Hank Ballew:  

Life Hi Classmates, Reader's digest of the last 40 years hope you find it interesting. After graduating High school, entered Basic Training (Boot Camp) on 3 Dec 1974 and was married on the 24th of Dec. to Charolette Caldwell. We lived at Ft. Campbell just long enough for Tressa to be born 2 years later in 1976 and to head off to Berlin Germany in 1977. There I did things like guard Rudolph Hess, one of Hitlers top Officers in prison for life. There Hank Jr. was born in 1978. Three years there didn't take me long to find out that carrying a rucksack in the infantry was no life. Then in 1980 back to Ft. Polk La. for a year where I made the Rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) then finally off to flight school in 1981 at Ft. Rucker Al.. After 9 months of torture I'm a pilot and a brand new Warrant Officer. Half way through school I get the terrible news that my first assignment is Hawaii, real tough 4 years <:). In 1986 back to Ft. Campbell where I managed to be accepted to the Task Force 160th Special Operation Aviation Unit, doing some of the wildest things you can't imagine. Stuff people see on TV and say that cant be true. I was there for 5 years then got an opportunity to go to fly airplanes in 1991. Like always there is a price, had to spend a year in Turkey without the family. Good break for me: drove Charolette nuts trying to ride heard on two teenagers. Returned in 1992 to the Night Stalkers Task Force 160th, I loved the excitement so much could not stay away, served for 8 more years. I retired April 1998 and started working for Lockheed as a civilian flight instructor and flight simulator operator for the same unit. (160th). After a year at Lockheed I went off to Lexington KY. (Another Defense contractor and more money) Raytheon to fly C-12's (Beech craft King Air, Corporate size airplanes) and Project Manger for the Black Hawk models Lima and Kilo upgrades. I was excited to be recalled to active duty 1 Aug 2001 ...Expand for more