliant and figure out the best solution to a problem.
My time in the Air Force was always hard work but never boring. Through out my life after I retired from the Air Force, I always worked hard and approached every problem knowing I could find a solution.
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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?
Even after basic training, the Air Force is not an easy place to work. However, no matter what your job is you will be judged on how well you do the work assigned to you. It will never be boring and can be exciting. The training you receive will be of the highest caliber and if you find the Air Force is not for you, this training can be used in civilian life.
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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?
| TWS and the US Air Force |
Every time I go to the web site, I think of all the places I have been and the people I have worked with. Retiring out of the Air Force 35 years ago, I don't remember the names, but I still see their faces and it seems like yesterday when we were together. DS 4/24/17
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