Stephen Heckman:  

The basics: 3 kids ( 2 are married) and one grandson. My wife is from Harrisonburg, Va. Married her in 1997. She's a stay-at-home mom who homeschooled her son from K-12. I ended up being the math teacher. High school for me was ok (at best) though the social aspect was excruciating (a three-year "root canal" is the best description I can come up with). The 80's proved to be much better... Refused to join the "National Honor Society" because the application required a parents signature. I was such a "rebel without a clue". Joined the Air Force right after school. My two goals were to marry a "super model" and work for NASA. I guess one out of two isn't bad (Hint: I don't work for NASA). And I got to do and see a lot of interesting things on the way. Took a few flying lessons at Keesler AFB. It was the Air Force, after all. Got to see the Go-Go's at Duke University in 1982. Didn't get to see U2 until 2009. Drove a friend's Corvette on the Autobahn with the petal mashed to the floor. It was fun and scary at the same time (remember I was the one driving). Got to ride in a C-5A in the forward crew compartment. They have beds upfront! Learned the hard way that a T-33 will start itself. Had a ringside seat when the Marco's goverment fell in the Philippines (1986) Took leave with Frank Stacy and we "island hopped" our way to Korea on a long list of MAC aircraft- spent 2 days each in Okinawa, Tokyo and Korea. Went back to Korea in Feb 85 and lived in a M*A*S*H style tent city for 6 weeks. The next year it was 6 weeks in Okinawa (My wife got to fly up in a C-130 and spent a week). Sent to pick up classified ECM equipment from a crashed F-4. Lived in the jungle for several days. Our camp was "raided" by NPA rebels (stole my sleeping bag) while we were at the crash site. Two years later NPA "sparrow teams" would assassinate several US servicemen in Angeles city. Got to witness the launch of a BQM-34A target drone after static testing a chaff dispensor pod I designed and built. The best TDY I had- though also the shortest (just an overnight trip). It was at Wallace Air Station in Long Beach (La Union providence). Our hotel had bar stools in the pool. When stationed in Germany took a 3-country tour to England. Got to see Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam. Then rode the ferry overnight to London. The return trip was through Brussels. The Antomium was 'way cool'...my parents saw it during the Worlds Fair, I was there 30 years later. Stayed in the...Expand for more