Tommie Byford:
CLASS OF 1966
Caprock High SchoolClass of 1966
Amarillo, TX
Tommie's Story
MILITARY SERVICE:
I went to high school in Amarillo, Texas (Caprock High School) from 1963 - 1966.
In April of 1966, I went to the Air Force recruiting office to start the paperwork, tests, etc., to get into the Air Force. My good friend Thomas Cannon also went with me. Thomas and I went into the Air Force under the buddy system. We were in the same squadron and flight at Lackland. I wanted to join what I wanted to before the Army drafted me. After graduation from high school, I left for military basic training with the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas on June 7, 1966. I had also gotten a draft notice when I left for basic training. But the draft notice wasn't any good since I was already in the Air Force.
Basic training was only 4 weeks in length back then due to the Vietnam War going on. I stayed at Lackland for 13 months before going on 60 days leave and reporting to Southeast Asia in Sep 67. I flew out of Travis Air Force Base, California. Before departing Lackland, I attended the 3 day Southeast Asia Combat Training Course to prepare us for the Vietnam War.
Most combat actions that happened at the base I was at and other bases was kept Top Secret until declassified in recent years. I don't know why the documents were classified. The Viet Cong knew what was going on because they were the ones doing the action. They knew we had bases in Thailand. They came over and recruited the local Vietnamese to help with their cause.
I was assigned to a remote base out in the boon docks in the hot steamy jungles of Southeast Asia. The base had a tall barbed wire fence around the perimeter with guard posts around it to protect the base. The fence was to keep the communist out, but it only slowed them down. They still managed to get through with a fence and guards. They mainly attacked at night when it was good and dark and you couldn...Expand for more
't see anything around you.
I would often sit out on the picnic table in front of the beer shack and watch the sun set. I would wonder if I was ever going to get out of that place and go home.
I was assigned to the 631st Combat Support Group. I was in Southeast Asia in Jan 68 during the TET Offensive. Our base also had action during the TET Offensive.
When I left for Southeast Asia, I was an E-2. When I left Southeast Asia, I was an E-4. Being over there offered faster promotions than I would have gotten stateside.
For my service in Southeast Asia, I was awarded the following medals:
Air Force Commendation Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 Campaign stars)
Vietnam Campaign Medal (1968)
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation for service in Southeast Asia
National Defense Service Medal.
After I left Southeast Asia, I had to see mental health care due to all the things that happened over there. I am sure I am not alone on having to see PTSD therapy.
After returning from Southeast Asia in Sep 1968, I decided to make the Air Force a career.
I spent 20 years and 2 months on active duty. I retired on July 31, 1986 at the rank of (E-7).
I have been to the following countries:
Wake Island
Philippines
Guam
Thailand
Vietnam
Japan
Alaska
Hawaii
The federal agencies I worked for from 1987 to Oct 2010 were:
Housing and Urban Development, Fort Worth, TX
Housing and Urban Development, Shreveport, LA
U. S. Postal Service, Longview, TX and Ada, Ok
Veteran's Administration Hospital, Little Rock, AR
Army Corps of Engineers, Sallisaw, OK
Department of the Air Force, Bossier City, LA
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Fort Worth, TX
U. S. Secret Service, Las Colinas, TX
Department of Mine Safety and Health Administration, Dallas, TX
I worked for one state agency in Tyler, TX (Child Support Enforcement) from Jan 91 to Jul 91.
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