Carl Hansen:  

Life I was a navy brat that found himself living in Connecticut. Dad decided this was a good place to let his children grow up. He was a radioman on nuclear subs. Hence wasn't home much. I learned a lot of good and bad things growing up in Poquonnock Bridge. Many classmates looked down on the area, but I didn't realize that till Junior High. Had major crushes on three girls going through school. To shy to do anything about it. The next six years went by and I graduated from Fitch. I worked at Central Supermarket after graduation until joining the Air Force in 1980. Spent chrismas,my birthday, and new year in basic training. I did get to see San Antonio so that was good. Dad's navy discipline carried over to my home life helped me breeze through basic training. I then went to schools in northern Texas and Idaho. Upon completion of training, I purchased a kawasaki 650 and rode it cross country back to CT. Greatest adventure of my life so far. Visited home for a month then rode to New Jersey and put my bike on a ship and we were off to england. I flew and the bike just got grimy down in a hold. I served two and a half years at a base called Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath. I worked on the flight line fixing and assisting the pilots to go through preflight checks before they would go on their missions. Working on the F-111 taught me why America is such a great nation. I grew to enjoy the Air foce, so I reenlisted and moved to Arkansas. I then volunteered to go through aircrew flight training. After training, I was assigned to the 62nd Tactical Airlift Squadron flying in C-130's. I was young, dumb and had the time of my life flying 500 ft above the ground and then airdropping trucks, tanks and people over big open fields. No amusement park ride could compare and I got to do it 3 times a week for 5 hours at a time. Spent three years there, then transferred to the 50th TAS. I enjoyed six years there flying all over Europe, SE Asia and Northern Africa. Saw lots of wonderful things, spent many memorable occasions in Turkey,Spain,Italy,Germany etc. The seventh year was not so much fun. A man called Saddam decided to attack an American allie. So off I went with several other units and prepared to go kick some A--. For seven months we prepared right before his eyes. You know the rest. My contributins earned me an Air Medal and my unit was recognised as an outstanding unit with valor. I came home through Westover,MA and America greeted us as heroes. It certainly helped melt away the sadness of being a...Expand for more