Previously Held NEC AD-0000-Aviation Machinist's Mate
AD-6416-J-52 Jet Turbojet Engine First Degree/IMA Mechanic
139X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot (In Training)
131X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot
163X-Special Duty Officer - Intelligence
Best Moment Before I got my crow, I loved being a plane captain and working on the airplanes, sending them off and catching them when they came back, even in the rain, even in 100 degree temperatures. I think that was the best job I every had. It certainly was the one I liked the best.
When I was assigned to AIMD as a Second Class, ADJ-2, I was made a team leader in charge of three or four mechanics tearing down engines, overhauling them, and putting them back together.
Worst Moment Cut my hand on a returning A4, but I finished the job, then had to go to the infirmary and have it sewed up.
Chain of Command Master Chief Strittmatter, a Pearl Harbor survivor, our Command Master Chief, knew his stuff, got the job done always, but was a great person, too, and was liked and respected by everybody.
One of the CO's was Capt. Davy Crockett. No fooling. He was a pilot in World War II and a good guy, too.
Other Memories
Getting a ride in a T34 from Ens. Segar. I'm not sure about the spelling. He was later a highly decorated A4 pilot in Viet Nam.
Getting free beer when under age from pilots "bootlegging" Coors from Colorado in a blevit under the airplane. Happened more than once. They always, well most of them did, gave a free beer to the plane captain. It was cold, too, coming from altitude.
Bumping into the rock group the Rascals, literally, in 1968 or 1969, I forget which, when I was the duty driver picking up officers at Love Field in Dallas.
