MY NON HEROIC MILITARY HISTORY

MISSION 8 -AFROTC DUTY, SWTSC - SAN MARCUS, TEXAS

I had been considering applying for ROTC duty after my overseas assignment and while having been sent to Hq AF (Randolph AB) to fix a Personnel problem, I encountered an old friend. Another Okie that was in Personnel Processing Sqn with me for my first 4 years.  He spotted me during lunch at the NCO club and shouted at me:  "Don Wright, where have you been?, We wondered what happened to you. We caught up on all that had been happened, and he asked where was I coming back to after Germany.  I said I was thinking about ROTC duty.  He said why don't you come here.  You can replace ______ .  I can show you your desk.  I said I kinda had my mind on ROTC.  He said go see Chief ____ and he can arrange it'  I did so, got back to Wiesbaden, put in my papers and got my next assignment to AFROTC at SWTSC ,San Marcus Texas, just a little ways from Randolph.  

AFROTC was fairly enjoyable.  It was a small Detachment with  Three officers, and Four NCOs. It was pretty laidback. We usually took an extended lunch hour which usually consisted of Table Tennis, which our PAS referred to as "K"nip "K"nop or we usually played Knock Poker or Nickel Knock.  My favorite Poker game.  PAS liked both.  We were considered remote so AF sent periodic money for our recreation.  One of our favorite past times was Goat Barbeques  One of the officers who grew up in San Marcus and was a SWTSC Alumni knew just how to go about it.  We would go out into Hill Country fix it over a wood fire.  He knew exactly to how have local Mexicans bring fresh butchered meat to us and we would take it from there.  

The Cadets were mostly GI Brats wanting to follow in Daddy's foot steps.  These were great Kids. One, whose Dad was at Randolph and in charge of Officer acquisition which of course gave got  whatever he wanted and qualified for.  He wanted to fly but could not pass the Physical. He opted for Missile Launch Office at LRAFB Ark. That was when Arkansas had Missile Silos in several locations in Northern Arkansas.  Later when I was stationed at LRAFB, he gave Myself and Son Donal a guided tour in one of the Silos.  Very Interesting.  Meanwhile, back on AFROTC Duty. We first move to New Braunfels, and later moved to San Marcus for a bigger house and be closer to the College. New Braunfels is so German  that we hardly realized had let Germany.  

This part of Texas is some of the most attractive places to live as it offers attractions at Canyon Lake which was  just  opening  when we arrived there, the two fast running Rivers  begins at each of these Cities with large flows from the "Edward Plateau" which contains an  extremely large  aquifer that spills out at both New Braunfels and San Marcus,  These two rivers along with the hill country exploring makes both these cities an attractive place to live...

Our first residence was in a  Rural field out from New Braunfels. The field now contains a "Target" and a Bowling Alley.  While there we adopted Blackie.  She was a stray and everyone tried to run her off.  Finally, out of no where when we were outside  having a BBQ,  she came around the corner like "I'm here now" like she was home and she never left.  Later when we had moved to San Marcus, she fell in love with a very large dog, bigger than her and had puppies.  Later we getting ready to transfer to Little Rock AFB, I told my Barbour that I was moving to Arkansas and he advised against it, saying is it cold up there...he was right.  Anyway I gave him one of Blackies puppies which he named Sarge..Dianna, the Kids & I would site see the Hill Country  and spent a lot of time having a few Lone Stars in "SchwamKrugs Garden",  watching two step dancing and listening to Country music.  One which we enjoyed was "On the Wings of a Dove" by Ferlin Husky. Listening to it now brings back old times.  

To be able to swim is important and we  wanted to make sure both our kids were good swimmers so a swimming class was conducted  in the nearby river so we enrolled Denise.  The final test is to swim completely across the fast flowing San Marcus River which was not easy for her but she finally made it.   .  

My Sister and Bro-in-law and their young Teen Daughter visited.  She was a "Knockout" and the Cadets liked her and happily entertained her when she was there.  She remembers it well.  

Everyone on ROTC during their time are required to attend Commissioning.  The one I was scheduled for was at Alamogordo New Mexico  It was quiet an event. The local Bigwigs put on a big Beer & Barbeque party for us and it was it held out in a desert setting. They made sure we were aware of the snake problem.

One weekend we  went up on Cloud Croft.  This was in August. pretty Nippy at 9000 ft'. The doors were wide open and they had a large fire  One thing I saw was very interesting as I look down into the desert. A very large dark rain cloud cut loose and I saw a big flash flood roaring down an arroyo.  Apparently it happens often... 

I don't exactly remember how many Cadets were commissioned, There are Detachments in nearly all states. Got to meet and become friends and swap stories about our Det.   Most Dets were pretty large compared to SWTSC as we had only 13 Senior Cadets.  

There is always one Cadet that is designated a DMG (Distinguished Military Graduate) which usually assure their appointment is RegAF as opposed to AFRes.  They all become USAF officers but their component is one or the other.  It  can be important career standpoint. But they always try to give one at Commissioning. One that is so highly qualified and motivated that he would be given a DMG. or Distinguished Military Graduate.  The First AF Black General was BGN Chappie James.  His son had spent two years in the AF Academy but bombed out because of an Academic problem. AF gave him an AFROTC contract for his last two years to be commissioned. He definitely distinguished himself but the selection committee decided that two years in the Academy gave him an edge the other Cadets did not have and it was given to a Cadet from a 4 years AFROTC program..

Beyond that, AFROTC duty is pretty well a laid back assignment.  I was within about18 months of having 20 years and thinking forward to retirement - when about that time I got a call from an NCO at Randolph who said: I have been here 7 years and Commander as decided no one be here any longer than 7 years and had to move on.  I had made MSgt and the slot was TSgt and if I would let him have my job he would get any where I wanted.  Thought about it for a while and thought would move to LRAFB Arkansas and retire, which I did.  .