James R. Mulhausen:
CLASS OF 1962
Lakewood High SchoolClass of 1962
Lakewood, CO
Colorado State University - Mechanical EngineeringClass of 1973
Ft. collins, CO
James R.'s Story
Life
I started contributing to Social Security in 1959 with summer construction work. Graduated Lakewood HS 62. Attended Colorado State Fall Qtr62-Winter Qtr63 when ran out of money. Worked Construction & Custom cut wheat with travel through Christmas 64. Father ill & draft near, so joined Air Force Jan 65 with Lakewood co-graduate Rich Nelson. Sent to bases in Texas, Florida,& Vietnam, with government subsidized side trips to England,Spain,Azores,Alaska,Hong Kong,Australia,Philippines til honorably released in July 69. With service nest egg, back to Colorado State on GI bill with side job in Wyoming Air National Guard and local service station. More subsidized trips both stateside and Spain, France, Germany and Italy til spring of 1973. After not finishing graduate school in pollution engineering, primarily due to lack of real interest, married in summer 73. Moved to La Crosse area in Wisconsin on Mississippi River. Not a dedicated tree hugger but enjoying nature, have been here since. More side trips, mostly stateside with family and Boy Scouting program. Spent very enjoyable 60th birthday, Christmas and New Years in Hawaii, away from Wisconsin winter. Still married, two kids, daughter married July 2000, son married August 2005. Even after numerous 'reduction in workforce (RIF's)' actions by Trane, American Standard (then Parent Company), and Ingersoll Rand (then Parent Company), retired Trane in March 2008 in La Crosse. I ceased contributing to Social Security at this time and pursued compensation for my contributions. Very little family left in Denver area, mostly Greeks on spouses side. Organization member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), ASHRAE (American Society of Heating,Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers),& AEE (American Energy Engineers), still. Veterans Organizations, VFW (Post 1881 - Cheyenne, Wyoming) & American Legion (WI Post 336-Onalaska, WI). A Boy Scout adult leader, at troop, district and council level, from 1991 through 2018, when physical restraints, like age & health, restricted further involvement. I also wasn't completely in agreement or approval of the politics of the newer policies, and elected to discontinue participation. Volunteered with US Fish and Wildlife/BSA and provided 'Leave No Trace' camping training to groups requesting, as a trained trainer. I enjoyed watching kids mature to adulthood and hope that I may have provided something toward that growth. Recreationally, I was outdoors and basically water based, as I could swim a mile, paddle a canoe, kayak, and sail. I don't melt in the rain or freeze in the snow. Still define myself poor at interpersonal communication, but technically adequate. I have forgotten most of my calculus, but know where to go to brush up.
Military detail Dec 64 through July 73
With no real established direction and the draft in close pursuit, I joined the Air Force in December 64, much to my parents dismay. Tripped to Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas for basic with high school chum, Rich Nelson, in January 1965. After spending 10 weeks in flight 79 of squadron 3701, 3720 school squadron, I was bused to Amarillo AFB, 3338 school squadron for Airframe Repair training with 3320 tech school, and from there, assigned to the 19th FMS, 19th Bomb Wing stationed at Homestead AFB, Florida. Primary aircraft which I worked on were KC135A and B52H. As of December 2021, B52H aircraft I physically worked on in 1965,1966, and 1967 wer...Expand for more
e still flying in the USAF. Late 1967, reassigned to the 12th FMS, 12th TFW, PACAF in Cam Ranh bay, Vietnam. Primary support of F4C, but had opportunities to work on everything from O2 to HH43B. Arrived Nov 1967 and returned home in July 69, where I was released from active duty at McCord AFB, Washington. Went to Ft Collins, Colorado to continue education and after a short delay, enlisted with the 153 Aeromedical Airlift Group,Wyoming Air National Guard in Cheyenne. Worked on C121G and C130B while with WyANG. In 1973, my commitment and education complete, I moved to Wisconsin, discontinuing further military activities. Had I found an Air Force contingent near by, I would have continued.
Effective 1 March2008, I am officially retired from Trane. I feel a little like a quitter, even though I gave them a year notification. Like an old general, I just wanted to fade away, and from Trane, I think I will accomplish that task. Every other time I quit, things didn't turn out all bad, so all we can do is move on with the best plan available. Played a little game of nostalgia to define what & why I quit in the past, which I will share. I started working for a check when I was 13, so this goes back a few years. Quit my construction jobs each summer while in High School & in college to return to classes until fall 1963. Quit my lifeguard second job in fall 1963 for the same reason. Quit college in Jan. 1964 because my dad got sick, I ran out of money, and had to go to work (construction). Quit construction job spring 1964 to spend the summer cutting wheat from Texas to the Dakotas. Quit cutting wheat in July because dad got worse and was needed at home, and went back to construction. Quit construction in Jan 1965 because I felt Uncle Sam breathing down my neck with a draft request, and I would rather spend 4 years time in the Air Force then two in the Army or Marines, undoubtedly in that horrible Vietnam place. Quit the Air Force to finish my college in 1969. Quit grad school in June 1973, without graduate degree, because I did not like the project, subject matter, or advisor and wanted to get out of the educational stream and do something with what I learned, like, make a little money, with Trane. Quit the Wyoming Air National Guard, which I had joined to supplement income in 1970, in 1973, as it would have been difficult to attend weekend meetings monthly in Cheyenne from La Crosse. Quit Trane 29 Feb 2008 because the non-value added work exceeded the value added engineering work. So, I guess I'm a quitter, even though I have always quit for personal and somewhat selfish reasons, the times I did spend in these positions has been of benefit to others, beside myself. Projecting down the road, by no choice of mine, I'm going to have to quit the job of Life, but not without enjoying what I have done and attempting to live it to the fullest. While Trane maybe the last employment for which I may be monetarily compensated, the jobs with their inherent learning and accomplishments will continue, until I quit again, hopefully many years down the pike.
Tried to clean up spelling and context, to make more understandable. I wrote a whole lot of words, basically indicating that I am not known for anything, but I seem to have enjoyed what I have done. Attempts to give it back may or may not been successful. So, on the ending month of 2021, all I can say is Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have an enjoyable New Year.
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