In 1974 I was assigned to the 8th Air Force in Guam. The flag had been struck in Vietnam and all the assigned people were returned to the theater after it was determined it had served its purpose.
I was very fortunate to meet and talk to Major general Kelly who was in command at the time. Our conversations were wide ranging and informative.
He had been a pilot of a B-17 over Germany. His missions exceeded the 25 necessary for rotation back to the states. He stayed on because of the heavy losses sustained by the "Bombardment" wing. He was a large man and imposing but his demeanor was very inviting and cordial. This from a man with more on his plate than any individual should have had.
I wish I'd have had the time to talk more and to talk with people like Curtis Le May when he was at Forbes Field in Topeka Kansas. SAC was his baby and he never forgot what a value the B-47's and KC-97s were.
I have me many people that I wish I could have spent more time with. Brig . General Patrick Halloran. SAC.
Mostly it was General Schwarzkopf... I have misspelled his name because I never did learn to spell it. I spent 45 minutes with him in a single room and no one knew who he was. He lives in Telluride, Colo and was on his way there after a speaking engagement in Montreal, Canada. He talked to me like I was a long lost buddy. He was warm and inviting.
I'm lucky that my jobs took me in the proximity of many people like that. The Smothers brothers. (that's a LONG story). Phil Michelson and many more. Most were very nice with the exception of Tommy Smothers.
Oh well...more laters..JD
