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“I grew up on a farm in Marysville, California and I can remember seeing the SR-71 Blackbird fly through the sky like a black dagger. My parents were friends with some officers and NCOs from Beale AFB and I was inspired by their sharp looks and well-spoken attitudes. When the draft came around in 1969 it was like a nudge for me to join. Although I initially only wanted to serve for four years, 33 years went by and it was the best decision I made. I saw some amazing things from the repatriation of Vietnam POWs like Senator John McCain and Jeremiah Denton to the fall of the Berlin wall which I didn’t just read about but got to witness first-hand.”


“…I can remember seeing the SR-71 Blackbird fly through the sky like a black dagger…”

“I grew up on a farm in Marysville, California and I can remember seeing the SR-71 Blackbird fly through the sky like a black dagger. My parents were friends with some officers and NCOs from Beale AFB and I was inspired by their sharp looks and well-spoken attitudes. When the draft came around in 1969 it was like a nudge for me to join. Although I initially only wanted to serve for four years, 33 years went by and it was the best decision I made. I saw some amazing things from the repatriation of Vietnam POWs like Senator John McCain and Jeremiah Denton to the fall of the Berlin wall which I didn’t just read about but got to witness first-hand.”

Related Imagery
A1C Matthew Benford, 9th Force Support Squadron, food specialist. (U.S. Air Force photo by Robert Scott)
Dianna Garbett, 9th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy Officer, poses for a photo at Beale Air Force Base, California, Sept. 29, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Robert Scott)
Staff Sgt. Virgie Yi, 9th Physiological Support Squadron assistant non-commissioned officer in charge of launch and recovery, adjusts the helmet for the high-altitude pressure suit of Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James at Beale Air Force Base, California, Aug. 11, 2015. The specialized pressure suit allows U-2 Dragon Lady pilots to safely fly at altitudes reaching 70,000 feet. James visited Beale to receive a first-hand perspective of high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from collection to dissemination. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dana J. Cable)
Staff Sgt. James J. Thomas, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron unit security manager, poses for a photo at Beale Air Force Base, California, Aug. 3, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica B. Nelson)
Beale Airmen float down the American River, June 29, 2015, in Placerville, California. The Airmen were white water rafting as part of a chapel event for the 548th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group. (Courtesy photo)
Airman 1st Class Stephen, 9th Intelligence Squadron, poses with his bicycle at Beale Air Force Base, California, July 21, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Preston L. Cherry)
Airman 1st Class Willis Reddick, 9th Reconnaissance Wing Staff Judge Advocate civil law paralegal, poses for a photo July 7, 2015, at Beale Air Force Base, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ramon A. Adelan)
Tech. Sgt. Mark Graves, 9th Munitions Squadron Air Force Combat Ammunition Center combat advisor, poses for a photo June 29, 2015, at Beale Air Force Base, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ramon A. Adelan)
Bob Leon, 9th Maintenance Squadron T-38 Talon technician, poses for a photo June 24, 2015, on the flightline at Beale Air Force Base, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ramon A. Adelan)
Airman Carlos Stear, 9th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, poses for a photo June 16, 2015, at Beale Air Force Base, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Preston Cherry/Released)
Senior Airman Kenley Lott, 9th Contracting Squadron contracting specialist, poses for a photo April 28, 2015, at Beale Air Force Base, California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ramon A. Adelan/Released)