Page 14 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine
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were released, and all school assignments were
blocked, sending me to the Pentagon as a Captain
in Europe NATO Plans and Policy. Captains in
the Pentagon were somewhat rare because of their
relatively low rank and were, therefore, considered
almost genius if they could find their office and
the men’s room. I did enjoy a modicum of success
there, being allowed to write a small part of the US
Spanish Treaty of 1975, the 7th treaty in US history
and broker the integral F-4 aircraft sale.
I then departed the Pentagon as a Lieutenant
Colonel - having served less than one year as a
Major – for Air War College (AWC). Another were 30 on base when I departed in mid-1987, as a
daughter had joined our family by then. Brigadier General.
Two important things occurred, another fortuitous I was then assigned to Headquarters, Strategic Air
event and one not so positive. These came around Command where I was, among other things, the
the end of AWC and changed everything. I was planner, dual-hatted, in the Joint Strategic Target
made an offer I couldn’t refuse – to go to SAC Planning Staff and responsible for the nuclear war
– but near the same time, I was diagnosed with plan. I was promoted to Major General and held
mitral valve prolapse. The two events combined several more positions before, in 1992, my heart
to affect my future significantly because moving issues once again caught up with me, and I was
to the B-52 allowed me to continue flying under a both grounded and medically retired effective July
waiver, whereas I would have been grounded had 4, 1993.
I remained in the fighter/recce (reconnaissance) After a few years in Chicago managing a golf
world . G forces and heart valve problems are not course complex and then working in the financial
compatible.
analysis world, my heart spoke again. Wilford Hall
Beginning at Loring AFB, Maine, I was selected to Cardiology confirmed that it was time to act, so on
become the 69th Bomb Squadron Commander and August 24, 2000, I underwent successful mitral valve
was next assigned to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana repair at the Cleveland Clinic. After the surgery, I
where I became the 2nd Bomb Wing Assistant made the difficult decision to move back to Texas,
Deputy Commander for Operations, followed in part because I was no longer competitive for
by Deputy Commander for Operations. Next leadership/management positions and was unable
followed Castle AFB, California, where I served to get my FAA medical clearance reinstated.
as 93rd Bomb Wing Vice Commander and Wing Since moving to Amarillo, I have been involved
Commander. with various boards and committees and Rotary
I know many say that Squadron Commander is International and have also become a deacon in the
the best job in the Air Force but being the ranking First Baptist Church.
officer on a base of 15,000 people, where you are Also, back in Texas, I met a lady, also from
responsible for everything, was equally rewarding Floydada, and we married July 4, 2004. Combined,
for me. After two years as Commander at Castle we have six children and twelve grandchildren
AFB, I got another year as 96th Bomb Wing scattered across the country, making birthdays, ball
Commander at Dyess AFB, Texas, home of the first games, graduations, etc., frequent occurrences. We
operational B-1 wing. When I took command, there enjoy traveling and spending time at our cabin near
were about three B-1’s on base, and we put the Angel Fire, New Mexico. We are truly blessed.
first one on nuclear alert 1 September 1986. There
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