1964 – 68

University of Missouri, Agricultural Journalism Degree & Air Force ROTC, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, USAF, upon graduation.

August 10, 1968 married Janet “Sue” Cox.

1968 – 69

Completed UPT with Class 7002 at Randolph AFB; received orders to 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand (NKP) to fly the A-1 Skyraider in Southeast Asia.

1970-77

Flew CAS, SAR, and night interdiction missions out of NKP, then PCS’d to Danang AB, Vietnam for direct support of US Army Special Forces and continued SAR missions for 147 total combat sorties.  January 1971, reassigned to the 25th FTS as a T-38 IP. In May of 1975, snagged by the rated supplement, and reassigned as a Weapons Controller in the ADC/NORAD SAGE radar system.  Upon learning of a pending assignment to an Alaska radar site, separated and applied to the Air National Guard.

1978 – 2006

Was accepted by the 182d TASG, Peoria, Illinois, Air National Guard and became a FAC/ALO while flying the O-2A and then the OA-37.  Eventually became the State Operations Officer and ultimately the Illinois State Commander over three combat-ready flying wings, and three other squadrons.  Retired at the rank of Major General in 1996.  Concurrently flew with Ozark, then TWA, then American Airlines as each company absorbed the previous, and hit the mandatory age-60 retirement in March, 2006.

2006 – present

Elected to the national board of directors for Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and served as national president 2008-2010.  Still fly privately with a total of about 25,500 hours logged since 1966.  Member of A-1 Skyraider Association, Special Operations Association, Illinois Air National Guard Association, Air Force Association, American Legion, VFW, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, and serve on several boards.  Sue and I, married 46 years on August 10, have three grown sons: John, Missouri State Highway Patrol; David, until recently a USAF T-6 Texan II IP and now a sales manager with Moore Equipment Company; and Mark, a Missouri Department of Corrections Officer.  Each has given us two grandchildren so far, for a total of six – 2 boys, 4 girls.

I have truly been blessed!