Jerry and Linda Butler

I volunteered for duty in June of 1970. 2 weeks after graduation from Gardendale High School. Viet Nam was still in style in those days.

Reported to Boot camp in San Antonio Texas at Lackland AFB August 19, 1970. Boot camp only lasted 6 weeks then. Graduated Basic Training on Oct 2, 1970 and immediately shipped out to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls Texas. I was assigned to the 62nd Air Training Squadron upon arrival at Sheppard AFB to attend Aircraft Maintenance School for Jet aircraft 1 and 2 engines. There I trained on the F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 VooDoo, F-102 Delta Dart, F-104 Starfighter, F-111a ( the Aardvark) and the F-4c Phantom. The last 2 aircraft mentioned were the state of the art aircraft of their day. I graduated Tech school early and left Sheppard AFB on Dec. 23rd, 1970. My rank was Airman (or E-2). My class has 17 guys by graduation and I was one of 5 troops who did not ship out to Viet Nam. 2 of those guys were Arkansas Air Guard so they went home.

I reported into the 437th Military Airlift Wing shortly before midnight at Charleston AFB, S.C. on Jan. 15th, 1971. There I was assigned to the 437th Field Maintenance Squadron to perform as a mechanic on flight controls, landing gear, cargo doors, troop doors, windshield replecements, etc, etc. I was sent to Charleston because of personnel shortage of qualified mechanics for the new cargo giant C-5a and C-141a (4 engine aircraft) I attended the "Blue Ribbon Landing Gear Specialist" school at Charleston AFB and was priveliged to operate the C-5a landing gear (while on jacks) for a lot of brass and retired politicians. I made E-4 (Buck Sergeant at that time) in June of 1972. I earned a Presidential citation from President Nixon for my part on a 4 man team that rebuilt the right main gear of a C-141a and repaired the rear Cargo doors for a mission to Peking China for his visit there. It was the first visit ever to China from an American President supposedly. I still have no idea as to why that particular aircraft was chosen to haul Mr. Nixon's limosine. It had been mothballed due to a crash landing with mucho damage.

A decision was made in 1973 to consolidate 4 C-5a bases in to only 2 bases. I was ordered to the 436th Military Airlift Wing at Dover AFB Delaware in August 1973 and there I participated in the Yom Kippur War as a C-5a Galaxy Crew Chief where we launched and recovered aircraft of all types. All the Israeli military effort was made possible because of the tireless dedication of the American troops at Dover AFB. I was not one of the tireless. I was plenty tired. We had no days off and all Leave was cancelled in an all out effort to keep Israel 100% battle ready. Many of the operations that we participated in are still classified. I did get to see some evil looking Russian gear after that war and was able to get inside a huge captured T-62 Russian Tank sent by the Israelis as a gift to the US Military.

I was discharged in August 1974 and returned to Alabama to find employment. Enlisted into the 347th Heavy Helicopter Battalion in B'ham Ala in November 1974. Began training as a Mechanic to support Flight Line operations on the CH-54 Sikorsky SkyCrane.

In July 1975, I transferred from the Army Guard into the Air National Guard. I went into the 117th Tactical Recon Wing as an E-5 (Staff Sergeant) to perform Crew Chief Flight Line duties there on the RF-4C Phantoms. Stayed in this group until 1980. I have many many stories that would better translate into a book than an e-mail. I always loved being on the cutting edge of the world. I was privleged to meet a few famous people. We assembled on the line and met Henry Kissinger an Betty Ford once. Also Dean Rusk who was Sec of State for JFK. It was hard to leave but getting too hard to stay during the Carter years.

Research Of John Russell Butler
Source: Gary Keith Butler