Titus, Leroy, Jr., TSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
I had two uncles in the Air Force and they told me its the best way to go you will learn a trade. They clued me in on Recruiters and what to expect in Basic Training.

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?
It all started back on 20 Feb 1967 Vietnam was on the upswing, basic was shifted to Amarillo AFB Tx talk about cramming things to know was short sweet and to the point after the shortened basic training. The train ride to Chanute AFB Ill where I went through 16

Basic photo

weeks of Technical training as an aircraft environmental systems repairman. aka heat and vent and aircraft mechanical accessories. After completion, my first assignment was Naha AB Okinawa C130As and after being there I volunteered to go to Misawa AB Japan on a deployment build up of F4Cs from Nam and deployment of F100s to Nam. Yes welcome to the Fighter world, old to newer my transitions were bam bam learn one aircraft then another. Once the F100s all left, the focus was on the F4s.

Then the theft of the Navy Ship Pablo which stepped up the buildup in Korea. Spent just as much time there as in Japan, I remember on one rotation back my replacement was a 3 level. Well that went over like a bla bla bla. Well I volunteered to go back this had to happen the next day. No rotating aircraft available for a week DCM said get your gear and go to ops and get flight gear you're going with me in the back seat of an F4. It was great to feel like a Gib. Gee here I am an E4 flying in the back seat of a fighter not too many enlisted personal get a chance at this experience.Talk about excitement, totally something I will never forget. One thing I didn't take the time to get there by the normal prop rotation aircraft which came out of Tachikawa AB. Well anyway the 3 level had to wait until the normal rotation aircraft which came in the following week. So he was my gofer. After the Japan tour it was off to Bien Hoa AFB Vietnam. Well low and behold there were the same F100s I worked on in Japan and the A37s. It was a very interesting year, never took my R&R just wanted to leave and not come back. Next assignment SAC Barksdale AFB LA B52s and KC135s and the old KC97s after a short 16 months there I was off to Griffiss AFB NY and there after for year an half it was off to RAF Mildenhall UK RC135s and KC135s.

After Three wonderful years in the UK I was ready to come home State Side. My assignment was for Bangor Maine well one week before rotating back, change of orders Wichita Kansas bound. After being there for 7 months, I wanted a change in careers so I cross trained into Minuteman missile facility maintenance. It was a 19 week course at good old Chanute AFB Ill. After being there for a while I found out my Uncle was in this career field and also was a teacher and one of his buddies was Smitty who taught the power potion of the course.

I ended up cutting the course down to 10 weeks because a lot of the stuff I knew, HVAC and basic electrical. Well after that I was off to Grand Forks AFB ND well Ill leave you with my thoughts about this assignment. Not quite 3 years I had a career BOP my wish came true FE Warren AFB WY where I spent the last 7 years of my Career working in various positions.

Then may last few years as Assistant Missile Facilities Superintendent, my best moment is when I received the American Flag flown over the base for my retirement, something I will always treasure. Well that's it 20 wonderful years and something Ill never regret.

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?
Ever have a good Night and turned out to be a bad day! My story starts at Bien Hoa AB RVN 1969 F-100F Tail # 58-1215 but my association with this Aircraft goes back to Jan 1968 at Misawa AB Japan. Worked on this Aircraft just before it deployed for Nam and we changed over to F-4Cs. Upon my arrival to Vietnam on the 20th of July 69 yes the day they stepped on the moon I stepped on the Flight line at Ton Son Nuit AB Then the bus ride to Bien Hoa. After being there for a week or so I realized some of the F100s we had at Misawa was here an I remember Acft 1215. Night shift was a good shift 6:00PM to 6:00AM. On Dec 10 1969 worked on this aircraft removing equipment and ducting ending up finishing at 05:00 removing items so Pneudrolics and few more shops could remove there stuff for Flight controls can do there work changing cables.

Then that evening at 7:00pm time to re install my equipment back in the aircraft. At 04:30 12 Dec 69 had to take aircraft to trim pad for its Leak check on the ducting at 5:15 finished up with all checks returned aircraft back to shelter finished up some safety wiring and they were getting ready to load the 20MM ammo and the bombs were sitting in the safe area to be loaded for a mission at 9:00AM. Finished up just before 6:00AM went back to the shop then left to go back to Barracks at 06:25 a VC barrage of 11 rockets hit the base. One was a direct hit on Aircraft 58-1215 expelling all the 20MM shells but luckily enough no bombs had been loaded. So that was one of my Make My Day events. Ever have one?

