Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Last Rank
Airman 2nd Class
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Last Primary AFSC/MOS
27350A-Aircraft Control and Warning Operator
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Last AFSC Group
Command and Control
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Primary Unit
1963-1965, 27350A, Air Defense Command (ADC)
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Service Years
1961 - 1967
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Other Languages
Spanish
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Official/Unofficial US Air Force Certificates
Cold War Certificate
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
Wisconsin | |
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Year of Birth 1943 |
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This Deceased Air Force Profile is not currently maintained by any Member.
If you would like to take responsibility for researching and maintaining this Deceased profile please click
HERE
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Contact Info
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Home Town Jacksonville Beach |
Last Address 345 Orchis Road St. Augustine South, St. Augustine, FL 32086
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Date of Passing Jul 27, 2017 |
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1961-1961, 27300, Lackland Military Training Center (Staff)
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1962-1963, 27350A, Detachment 2, 623rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
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1962-1963, 27330, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
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1962-1963, 27230A, Detachment 2, 623rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
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1962-1963, 27350A, United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)
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1963-1965, 27350A, 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadton
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1963-1965, 27350A, Air Defense Command (ADC)
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Reflections on A2C Gall'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 believe my first contact with the USAF was my Boy Scout Troop Leader Mr. Robert McMillan who was a Col. in the USAF Reserve and flew with the 8th Air Force in WWII. Mr McMillan was a Navigator on a B-17 and I think the example he set lead to my interest in flight and the USAF for my military service obligation. Another factor was the USSR Leaders speech at the UN when Khrushchev said "We will Bury You". He frightened me so bad that I was willing to give twenty years of my life to prevent such evil from harming my country and my family.
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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?
I was not satisfied with promotions in the USAF so I served "Four in and out". I attended college after the USAF and enlisted in the Florida National Guard after college. I served 10 years in the Guard before transferring to the US Army Reserve for the last four years of my twenty years of service.
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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.
I transferred to active duty several times while a Huey crew chief in the Florida Army National Guard. On several occasions it was to fight fires or post hurricane relief duty on "State" Active Duty. Then there were several activation's to support national security operations in central and South American nations. All in all these were rewarding and fulfilling experiences and I am grateful for the opportunity to have served my State and Nation.
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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?
Kume Jima was the best year of my life. The island and people were beautiful. Republic of Panama was least favorite. When I shipped out of Kume we traveled by US Navy ship (AKL-31) to Okinawa main island (Naha) for out processing. Our ship was caught between two Typhoons and one over took our ship. The ship lost power, became broadside to the wind and waves and almost capsized.
About three months later my mother sent me a news clipping about the loss of the AKL-31's sister ship (a tramp steamer we called the "Binjo Maru") in a Typhoon with heavy loss of life. The Akl-31 was in for repairs and the "Binjo Maru" had been chartered to act in her place. Every Memorial Day I think about this.
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FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
I think two events stand out the most for me during my USAF active duty tour of NOV 61 thru NOV 65. The first is going to DEFCON ONE on the island of Kume Jima during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. I was a Weapons Control Tech stationed with Det. 2, 623rd AC&W Squadron.
The second was witnessing the death of my Commander in Chief; President John F. Kennedy, while standing in the chow line at Oklahoma City AFS, 746th AC&W Squadron about 1,pm local time, 22 NOV 63.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
The Florida Commendation Medal; awarded by Governor Graham for evacuating grade school children from their school during the Palm Coast Fire of 1985. I was a UH-1H Crew Chief serving with HHC 53rd Infantry Brigade flight section at the time.
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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?
My most valued awards are my Army Air Crew Wings, the Florida Commendation Medal awarded to me by Florida Governor Bob Graham and the National Defense Service Medal. I really miss flying and the feeling of being a member of a flight crew where each man bet his life on the skill and ability of his fellow crewmen. I have not found anything in civilian life that can compare with that feeling.
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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?
I remember the death of President Kennedy because he was my Commander In Chief and was killed on my watch. I feel that puts me in the same class with the soldiers who were on duty when President Lincoln was killed. To loose your Commander in Chief in time of war to murder is somehow different that to loose him to natural causes. I think about this a lot and it is hard to put into words.
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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.
My best friend from my Air Force time is the Weapons Controller who instructed me in intercept tactics and flight following while I was Stationed on Kume Jima, Okinawa. His name is 1st Lt. Mel Hoke. We email regularly.
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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?
I recall being caught in a Typhoon when shipping out of Kume Jima. I was aboard the US Navy AKL-31 en-route to Naha Port when we lost power and almost capsized. A couple of months later another ship from Kume was lost and several USAF airmen were lost in a similar storm. I was very lucky.
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
After my discharge at Tinker AFB in November on 1965 I attended College at Central State College, Edmond, Oklahoma. I majored in Medical Technology and minored in Political Science. I moved back to Jacksonville Beach in 1969 and took a position in the Blood Bank of Baptist Memorial Hospital. I enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard and trained at Fort Rucker as a Helicopter Repairman to later become a UH-1H Crew Chief and Aircraft Technical Inspector in the US Army Reserve.
I became a Florida State Licensed Private Investigator in 2000 and owned and operated my own Agency in Jacksonville, FL. I worked as a Contract Officer in an armed capacity for the US DoJ and the US Customs Service. I retired in 2005 when I was diagnosed with cancer.
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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?
I am a Life Member of the VFW and the DAV. I support their goals and enjoy their magazines.
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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?
I think my USAF service time gave me the chance to "grow up" in a good environment and learn self control and develop leadership potential that I later developed and put to use in the Army, college studies and my own business ventures. I made mistakes but I learned from them and became a better person because of them.
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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?
My advice to the young Airmen of today would be; Face each task and each day as an opportunity to learn and better yourself. Plan ahead by thinking where you want to be tomorrow, next week, next year. Always take advantage of educational opportunities. Always be honest with yourself and those around you. Be willing to help others and take care of those people placed under your control.
In short; Be a Christian Gentleman and a Leader.
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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 |
You have given me a place to belong and to organize my thoughts and memories of my service. DS 6/14/16
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