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 1951 |
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This Deceased Air Force Profile is not currently maintained by any Member.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Wingmen Only |
Last Address DEER PARK, TX
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Date of Passing Apr 07, 2017 |
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1986, National Guard Association of Texas
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2005, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Dept of Texas (Austin, Texas)
- Chap. Page
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2010, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
- Assoc. Page
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2010, American Legion, Post 125 (Vice President) (Pasadena , Texas)
- Chap. Page
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2017, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 194 (Treasurer) (Pasadena, Texas)
- Chap. Page
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Last Known Activity:
Currently I am retired from USAF and Civil Service.
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1970-1971, 92250, 7th Air Force
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1970-1971, 92250, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
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1971-1972, 92250, 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
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1971-1973, 67th Combat Support Group
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1971-1973, 92250, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron - Sylvester
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1973-1976, 92270, 704th Tactical Air Support Squadron
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1985-2007, 1C7X1, 147th Fighter Wing
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1985-2007, 92290, 111th Fighter Squadron - Ace in the Hole
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1985-2007, 1T1X1, 1st Air Force
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1985-2007, 1T1X1, Texas Air National Guard
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2005-2005, 1C0X2, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing
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1986, National Guard Association of Texas
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2005, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Dept of Texas (Austin, Texas)
- Chap. Page
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2010, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
- Assoc. Page
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2010, American Legion, Post 125 (Vice President) (Pasadena , Texas)
- Chap. Page
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2017, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 194 (Treasurer) (Pasadena, Texas)
- Chap. Page
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Reflections on CMSgt Windsor'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?
Growing up in the 50's the big thing of the day was television. At an early age I became very interested in the USAF through watching movies such as Strategic Air Command, 12 o'clock High and many others, After graduation I enrolled in Lamar University and found out real quick I didn't have the discipline to attend college at that time. I told my dad I wanted to enlist in the armed forces. He was a WWII Army veteran and talked to me many times about joining the Air Force. He said when he was in a foxhole in Belgium he would watch the aircraft returning to England at night wishing he was in the Air Corps. That is how I enlisted in the Air Force. That was the best decision of my life. At the time I didn't realize it but it becomes a way of life. I was a young man from a small town in Texas and never dreamed I would have such a successful career in the greatest organization on earth.
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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?
Prior to joining the Air Force I had spent some time working in area hospitals in the Medical Lab. The recruiter told me to get some letters of recommendation from some Doctors and I should not any problem going into the medical field in the Air Force. Boy was he | |
wrong. Upon arriving at Lackland I gave the in processing folks the letters and they threw them in the garbage. Upon graduation from basic I was sent to Chanute AFB, Ill. to Protective Equipment School. At that time, 1970, the Vietnam War was in full swing and the school was operating 24 hrs. a day. I was scheduled for the early shift. Today the career field has transformed into Aircrew Life Support. I went to Combat Survival School at Fairchild. I had the opportunity to fly in Jolly Greens in SEA, F-4's, T33, and the F-16 stateside. In my wildest dreams I never thought I would have that opportunity. I went to the Aircraft Accident Investigation course at Kelly AFB, TX and worked two aircraft accidents in Michigan. I loved being this close to the flying program. Taking care of pilots become part of my Air Force career. This continued for the next 35 years. The Life Support motto "Your Life is Our Business" will always be a reminder how serious this career field was. Your work had to be perfect. There was no room for error. Later in the 90's I cross trained into Airfield Management in order to achieve the rank of CMSgt.
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IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.
My first duty assignment was the 432 TRW , Udorn RTAFB ,Thialand. I was shocked at the scope and depth of the operation in direct support of the Vietnam war. Udorn was the northern most airbase in Thialand ,only a short distance from the border with Laos. The Life Support shop I was assigned to was support of the 40th ARRS and Det 56 SOS. Direct support of this unit was exciting. I got to fly quite a bit in the HH53, Super Jolly. In one mission I was on we did a air to air refuel off of a C130 at night. Flying in this aircraft gave me an important respect for the environment the aircrew operated in.
I played an important support role in Operation Ivory Coast on 21 November 1970. The shop had to assemble a large amount of Protective equipment in a short time. We worked 24 hrs a day for 3 days in support of this operation. This was a multi service operation that flew that night to Son Tay POW camp in North Vietnam to attempt a rescue of our POW's being imprisoned there. The mission failed to find any POW's since they had been moved the day before, However it show the NVA our capabilities to be able to strike anywhere anytime. I spent time in Iraq and Saudi Arabia in combat area's.
