My family moved to San Diego after my junior year at Kinross. After graduation I helped my family move back to Iowa and then returned to San Diego. I saved half or more of every pay check and in 1956 returned to attend the University of Iowa. I graduated DMG and received a regular commission into the U.S. Air Force. I was now ready to make the "big" money ($222 base, $132 quarters and food allowance plus $100 flight pay!).

My first operation assignment was in C-133s flying out of Travis AFB, California. We bought our first (of many) homes and had a wonderful time. I was flying the Pacific and would receive three days off whenever I returned. My wife (Rayma) and I would drop our daughter off with the neighbors and head for Lake Tahoe. During the entire tour we always made enough money gambling to pay for our meals, motel, shows, babysitting, etc.!

Our best assignment was Yokota AB, Japan. I flew with the 6091st Recon Sq which was featured recently on 60 Minutes. I was flying against Russia, North Korea and China and many of our missions were even more exciting than flying in Vietnam. Rayma and I took advantage of this assignment and flew all over the Orient (Hong Kong, Bangkok, the Philippines, Taiwan, etc.) plus we traveled all over Japan both by car and train. We had a maid six days a week and a babysitter all day on Sundays. It was great.

I've also lived for extended (2-12 months) in South Korea, Philippines, Germany, England, Thailand, Panama and Taiwan. And, of course, Vietnam. I served during most of the Vietnam campaigns and flew over 2,500 hours of combat/combat support. I received a lot of medals including thirteen Air Medals alone. I loved combat.

I've also visited most countries in the world outside of Africa and the former Soviet Union. I would like to see almost every country in the world --- and may.

One-fourth of the time I was in the Air Force; I was attending schools of one kind or another:

---Flying, Special Air Warfare, and Combat Crew Tng Schools

---Professional Military, Senior Staff Mgt, Dept of Defense Computer Institute and FAA Schools

---They even sent me to get my master's degree. (MBA)

The only school I wanted to go to and didn't get to was parachute training ("Jump") school.

Although my life has had more fun, excitement and happiness than I ever dreamed possible; I've also had some sadness. I met Rayma at a Baptist Singspiration in 1955. She introduced herself, I looked at those beautiful brown eyes and fell in love on the spot. We were married for over 20 years and had two children: Caryn, born in Texas and Barry, born in Japan. Rayma decided she had to "find herself." ("I'm the Colonel's wife but who am I?") This was a shock to our children who had never even seen us have an argument. We remain good friends and occasionally celebrate Holidays together. I also lost several thousand dollars when my lodge burned. It does build character!!

During my A.F. career I always worked at least 60 to 70 hours per week. My last assignment, however, was a "position" instead of a job. I was a Sr A.F. Advisor to the Air National Guard. This was my Generals' way of rewarding me for my hard work and ensuring I was promoted to full colonel. I was the first LtColonel to ever hold this position. It was a boondoggle! e.g., The Missouri Air Guard would need a check ride (flight evaluation) and I would give them one St Croix, Virgin Islands. Then I would lay over for four or five days and give one to the West Virginia Guard going back. Really tough!! But in 1980 I decided to take an early retirement. I had been buying up houses, apartments, mobile home parks, etc., and needed to work full time on these investments.

My daughter is a Sr loan officer married to a Marine. He was selected the U.S. Marine Corps journalist of the year. They have two sons. My son has never married but seems to be getting close. After college, he worked counseling runaway teenagers and currently finds homes or the homeless in San Luis Obispo.

I enjoy retirement but seem to stay unbelievably busy. I travel a lot, work some on my rental properties, help my parents on their farm and work on and off on a book --- which may never get published. The book focuses on my primary concern: Our nation's continual drift away from individual responsibility and toward state socialism. I feel we are robbing our children and grandchildren of their futures.

My deepest appreciation to all of my former teachers. I went into the world well prepared. Thank you.

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