Enlisted in the California Air National Guard, 6 Dec 1952 and was released to join the Marine Corps 12 Jan 1954. I was assigned to the 144th Maintenance Squadron, 144th Fighter Wing, Hayward ANG, Base, as an Airman 3rd Class. I was a 4601 Munitions and Weapons Mechanic. Our squadron had 12 F51-H Fighters, 2 AT6 Trainers, 1 B26 Bomber and 1 C47 Transport.
Shipped out overseas with the 33rd replacement draft, 30 Jul 1954, aboard the USNS Marine Phoenix (TAP-195) from San Diego. Crossed Latitude 35 degrees/Longitude 180 degrees 00' August 7th, 1954 and became a Trusty Golden Dragon. We sail on to Sasabo, Japan, then on to Inchon. Arrived 17 Aug 1954. Stayed at Ascom City a few days, then joined Hq Battery, 11th Marines who were just a couple of miles east of Munsan-ni, South Korea. Departed Inchon, Korea 27 Feb 1955 aboard the USS George Clymer (APA-27) and arrived at San Diego, CA on 17 Mar 1955. We march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade from the water front to Balboa Park were we were trucked to Camp Pendelton.
Other Comments:
1966 enlisted in the US Naval Reserve. Was an 8286 Aviation Ordnanceman stationed at Alameda NAS, CA. I was an Aircrew member flying SP2-E Anti Submarine Patrol Aircraft. First in Squadron VP-871, then in VP-71. I was discharged in 1970 as a Petty Officer 1st Class.
1970 Enlisted in the USAFR at Travis AFB, CA., flying as an aircraft loadmaster on C-141s (708th MAS). 1973 transfered to C-5A's (312th MAS). I was an instructor and aircrew flight examiner. Flew many missions in country. The best of these missions were flying the grunts back to the real world. I was activated to active duty during Nam, Panama and the first Gulf War. Desert Shield, Storm and Somalia. I retired in 1995 with 25 years of service in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve as a Senior Master Sgt (E-8). Not bad for a Marine PFC.
Gulf War/Liberation and Defense of Kuwait/Operation Desert Storm
From Month/Year
January / 1991
To Month/Year
February / 1991
Description On January 16, 1991, President George H. W. Bush announced the start of what would be called Operation Desert Storm—a military operation to expel occupying Iraqi forces from Kuwait, which Iraq had invaded and annexed months earlier. For weeks, a U.S.-led coalition of two dozen nations had positioned more than 900,000 troops in the region, most stationed on the Saudi-Iraq border. A U.N.-declared deadline for withdrawal passed on January 15, with no action from Iraq, so coalition forces began a five-week bombardment of Iraqi command and control targets from air and sea. Despite widespread fears that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might order the use of chemical weapons, a ground invasion followed in February. Coalition forces swiftly drove Iraq from Kuwait, advancing into Iraq, and reaching a cease-fire within 100 hours—controversially leaving Saddam Hussein in power. While coalition casualties were in the hundreds, Iraqi losses numbered in the tens of thousands.
