LEONARD SMITH:  

Most people know me as Art Smith. I attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio from 1964 through 1969. I majored in Civil Engineering and received my BS Degree in 1969. I was in Air Force Reserve Officers Corps (ROTC), joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 1966, and received my commission into the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1969. I was a member of the Arnold Air Society. I got my Private Pilot license (SEL - single engine land) while at Ohio University. I entered Air Force extended active duty in January 1970 at Duluth IAP, Minnesota as a Civil Engineering Officer, I spent 2-1/2 winters in Duluth before I was transferred to Othello Air Force Station (ADC) in Othello, Washington in 1972. I was release from extended active duty in 1973. I remained in the inactive USAF Reserves as a permanent Captain and received my Honorable Discharge in 1987. I attend several schools at the Air Force Institute of Technology located on Wright- Patterson AFB while I was on active duty. I was promised - and fell for it - that my color vision deficiency would be waivered so I could be on flight duty if I obtained my Private Pilot License by the commander of the AFROTC unit if I would accept the USAF Reserve commission. The Air Force did not honor that commitment; therefore, I did not stay on active duty for the 30+ years that I had planned. In 1972, the color vision requirements for flying the "Jolly Green Giants" rescue helicopters was lowered; however, I lacked 3 points on the color threshold test of qualifying for helicopter pilot training. ...Expand for more