Country
I Love Our Country
America is not perfect, but compared to other major countries & cultures, offers protection of our God-given rights and freedoms.
Recent efforts to re-write the history of the USA have not been successful because ultimately what is true matters most. If you care about what is true about the history of the USA please visit this site to best understand how I feel.
Highlights of My Father's Service
My love of our Country started with the example set by my father.
He completed one year of College at Monmouth University in Illinois, then joined the Army Air Corp (predecessor to the USAF). There he learned to fly and ultimately flew in excess of 10,000 hours in numerous different planes over his 30 year career. He retired as a Command Pilot, full Colonel with innumerable awards and commendations.
One interesting story ... right at the end of World War II he flew emergency relief missions into the heart of bombed-out Gernany delivering coal, blankets and food to German citizens. I learned at an early age that war is not what those serving in the military want. Quite the contrary. They want peace ... more on that thought later.
My father passed away peacefully in a retirement home in Denver on November 15, 2001 just days after the horror of 9/11. I was with him at his death and held his hand while reading the 23rd Palsm from his Bible.
Highlights of My Service
I earned a Regular commission in the USAF via ROTC at the University of Colorado. I was offered initial training to become an Electronic Data Processing officer based on my Math & Physics undergraduate studies. After training I was assigned to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City where I later was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and Vietnam Service Medal for being selected as the Air Force Logistics Command Company Grade Officer of the Year 1966 (quoting from the official citation): for ... design and development of advanced mathematical and statistical electronic data processing systems designed for computerized control of special material in direct support of Southeast Asia operations (the war in Vietnam).
I was also assigned to the Air Force Training Command as an instructor at the Air Force Officer Training School in San Antonio, Texas where I trained numerous college graduates to become officers in the USAF at the height of the Vietnam war.
I resigned from the Air Force in March 1969 to accept a position as a Data Processing Manager in Denver for the Great Western Sugar company, then the largest sugar producer in the U.S.
I treasure my 6 1/2 years in the Air Force. It was there where I learned how to be an effective manager and leader as well as gaining technical skills applicable to information technology.
My Concerns Today ...
As this is being written in late 2021 I have grown deeply concerned about the changes that have occurred in our senior officer ranks in the military (for perspective please read this article by Victor David Hanson).
I distinctly remember the quiet disappointment my father shared with me of his being passed over several times by a board of AF General officers for his promotion to Brigadier General. While one element was related to his not having a college degree, another was strictly "political" ... someone on the board did not like my father for some reason.
I hope and pray there are future senior officers in the Air Force and other elements of our military that are promoted for their competency, honesty and dedication to the protection of our country and constitution rather than "their politics".