USAFSS Dad

51 Years Ago

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:29:13 +0000

On August 11th, 2009, it will have been 51 years since my father enlisted in the United States Air Force. Although he is no longer with us, it is still with great pride that I wish to remember him for many things — one of them is his service to his country while serving in the United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS). After he completed Basic Training in Lackland AFB, Texas, and then his tech school for Morse Intercept Operator at Keesler AFB, MS, he was sent to his first duty station at Onna Point, Okinawa with the 6927th Radio Squadron Mobile. It was here in Okinawa that Dad and Mom brought me into this world along with my brother Johnny. We then followed Dad to Darmstadt, Germany where he was stationed with the 6910th Security Wing. My sister Kathryn was born here in Wiesbaden. Then Dad was sent back to the states to Goodfellow AFB, TX with the 6948th Security Squadron (Mobile) for a year. Here at San Angelo, TX, my brother Andy was born. Next, Dad was shipped to the Mediterranean — Iraklion AS, Crete to work with the 6931st Security Group. Here I have incredible, larger than life, and very fond memories. We placed baseball as kids with the antenna field on one side of us and the Mediterranean Ocean on the other side. From here, Dad was sent to Elmendorf AFB, AK and there he was with the 6981st Security Group. Alaska was where Dad got out of the USAFSS and went into MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation). I was 10 years old then. Most of my memories, unfortunately, are of Dad running ski lodges, youth centers, and recreation centers. Eventually, he became NCOIC, MWR at Eglin AFB, FL where he retired. That is the reason for this website — Dad couldn’t talk about his work in the USAFSS. As I learn more and continue to research, I am extremely proud of what my Dad did and also all the other USAFSS veterans who served with him.

So to all you USAFSS veterans, and most especially to you, DAD, I say thank you.

Dad’s Enlistments and Extensions

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:48:21 +0000

Below, I have listed my father’s five (5) enlistments and four (4) extensions that I’ve found in his military record.

11 Aug 1958 to 10 Aug 1962 – Initial enlistment, Nashville, TN, Kadena AB, Okinawa (4 years)

05 Jun 1961 — Extend to 10 Mar 1963 for overseas tour, Kadena AB, Okinawa.

07 Jun 1962 — Extend to 10 May 1963 for Selective Reenlistment Program, Onna Point, Okinawa

11 Aug 1962 to 10 Aug 1966 — 2nd enlistment, Kadena AB, Okinawa, Darmstadt, Germany, Goodfellow AFB, TX

11 Aug 1966 to 10 Aug 1970 — 3rd enlistment, Goodfellow AFB, TX, Iraklion AB, Crete, Elmendorf AFB, AK

07 Feb 1969 — Extend to 10 Jul 1972 to insure sufficient retainability for PCS movement, Iraklion AFB, Crete

04 Sep 1969 — Extend to 10 Sep 1972 for normal overseas tour, Elmendorf AFB, AK

11 Aug 1970 to 10 Aug 1974 — 4th enlistment, Elmendorf AFB, AK, Charleston AFB, SC

08 Jan 1974 — Extend to 10 Apr 1975 for overseas tour, Charleston AFB, SC, Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan

11 Aug 1974 to 10 Aug 1978 – 5th enlistment, Charleston AFB, SC, Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan, Eglin AFB, FL

31 Aug 1978 — Retired, Eglin AFB, FL — 20 years, 20 days.

6981st Security Group – Elmendorf AFB, AlaskaAug 1969 to Nov 1970

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:51:42 +0000

6981st Security Group
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska

Below are images and military documents for this period of time:

Cambrai Fritsch Kaserne – Darmstadt, Germany

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:29:47 +0000

Cambrai Fritsch Kaserne was, I believe, an Army base where 6911th RGM was a tenant organization. Again, I’m not sure what my Dad did here but thanks to Red Barthel, I’m a little more familiar. He provided a nice PDF file on Darmstadt and what USAFSS was all about in Darmstadt. You can read the PDF at the link below:

Darmstadt Story

Thanks, Red!

Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:45:20 +0000

I have quite a bit of memories from this island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. If my dates are correct (probably not), we lived there sometime around 1967 to 1969. We lived off-base near a woodshop and a bakery. I would walk every evening to the bakery and get a fresh loaf of Greek bread for dinner. I remember a dancing bear that would come by. His Greek handler would have him dance while he played the tambourine. When finished, my dad would “tip” him with a couple packs of American cigarettes (Marlboros!). There was a Greek family that loved to come over and watch Gunsmoke on our American TV. I especially remember that my dad, who loved sports growing up, started the first youth baseball league on Crete. Instead of the Commander (Col. Louie Miller, Jr.) throwing out the first pitch to a catcher, he threw it into the middle of all us boys gathered together. I came up with the ball and it sits on desk to this day. You can see it here:

Baseball photos

USAFSS: An Enlisted Command

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:40:44 +0000

I found a VERY GOOD article written by SMSgt James S. Duncan when he was a student at Senior NCO Academy in 1997. It is titled “United States Air Force Security Service: An Enlisted Command.” It really helped understand more about what my Dad did. The USAFSS was very unique in how it was composed and the responsibility given to these enlisted men. I think you will enjoy reading this article.

USAFSS: An Enlisted Command

Dad holding Me in Okinawa

admin — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:47:09 +0000

That’s my Dad holding me in Okinawa where I was born. This was my Dad’s first duty station after completing Radio Intercept School in Keesler AFB, Mississippi. Dad was assigned to the 6927th RSM at Onna Point.

Radio Intercept Operators

admin — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:00:42 +0000

I found a really interesting paper written by SMSgt James M. Houle who was a SNCOA student in February of 1996. The title was “Essay on Morse Code Operators in the Air Force.” It gave some good explanations of what my Dad probably did early on in the USAFSS. I’ve included a link below to the file here on the website:

Essay on Morse Code Operators in the Air Force

Updates to Duty Stations

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:30:30 +0000

I am slowly and methodically finding all the information I can about my Dad’s service in the USAF Security Service. As I get more information, it will be added to the applicable DUTY STATION section.

UPDATE: The records I received from the National Personnel Records Center on my father and the documents and pictures I scanned in from a visit to Mom and her records from Dad are now all uploaded to flickr and have links to them in each of the DUTY STATIONs. As of 01 August 2009, I completed updating all the DUTY STATION sections with these new images and documents.

6931st Security Group – Iraklion AS, Crete, GreeceJul 1967 to Aug 1969

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:19:29 +0000

6931st Security Group
Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece

Below are images and military documents for this period of time: