James Vandraiss:
CLASS OF 1962
Antelope Valley High SchoolClass of 1962
Lancaster, CA
James's Story
If anyone looks for me in the yearbooks, they need to check for Jim Beyer, which was the last name of the foster family I was living with, they thought it would be easier on me to introduce them as my parents, if I used their name, which ended up confusing the people I went to school with at both Eastside and well as Westside, who both knew me as Jim Vandraiss. I of course messed with everyone's mind when I then went back to my real name of Vandraiss, and attended Antelope Valley Junior College. But as Uncle Sam was knocking on my door, I joined the Air Force and spent 26 years with them active duty, being stationed in Texas, Edwards AFB twice (spent the later last assignment), Alaska, and Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA. My last assignment at Edwards, kind of led to two of my later jobs, one as a contract security police officer at Edwards for 3 years, and my last career change, as the Medical Facility Manager at the Edwards Hospital I had retired out of in the Air Force. During the time as the facility Manager, I was responsible for the oversight of the replacement of the Flight Medicine facility and the replacement of the Hospital (to a Medical Clinic...Expand for more
). Might add, prior to retiring from the Air Force, I was the dental Superintendent who oversaw the replacement of the Dental Services facilities, moving into that new building in 1989. Working with the then Hospital Manager set me up to fill the assistant facility manager position a few years later when that person retired, and then the Facility manager position 8 months later when the person who hired me decided to retire. Thus I served the Edwards Medical Service in various positions for 24 years as both military and Civilian, and Edwards AFB 27 years when you add the contractor position. Add the 3 years as a Postal Person in Mojave, and I spent my last 30 working years in the valley. Now as my wife, who I had met while in the Air Force and followed me around for 45 years in locations she did not always care for, when she retired a year after I did, it was time for me to go somewhere she liked. Thus, we are in the "Green State" of Oregon, living along the coast in the small tourist town of Yachats. So from seeing about every shade of brown while living in the valley, now seeing all the shades of green, and finding out what the word "Rain" means.
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