Thomas Harmon:
CLASS OF 1962
Ainsworth High SchoolClass of 1962
Flint, MI
Utley High SchoolClass of 1961
Flint, MI
Thomas's Story
Life
Well I have already bio'd my workplace and military life if you care to read that.Now for the rest of the story!I married my wife Karen in 1966 ,the day after being discharged from the USAF,which was Oct 1st,also the opening day of bow season.This makes it impossible to ever forget our anniversary.This year will be our 41st year together.We have two sons,Scott,a UM grad,and teachs Eng,and history,I could have used him back at Ainsworth.We also have Steve who works construction and has traveled this country from coast to coast,he has a son ,Tristan our 6 year old grandson who lives in Calif,with his mom.He will come to visit us soon for the summer.We live in northern Michigan on Lake St.Helen.My family has been coming here since the 40,s to hunt,fish,and play.In 1982 when my Grandpa died we bought this place.which he and my Dad had built in 1960.From that time until I retired we spent alot of time here doing all those things with our sons.We also completely remodeled this place and made plans to move up here and live year round on our retirement.We have been here full time since selling our downstate home in Swartz Creek in 2002.Our life here is all we expected it would be.I hunt,fish,hike in the woods,ride my motorcycle,and work in my shop and visit friends and take Karen on monthly casino trips,which she enjoys when not working in her many gardens of flowers and veggies.The winters are long but I ice fish out front and ride my snowmobile on long trips thru the woods with my buddys.Karen use to ride,but now stays inside by the fire and reads and watchs tv.Karen is from Miami Fla,I met and married her down there,she had never seen snow in her life,she sure sees alot now and has learned to love it.Over the years I have been a member of many groups and orgs including Ducks Unlimited,and the NRA,and BSA as a leader.My sons played football and hockey and we were very involved with that in Swartz Creek.Now my focus is on the American Legion Riders,and our property owners assn,of which I am a trustee after being on the board for over 25 years. My buddys and I maintain our beach and parks as we all have tractors, and we enjoy it.We take vacations back to Fla to visit family and friends,and to NC to see my brother.We have a lot of guests up here and many campfires,cookouts,and a ...Expand for more
few cold ones.We are truly living "the dream" so far.No major health problems,we have a positive outlook on life,and wake up every morning in a good mood.I look out into the lake everyday and thank God for another good day here in Gods Country in what we all call the Truenorth!
Workplace
I returned to Flint after being discharged from the AF in 1966.Had 2 jobs at the Chevy truck plant and GTW railroad,laid of from both,after short periods. Harold Viers got me into Coca Cola on the bottling line ,2 weeks later got a truck route in downtown Flint.One of my drops was the Flint Journal,which would have a big impact on my life. A year later I was offered a machine repairer apprenticeship at the Journal,it was a 4 year deal thru the GI bill,after finishing that I went to college and received a 2 year degree.The Journal was a real good place to work,with good people all those years.I retired in 2002 after 35 years,as a Superviser in the Production Dept,they now pay me to stay home!The Flint Journal puts out over 100,000 copys,7 days a week,365 a year,for over 100 years.Its a hellava deal for 50 cents,so keep reading and buying the paper,it helps pay for my retirement.
Military
I joined th U.S. Air Force in 1962 after graduation.Went to boot camp with fellow graduates,Gary Moore,Jim McElroy,and Tom Hamilton.After boot,was sent to tech school in Amarillo,Tex for 4 months,learning Jet Mechanics.Afterwards,assigned to Homestead AFB just south of Miami,Fla,to the 319th Fighter Intercepter SQ.We were responsible for the air defense of the southern U.S. during the entire Cuban Crisis.I was a crewchief on F-104 Starfighters and on the Alert crew the entire time.I enjoyed the A.F. and my time in it.We all grew up fast,with all the responsibilities they put on 18 year old boys.I am now involved in the 319th FIS alumnae group,and have located a number of my fellow airman on the computer,and planning a reunion in Fla next year.Our squadron motto was "We get ours at night" and the mascot is a "Tom cat".It refers to our squadron shooting down an enemy fighter at night using only radar in Korea.But some of us took it literally and are still getting it at night! My wife says I'm not as good as I once was,but I'm as good once as I ever was! Of course,her standards are lower now.
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