Franklin, James E., SMSgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
The military back ground of my family, I would say. Members of our family date back to the Mexican-American War. Another very strong influence where the world events that occurred while I was growing up in the 1940s and 50s. My dad was in the Navy in both World Wars. He was aboard the USS San Diego when it was torpedoed off Fire Island, New York in 1918, but that is another story. My brother joined the Marine Corp. So you see it was not a matter of if I would join our military but which branch.

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 started my career by enlisting in the California Air National Guard, 144th Fighter Wing,194th Fighter Squadron at the Hayward ANB, CA. I was a Weapons Mechanic on F-51H Mustangs. Upon graduation from High School, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. At the end of my enlistment in the Marine Corps, I enlisted in the Navy. Last of all I enlisted in the Air Force on June 15th,1970 and stayed for 25 years. I retired June 15,1995. I was a Flight Examiner Aircraft Loadmaster on C-141 and C-5 aircraft and served with the 301st, 708th and 312th Military Airlift Squadrons.

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?
Yes. Our aircraft was shot at several times in Vietnam, a Scud attack at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and our C-5 received machine gun fire at at Mogadishu, Somalia. Twice while on landing approach to Da Nang in the early morning hours. The VC were shooting tracers at us. The tracers looked like green worms coming up at us but they missed us by a mile. We were on the ramp at Riyadh about 2130 when all of a sudden all the red warning lights and sirens went off. We grabbed our chem gear and rushed to the bunker. The Patriot Missile Battery off our right wing fired two missiles at the Scud missile.and blew it up about 65 feet high and less than an eighth of a mile away..There was shrapnel all over the ramp. Our C-5 was not damaged, but the KC-135 behind our C-5 did receive some. l brought some of the shrapnel home. (We received combat pay for that one.) After we landed at Mogidishu I opened the crew entry door and the ground crew chief rushed aboard and asked if we had any bullet holes in the airplane. I asked him why. He said we were being fired upon while coming in on our final. No bullet holes were found.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I would have to say I was very impressed with the two Drill Instructors I had while taking basic training in the California Air National Guard. They were both SSgts and spoke with a heavy German accent. They were very strict, precise, sticklers on military discipline and they knew exactly what they were doing. Too bad I do not recall there names. Come to find out they were both in the German Luftwaffe during WWII and flew against the Russians on the Eastern Front. Both were Aces many times over. One was a Major and the other was a Capt. They both flew Fw-190s. There was a Regulation at the time that read that if any Germans who served in the German military during WWII wanted to enlist in our military they would receive the rank of a NCO and swear they had not fought against the allies on the Western Front.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
No not for personal valor. I was awarded an Air Medal for all the missions and sorties I flew during Desert Shield/ Desert Storm..

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?
The awards that I treasure the most other my Air medal and Meritorious Service Medal are my flying hour awards. I received a one and two thousand hour flying award pins from Lockheed for my flying hours in the C-141. I also received a one , two and five thousand hour award pins for my time flying on the C-5. I also received a 10,000 hour flying safety award from the Air Mobility Command.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
There were a lot of people who had a great impact on me. It would be very hard to narrow it down to just one. I'd have to say it would be CMSgt Carroll J. Clifford my section supervisor whom encouraged me and caused me to believe in myself. He was from northern Maine and he had that humor to to go along with his accent. A truly great leader.

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?
Our crew was dead heading on c C-141 from Hickam to Clark on a C-141 sitting on troop seats. I don't know who designed the red web troop seats with a web back but on a long flight they have to be the most uncomfortable thing you ever sat on. Our flight was a combination cargo/passenger. Along the the center line of the aircraft were 10 pallets and they were all flat. I had enough of the troop seats so I climbed on top of one and went to sleep. Not long after the Loadmaster shook me awake and said do you know what you are sleeping on. I said no. He said a pallet of ammunition. I said so what. He said what would happen if it blew up. I said I would be dead a micro second before you. I then went back to sleep.

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 became a Master Hunter for the state of Washington. I was not very happy working as a Realtor. So I took a test and scored high enough to enter a six month training course. After graduation my job was to rid the farmers crops of animals and fowl that were destroying them. The job didn't pay anything, but I got to keep what I killed. I always had my freezer full of Elk, Venison, Ducks and Geese and I gave away a lot of it. The best job I ever had.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a life member of several different associations.They are the VFW, AFSA, AFA and NCOA. I am not active with any of them right now.

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?
I have received many things from the Air Force. The professional experience is something you cannot put a price on. I was exposed to so many different experiences, it has only enhanced what I do today. I have learned to take pride in your work and do the best job you can do and do it right the first time. The one thing that I can say is that the Air Force reinforced in me was integrity. Without integrity I believe you are not going to achieve much, if anything in life.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
Always do your best. You may fail, that is all right, just learn from it and move on. Never quit. If you set your mind to something, then stick to it and never, ever, quit!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and The USAF

I have found old friends who I have not had any contact with in over 30 years. I now have many new friends since i became a member. These are fellow airmen who I might have never met if it wasn't for TWS.

I enjoy working with all my fellow airmen. They know how to fess up if they have screwed up. which is not often. Those that do fall back, regroup and press on. I also enjoy trying to locate those who others are trying to find and all the members who offer assistance in the hunt. I am very proud of all of our volunteers on the Volunteer Profile Assistance Teams and our Living History Teams. They give their time and efforts in helping any of our fellow Airmen who may be in need of a little help.

*J*