biography
Born, grew up and attended school in San Francisco, CA. Enlisted in CA Army National Guard to stay in college and keep from getting drafted during Korean war. Unit was activated 5 months later. Spent 2 years as a radar operator in an Antiaircraft unit protecting the San Francisco Bay Area. Separated in 1953 as a S/Sgt E5. Returned for a semester of college before enlisting in USAF as an E4. Assigned as a Basic Training Drill Instructor at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, while awaiting a Navigator class assignment. Commissioned a 2nd Lt and graduated from Navigator Training at Harlingen AFB in 1955. First navigator assignment was as an Aircraft Performance Engineer on a B-36 crew, 7th BW, Carswell AFB, Ft. Worth, TX. When unit transitioned to B-52’s I was assigned to the Air Base Squadron as Administrative Officer, while awaiting pilot training class. Entered Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1959 at Moore AB, TX and then to Advanced Training at Laredo AFB, TX. After washing out I was assigned as a Navigator Instructor at Harlingen AFB, TX. The base began closing down in 1961 and most instructors were transferred to James Connally AFB, Waco, TX. I received orders to Vietnam in 1963 and proceeded to Hurlburt Field in Ft Walton Beach, FL. where the 1st Air Commando Squadron was being formed. The initial squadron cadre of B-26 and C-47 Pilots and Navigators, and T-28 and U-10 Pilots departed for Vietnam, arriving Bien Hoa AB on August 22, 1963.
Upon being declared surplus, due to the grounding of all B-26 aircraft I departed Vietnam in April 1964 for assignment as a WB-47 navigator in the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA. I earned a BA at University of Omaha while assigned to the 55WRS. The Squadron subsequently transitioned to the WC-135. In 1968 I was selected to fill a Current Ops position at our parent unit the 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing which was co-located at McClellan AFB. I retired at McClellan AFB as a Major in April 1972.
After retiring I remained in Sacramento and started a Farmers Insurance Agency and in 1976 took a management position in Castro Valley, CA. I subsequently returned to the agency system and had offices inPleasant5on and Danville, CA until retiring from insurance in 1998. After my Mothers passing in 2000, my wife and I moved back to the Sacramento area where our three children lived and to watch after my Mother-in-law.
While living in the East Bay I was active in the Viet Nam Veterans Of Diablo Valley, serving as president for 2 years. After returning to Sacramento, I became active in the Air Force Association, to which I was a member since the late ‘50’s. I served in many capacities in the Sacramento Chapter, including President.
