Your Dad served one year earlier than I did. I enlisted in Novemeber 1959..hard to imagine 50 years ago. Went through six months of tech school at GoodFellow AFB, came out as a Radio Intercept Analyst, 20250. Was stationed at the puzzle palace, AFSCC at Kelly after that. Finally seperated in November 1963. Never have discussed much about what we did back in those days, I guess the secrecy of our job became to ingrained, so much so that I usually just say I was in the Air Force during the cold war and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

USAFSS MIO in Misawa 61-63.

My father was a Russian Linguisr for over 16 years. Went to Syracuse for Basic Russian 1959-60, then off to Goodbuddy. First USAFSS assignment 6912th SS(Marienfelde) in Berlin from 1960-65. Went back to Syracuse for Intermediate Russian 1965-66, then 1966-69 to Darmstadt 6910 SG. Next assignment was ESR in Frankfurt, and then back to Berlin 6912th SS(Marienfelde) from 1972-74. Retired out of Ft. Meade in Mar 1975.

Not sure of my class number but I attended radio operator school 1958-1959. I was there awhile longer than most as it took awhile to get my clearance. I also was the guide on flag t for our unit. I wish I remembered those names that I served with back then and to say thanks to those that supported me. I was passed down the squadron flag and practiced in the evenings in order to make a difference on during our passing the reviewing stand. After BEP school I was a member of the 6930th Radio Group Mobile, Iralklion AFS.

I served as a Flight Commander for Baker and Dog Flights at Darmstadt during the period 1963-1966. I am currently writing my memories of those facinating years. In times of operational crisis (and there were many), I worked in the Surveillance and Warning Center. We took the inputs from all the internal intercept sites, quickly assessed the info and sent out reports to our consumers (White House, Pentagon, Strategic Command Hqs). I have some interesting anecdotes that I will be glad to share with you sometime in the near future. Please send me your e-mail address.
William R. Morales, Colonel, USAF ret

I appreciated and enjoyed your commentary on your father. I was with USAFSS, assigned to IAS, Crete from Nov. 1959 thru March 1961. Worked in the compound along with Roger Adams, ur Jan 3,2010, who has again become a buddy. What a wonderful experience it was, great memories, maturation, some lonliness, good friends, & wine in Iraklion, Knossos was beautiful. cpk

From 1955 to 1958 served at Elmendorf as a Radio Analyst 1 yr at Anchorage, and at Pt Barrow (Team 3 changed to Det 4 in 1956. then to Trabzon, Turkey to watch the fireworks at Kapustin Yar October 1957. My kids have gotten me to (finally) start to write about that time. The 23 of us at Pt Barrow know how close the Russians got, and it was a wonder that we lived through 1956.

Early 1959 thru end of 1961 I served with the 6950 USASS at Chicksands, UK, a 29150 Comm Operator, I have lots good memorys of the time, one my son,s was born during this error, now he has dual
citizen ships, before the USAFSS
I served a tour in Korea and went
on from there to Air Force missile
Center, patrick AFB, Forida tell 1957 to the Air Defence Command near
Detroit Michigan with a F105 group as
a Hot Room Operator, from there to the great USAFSS. What a life in the past, now just old man in retirement,, take care and pass
on my fealings for your Father..for
a great job well done.
Claude

To Claude Nimmo, I was a 292 and secondary 291 and was at Chicksands from 1958-1961, We had a reunion in Branson, Mo last week and and had a great turnout and a great time, the next one will be in upstate NY next October. Theres a ton of stuff about Chicksands on the web. Ben

At Keesler Oct 56 – April 57, then to March afb then 6981st RGM Elmendorf 6/57 – 8/60 A trick ditty bop

Served as a 292 at the Sands from late 1959 through September of 1960 when I returned to the US for discharge. I’ve been looking for anyone who was there at the time or anyone who remembers me.

Tom Harder
tharder316@aol.com

My father, Neil Peck, served in the USAFSS around 61-64? He was stationed At first in Bremerhaven,Germany and then Alaska in the Artic Circle. He passed a year ago Feb 4th. I can understand your pride in your father’s work. My father was extremely proud of his tour. He had a hat that he used to wear everywhere with the logo of the USAFSS. In fact, at his service, we had a picture of him blown up. My mom says that was her favorite picture of him. He was wearing the hat. I believe we also had it beside his urn during the service. My mom kept that hat and his favorite Steelers hat.lol Thanks for creating this site. All to often people tend to forget those that served in peace time.

I was at IAS from June ’60 to Dec ’61. At first I was the Unit Mail Clerk by day and bartender 3 times a week at the Airman’s Club thereby making guys who received mail from their sweeties happy during the day for those with no mail, made them happy after hours at the bar. Eventually reassigned into the op area.
I had some good memories but 18 months a little bit (6 months!) too long.
Sorry to see the pix of its current state of disrepair.
You would think the local Greek government could have used the property to greater effect than zero, but apparently, you’d be wrong to think that.
Hard to believe it’s been 50 YEARS SINCE I WAS THERE.

I graduated from intercept radio opp school at Kessler AFB in the first half of 1956. I then went to Elmendorf AFB and was sent remote to St Lawerence Island. untill 1957.

I truly enjoyed your website and probably had met your dad. I finished Keesler AFB, radio intercept school, one week ahead of him (6-2-59) and was then assigned to the 6927th rsm at Onna Point for two years then to 6917th rgm in Brendisi ,Italy for two years. I have great memories of the places we visited and the friends I made during that period of my life. Sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. Good luck with your quest in learning of your dad’s past.

