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Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
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What follows is a stream of consciousness. It was on this day, exactly 50 years ago, that I raised my hand and took the oath for active duty in the US Air Force. That same day I was bussed to the now defunct Stapleton International Airport in Denver to board a plane to San Antonio. It was there I met Tom Cabazos who would become my best bud during basic training. He had sworn in with me but we didn't meet until we were waiting for our plane.
Any time we had time off we were together usually sightseeing in San Antonio. I remember going to see the Poseidon Adventure with Tom when it first hit the theaters. Also, he had an aunt in San Antonio and I was invited to Christmas dinner at their home when we had a 3 day Christmas break. Tom always had a big smile on his face (except for when the TI was around of course), as you can see from the attached snap. He made going though basic training much easier.
Tom did not make it a career and got out after his four years was up. He had gone into security services. I remember some time in the early eighties, I looked up his family when I was home on leave in Denver. I called his mother and learning that Tom had been in a very bad car accident and was in the hospital. Of course I went to visit him and, though he was in pretty bad shape, he still had the sense of humor I remembers.
Just recently (and I think I posted about this before), I discovered he had sadly died in 1998. From his memorial page, I saw he had a son, Brandon, who I was able to connect with by email. His son had also joined the Air Force and had a 20 year career in Air Craft maintenance. I know his Dad would have been very proud. Tom knew that his son was going to join, but passed before he was sword in. What his son relayed to me was that, some time after I had seen Tom in the hospital, he had to have one of his legs aputated. This caused him to suffer pretty severe depression and he became a heavy drinker. It was the drink, per his son, that eventually killed him (liver disease). I wish I had stayed in better contact with Tom over the years.
Anyway, it's hard to believe that day I took the oath was 50 years ago today! I've now been retired longer than I served, and I served 24 years. Been retired now for almost 27 years. As Basil Fawlty would say "Zoom!" "What was that?" "That was you life mate." "Oh, that was quick, do I get another?" "Sorry mate, that's your lot."
PS: Yes, I joined on the 9th anniversary of JFK's assassination. If you wish to discuss that event, there is a separate thread. Thanks.
(I restored this one in Photoshop)
Tom was interred in the small town of Riverton in central Wyoming, presumably that;'s where they settled because his wife was from there. Rest in peace my friend:
Any time we had time off we were together usually sightseeing in San Antonio. I remember going to see the Poseidon Adventure with Tom when it first hit the theaters. Also, he had an aunt in San Antonio and I was invited to Christmas dinner at their home when we had a 3 day Christmas break. Tom always had a big smile on his face (except for when the TI was around of course), as you can see from the attached snap. He made going though basic training much easier.
Tom did not make it a career and got out after his four years was up. He had gone into security services. I remember some time in the early eighties, I looked up his family when I was home on leave in Denver. I called his mother and learning that Tom had been in a very bad car accident and was in the hospital. Of course I went to visit him and, though he was in pretty bad shape, he still had the sense of humor I remembers.
Just recently (and I think I posted about this before), I discovered he had sadly died in 1998. From his memorial page, I saw he had a son, Brandon, who I was able to connect with by email. His son had also joined the Air Force and had a 20 year career in Air Craft maintenance. I know his Dad would have been very proud. Tom knew that his son was going to join, but passed before he was sword in. What his son relayed to me was that, some time after I had seen Tom in the hospital, he had to have one of his legs aputated. This caused him to suffer pretty severe depression and he became a heavy drinker. It was the drink, per his son, that eventually killed him (liver disease). I wish I had stayed in better contact with Tom over the years.
Anyway, it's hard to believe that day I took the oath was 50 years ago today! I've now been retired longer than I served, and I served 24 years. Been retired now for almost 27 years. As Basil Fawlty would say "Zoom!" "What was that?" "That was you life mate." "Oh, that was quick, do I get another?" "Sorry mate, that's your lot."
PS: Yes, I joined on the 9th anniversary of JFK's assassination. If you wish to discuss that event, there is a separate thread. Thanks.
(I restored this one in Photoshop)
Tom was interred in the small town of Riverton in central Wyoming, presumably that;'s where they settled because his wife was from there. Rest in peace my friend:
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