 |
 |
| Russell Beaver - Recollections / Then and Now |
|
It was March 1960 when I arrived at Fairchild Air Force Base, a 17 year old fresh out of tech school. Having heard rumors at Sheppard that "several sites" were being built at Fairchild, I was ready to use my newly acquired skills. During in processing it was determined that my AFSC was in excess to current base needs. The only place were I fit was the Civil Engineering Sq. It took awhile before it was determined that I was destined for a "yet to be activated" squadron. A missile squadron that no one seemed to know much about. I was placed in the electrical shop of the Civil Engineering Sq. along with several others in my situation. The duties ran the gambit from rewinding electrical motors to a two week stint on ASH AND TRASH. When we were finally assigned to the new unit, a job still did not exist. The "sites" were in the final construction stage or in the check out phase. Even the squadron headquarters was not ready for the squadron personnel. The temporary headquarters was an old one story building a few blocks from the main gate. The building had to date back to W.W.II. It was a block or two in the other direction to the Eagles Nest, the enclave of the highest ranking officers on the base. One of them was Col. Jella, the squadron commander. The squadron was at a loss at first as to what to do with us. Harking back to the BROWN SHOE DAYS the First Sgt. "Frenchy" Girard would hold open ranks inspections. We were given instructions in the finer points of being Missileers by Staff's and Tech's who were recent returnees from tactical missile units in Europe. They had some knowledge of missiles, but little of the INTERCONTINENTAL type. Few on base knew that a missile squadron was in the start up phase. It was rumored around the squadron that Col. Jella was introduced to some officers at the club as "the commander of the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron". Whereupon he was asked "what base are you TDY from". To provide for notification of our presence and to promote recognition, we were required to wear hard hats with the 567th prominently displayed. My contemporaries and I were finally allowed to "train" at the sites. The problem was that the sites were still under the control of the contractors. It was difficult to learn the job when not allowed to touch anything. The civilian workers on site were reluctant to depart any knowledge that would hasten the end of their jobs. Despite the roadblocks and obstacles, we learned. The squadron took over control of the complexes and became operationally ready. The younger slowly but surely learned from the "old heads". I matured, took on added responsibilities. Virtually everyone in the squadron learned "on the run". I was privileged to serve with fine Officers and quality NCO's. What set this unit apart from all others of it's time was the caliber of its personnel. The many awards and accomplishments of the unit was unparalleled for the time. I met and married my wife, while a member of the 567th. My first child was born while a member of the 567th. To this day, We still talk about THE SQUADRON. During my entire career, every assignment was judged against the 567th. The one test that I put every new unit was to live up to the "PEOPLE OF 567th SMS". Only two in 23 years were ever in the running. Both fell short. |
|
|