Also participated in Coronet Nighthawk in Panama in the early 90's. These deployments gave me total respect for our aircrew and the job they did day in and day out.
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OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
Howard AFB, Panama was my favorite duty station Seeing the Panama Canal was something I never thought I would see. Fishing in the canal for Peacock Bass was about as good as it gets. Watching the operation of the locks in Panama city was very interesting. I had read about the operation in school but I never dreamed I would see the locks in person.
I was able to spend some time at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Seeing the northern lights, riding the Alaskan Railroad was a great thing to do. Even got to go salmon fishing while I was there. But my favorite deployment was to Red Flag at Nellis AFB, NV. Las Vegas is a great place to work ans also play.
The worst assignment was to Balad Airbase Iraq. We lived in tents. The base was under attack the day I got there. The base had been named Mortoritaville. Not a fun place but the food was great. I was at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi the day the USS Cole was attacked. We were placed on alert for about 3 days following that incident.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
Being in the combat environment in SEA made a lasting impression on me. Being 18 years old, being placed there and being responsible for the equipment that would save the aircrews life during a combat mission made a lasting impression on me. Whether it was working on a flying helmet or conducting escape and Evasion training the Life Support motto was always first on my mind " Your Life is Our Business".
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
The medals that I am most proud of are the Vietnam Service Medal, Viet Nam Gallantry Cross/ w palm, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and the Iraq service medal. In addition my unit was awarded the AF Outstanding Unit award w/ V device for its role in the Viet Nam war.
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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?
The combat awards are the most important to me. From the Vietnam medals to the Iraq service medal I find these as reasons I am the man I am today. Those experiences very important to me.
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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?
My first duty assignment was in Udorn Thialand. I was 18 years old and thought I knew it all. My first NCOIC was TSgt Otis Jackson. I credit TSgt Jackson and SSgt Tyler Gammon as two of my most important mentors of my career. They instilled in me the the importance and the attention to detail that the Life Support job demanded.Those values stuck with me through my entire career. All the way from Amn. to CMSgt.
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IF KNOWN, PLEASE RECOUNT THE NAMES OF FRIENDS HE/SHE SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATION, AND WHAT WAS REMEMBERED MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE HE/SHE REMAINED IN TOUCH WITH.
There are so many, its hard to name all of them Mentors during my career include CMSgt's Otis Jackson, Tyler Gammon, Oren Mcclure, Rob Darter and SMSgt Bill Baldwin. I have made contact with Chief Gammon and SSgt Robert Sprout since I have been on TWS. Still looking for a number of folks I have served with,
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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?
During a deployment to Hickam some pilots call me about 0100 and told they had went swimming at the North Shore and lost the keys to their rent car. They never heard the end of that one. Another instance a young pilot was being transported to Tyndall on a support aircraft to ferry a F-4 Phantom home. About half way there he went to the cockpit and told the pilot he had to turn around and go back to home base and get his flying helmet. His call sign was then change to Idiot Boy or India Bravo. Looking back on this makes me smile.There are a lot of great times over the years however too much to print.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
After active duty I went to work in an oil refinery. But I really missed the Air Force. I applied and was accepted in the Air National Guard at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. When i first went to the base and smelled the JP5 burning on the flight line I knew I was where I needed to be. I accepted a full time position and spent the next 26 years serving in the job I loved the most.
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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?
Currently I am a active member of the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and the Viet Nam Veterans of America. I stay current on veteran issues through the publications.
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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?
Due to the job I had in the Air Force I have developed a keen sense of attention to detail. I drive my wife crazy with this. Everything in my garage has its place and all my tools are kept clean and are placed on a peg board. I know it sounds crazy but what you learn in the Air Force stays with you.
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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?
Enjoy your time in the Air Force. Don't treat it as just a job. It's a lot more then that. It becomes a way of life. Learn all you can and be proud of your service.Service in the best organization in the world is a privilege you will always be proud of. Find a mentor at every duty station in order to learn your job as well as Air Force way of life. PME is important part of Air Force life. Always finish the courses on time and you can have a successful career.
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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 USAF |
TWS has given me the opportunity to gather all my military service history and put it in writing for my children and grandchildren to read. I have made contact with some of the folks I served with. It is a great site. DS 2/23/17
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