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Enjoyed every moment at all my assignments you can say it was a working vacation with adventures and sometimes a mental achievement. I guess it was a life living experience. I'd say Vietnam would be my least favorable but we had a job to do. My most Favorite is FE Warren AFB Cheyenne, WY. Lots of memories and good friends of the Mighty 90th FMMS and SMW.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The ability to adapt to different situations and a lot of OJT was self taught moving from different systems in a short time frame. The most assignment that stands out would be my longest at FE Warren AFB Cheyenne, WY.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
AF Accommodation, Presidential Unit, Unit Citation with 'V' Device and the Vietnam cross of Gallantry individual award These were earned at Bien Hoa AFB RVN. My most proud possession was the American Flag that was flown over FE Warren AFB in commencement of my retirement. Also receiving unit citations from FE Warren and the Humanitarian Award for the flood in 1985

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?
Of all the medals, awards and badge the most meaningful and proud to me is the Missile Badge even though it was just the senior badge for time spent in Missiles. I am still proud to have served in the Minuteman Weapon System From Grand Forks AFB ND to FE Warren AFB Wy. My most proud possession is the American Flag that was flown over FE Warren AFB on commencement of my retirement.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Two Commanders from the 90th FMMS. Col Gilbert and Col Starkey for believing in my efforts and various positions within the Squadron. Serving in the Squadron Retention NCO position and various positions, filling in as First Sgt while he was on leave. In charge of Squadron Activities and also Master of ceremonies for the Base Missile Competition which we won the Blanchard Trophy and First Sgt for Base Parade which we won first place.

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?
While TDY to Kunsan, Korea I was given a job to watch over some Koren Nationals who were doing some welding repairs in the Supply Hanger up on the rafters. Well during the welding a fire started and they vacated the building. I grabbed a Clorobromomethane Fire extinguisher charged the hose and started to release it when the nozzle was leaking all over and splashed in my face.After clearing my eyes so I can see I went and grabbed another outside the hanger at that time I told the SP Guards at the other hangers to call the Fire Department. Rolled this Extinguisher in and charged the hose aimed nozzle at the fire and this one's Nozzle also leaked so I just closed my eye's and kept on spraying.

Well we got the fire out and started to feel my way out because my eye's were burning. The Fire chief showed and trucks told them what happen and the Commander of the Alert pad. First Aid arrived and they took me to the hospital to get my eye's flushed out. One good thing it didn't do any damage to my eyes. Yes I do laugh when i talk about it because I wasn't going for another Extinguisher two strikes is better then three. And all the Extinguishers were changed and tested. Other Area was a F-4C S/N 63-7555 which was known as Triple Nickel at Misawa AB Japan. When this Aircraft came to Misawa it had a lot of Issues it sat out in the Maintenance Hanger for many months. The biggest Issue was bullet holes in vital equipment bays. The Main cabin Air and equipment cooling had holes in the heat ex-changers.So in between my TDY's to Kunsan and Taegu Korea replaced both ex-changers lots of hours on this Aircraft. I went as far as putting a Red Condemn tag on the Pilots flight control stick stirred up a lot of laughter in the Maintenance complex. Today this Aircraft is on loan to the Yankee Air Museum Belleville, Michigan. Another F-4C Aircraft was Triple Nickel's hanger buddy Triple Six coming from Vietnam shortly after in late 67 Also with battle damage but did not stay in the hanger long. But during the big Quake on 16 May 68 it was sitting on the tarmac between the hanger and Base Flight Control seen it bouncing up and down when the ground was rock and rolling causing tail end damage. Today this Aircraft is parked at Kunsan AB Korea at the Corrosion Control hanger being used as a training Aid. Another Aircraft beating the Big Scrap Yard!

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?
My first job was with RCA/GE Facility & Equipment Air-conditioning ICBM Test Range located on Roi-Namor Kwaj Atoll Marshal Island. After my tour pursued the Hvac field then went to Health Care and Retirement Facility Maintenance doing HVAC, plumbing,Electrical and electronics then Maintenance Superintendent. Then after 20 years retiring and taking up the relax and fishing profession.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Association of Air Force Missileers. Keeping abreast of what is going on in the Minuteman missile Field.

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?
The way to approach different area's and the desire to get deeply involved in a problem and find a solution. Able to supervise and run a shop environment. Every moment was a challenge and now being retired the challenges still persist to be a mind twisting experience as pictured below. Once this is mastered then I would say another life event achieved.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Seek out your goals and pursue your dreams get involved and self determination no matter what field you get into. And if your not totally happy on what you do there is always cross training. But never give up what your going for and seek all the education you can get.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
20 years seemed to go by in a short time but with a million miles of memories Together We Served helped jogged the mind. Friendship while in was just basic because moving around I felt when leaving and mybe never seeing this person again makes it hard. I did have

TWS and The USAF

one friend Dave Connolly we were in basic same room. Tech school same room and class. Then went to Okinawa and then on to Japan. After Japan I went to Nam and he went to CCK in Taiwan. But we did meet up in Nam he was TDY to Ton Sa Nuit and I was just up the Road at Bien Hoa chopper rides from the Army was no problem.

Anyway good to see him and another guy who was in the shop in Japan. After that lost all contact with him. But I knew he separated and went back home. I had reenlisted in Nam SRB was good and it marked my continued career. But everyone Ive meet seamed to have a friendship bonding where ever I went. Most of my friend's were civilians especially in Cheyenne Wy. Camping , fishing and Amateur Radio. Good Times!

DS 12/7/16