To my Dad…

In this photo, taken at Keesler AFB (1958), my dad, in his early twenties, finishes his basic training.  He recently sent me this photo, giving me a startling vision of how much I looked like him as I grew up.  I guess through typical adolescent denial, I refused to accept my genetics.  Now, as I get older, I find myself turning into my father.

Anyway, to pay homage to my dad, here’s a little bit of his history.  The following was taken from Wikipedia. 

Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, Mississippi.

In early 1956, Keesler entered the missile age by opening a ground support training program for the Atlas missile. In 1958, all control tower operator, radio maintenance, and general radio operator courses came to be under Keesler’s already broad technical training roof.

His 20 years of service as an instrumentation technician allowed him the opportunity to work on missile systems and test air craft, to include the Hound dog missile and several different models of the F16 and the B1. Because we lived on a test base, these aircraft were in the experimentation stage.  Dad retired from the Air Force in 1979 from Edwards AFB, but kept the family in the area so that us boys could finish high school at the base.  He is now pretty much retired after spending the last 15 or so years working at several defense contractors.  Now, he volunteers his time to teach computers to other retired folks.

And through all that hard work, he helped raise 4 boys and a girl.  No easy task on an enlisted man’s pay.

Thanks, Dad!  Have a great Father’s Day.

Filed under: Military, Thanks, Thoughts