Is there anyone who served at Wheelus AFB 1954-56?
I was in junior high there.
My Dad, Col Edwin Cooper (died in 1981) was comnmander of the 6930th Sec Group and 6934th RMS.

Thanks,
Ed Cooper,MD
North Carolina
I was at Dover AFB 1968-70 as a surgeon

Gary, I believe I served with you at keesler then elmendorf for a month then st lawrence island then iraklion afs crete.

i was there 34th rsm , later the 6934th then changed to 6930th rgm. last half 55 and most all of 56 ……sues crisis in late 56. …….your Dad was most likely my commanding officer .

I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB in 1956 then went to St Lawrence island for a year. If you would like to know more about what youre dad did, send me youre e-mail address and I will send you a Wikipedia page with a lot of info. I contacted the New USAFSS and was informed that a lot of the info is no longer classafied, but some still is.

Ron Helbok sent you and e-mail May 19, 2011. Ron we were roomates on St Lawrence island for a year. and also roomed togather at keessler AFB when we were going to intercept school. I have been trying to locate you on white pages etc. for a couple of years. please e-mail me at gjperk@frontier.com. if you see this. If anyone has Ron Helbok e-mail address please send it to me. Ron It has been 55 years. and I would enjoy talking to you. I have a couple of pictures of you and I while we were on the island.
Gary

I served in the USAFSS from 1963 to 1967. Kelly AFB, Goodfellow AFB and then with the 6910 Security Wing at Darmstadt. Was a 202X0. Oddly enough, can’t remember the flight. Lt. M. Day was our flight commander and MSGT. Leonard Gaines was in the SWC. Can anyone help my memory? I lived offbase on the German economy with my new wife. Got lost going to Darmstadt in October, 1964 but finally found my way to Cambrei Fritsch Kaserne the day after I was supposed to report. Interesting times!

I would like to locate Ron Helbok. He posted an e-mail on you’re web site May 19 2011 at 903pm. Would you please help me contact him. I have had no contact with him after I left St. Lawrence island. It has been 55 years. My e-mail is gjperk@frontier.com

Thanks for the great web site. My father was a silent warrior who served in the USAFSS from 1967-1971. He was stationed in Hawaii. Got a question for anyone who may know? Would my father qualify for a Vietnam Service Medal? Although he never set foot in Vietnam, he did monitor communications directly related to operations in Vietnam. Thanks again for the great website and look forward to receiving an answer.

I was enlisted In the USAF on 4Aug58. Went to Tech school at Keesler AFB from Oct58 to Jun59. I arrived Elmendorf AFB Sep59 and served there at the 6981st RGM till my discharge in Sep62. Gary Wild, was my roommate at Elmendorf for a while prior to his dischrge, Hello Gary. Your father would have been 1 week behind my on this life’s adventure. My wife and I celebrated Veteran’s day yesterday, and my mind drifted back to a time when friendhips and memories were made. I salute all my 6981st brothers, and also to those who are no longer with us: gone but not forgotten.

I served from June 1959 to June 1961 at the 6981st RGM as a Y20250 non-morse radion printer anaylist would like to hear from anyone who served at that time. I also have a picture of the unit at that time it is a panarama picture. Came back and served nine months at headquarters at Kelly

I served with the 6930th RGM on the island of Crete from December 1958 through May 1960. I arrived there just after the tour of duty changed to 18 Months. I was a 292 assigned to Charlie flight. The shift commander was 1st Lt. McMillan from Casper, Wyoming. I will never forget getting off of a mid-watch, going to the base sewer plant to shovel “fertilizer” along with the rest of the shift becuse the base commander Col. Sheehan wanted to plant 10,000 trees as part of a base “beautification” project. Made a bunch of good friends while there.

I was with the 6931st in 1963/64. Roomed with Hughes Lamar Owens. We rotated at about the same time and were stationed at USAFSS just as they were moving from Brooks Field to Security Hill. Had the job of going to the San Antonio Post Office and picking up some gear that allowed us to do our job with the Rycoms. Married and reenlisted for base of choice. Went to Hakata Air Station on Kyshu with the 6918th. Returned to San Antonio and served out the balance of my 8 years with the 6993rd at Lackland Annex. Would like to find Norman Butcher and his wife Phylis who lived next door to Cathy and I. I think he lives in Washington state or Oregon. Also would like to find Lamar Owens. He was from Stuart Virginia. Married a Texas girl and moved back to Virginia. I had real good tours and enjoyed my time in USAFSS

Reading your blog. and the comments attached, brought back fond memories. I was an enlisted man from Jan ’64 to Jan ’68. Lackland for Basic, then Kelly for initial USAFSS schooling and Goodfellow for finishing school. Was a 202×0 (radio intercept analyst), First overseas station was the 6912th Security Squadron based at Templehof Zentral Fleughafen in Berlin (1965-’67.) This supposed-to-be 3-year tour was cut short so that I could be sent as a 20250 to the 6924th Security Squadron in Da Nang. Viet Nam, where I finished up my 4-year enlistment as anthe E-5. I did not know your father, but everyone I knew in USAFSS was a fine man and I’m sure your father fit right in with this exceptional outfit. Best regards to you and all the USAFSS vets. O’Neill Pollingue