Page 24 - MY STORY

My official day of enlistment in the US Air Force was

November 7th, 1950. Within a week I was on my way to
Sheppard AFB in Texas for basic training. On graduating
from basic training I was interviewed by a senior master

sergeant so the USAF could tell me where I was going
next. No word on getting into OCS. I told the sergeant
that I had a degree in metallurgical engineering and

thought that possibly they could use me at the materials
labs at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. He made it clear that
no such job classification existed (for enlisted men) and

that I could pick something else, like sheet metal
repairman.

I told him that I would rather go into aircraft mechanic
school based on my experience as a car mechanic. He
said that was fine – “what was my second choice?” I had

no second choice, so he said “Well – let’s put down
Remote Control Turret Mechanic school just for the heck

of it. I’m sure you’ll get the school considered most
important by the USAF.”

Next step was Remote Control Turret Mechanic school at
Lowery AFB in Denver. It was at Lowery that the OCS
interviewer caught up with me. The interviewer was a

full colonel and was very polite, interested in my