Richard Smith:  

I joined the Air Force (to avoid the Army draft) in October of 1970 after spending the summer hitch-hiking around the country with fellow classmate Don Ruegg. After being trained as an aircraft engine mechanic, I was sent to the Philippines to support the Vietnam War. Later assignments included Washington D.C., Castle AFB, CA, and Grand Forks AFB, ND. In 1978 I was assigned to Travis AFB, CA and was selected for flight school. I flew the C-141 Starlifter for 2 years and the C-5 Galaxy for 13. I served in many campaigns including the first Gulf War and Somalia. After retiring from the service in 1993, I was hired by the State of California as an environmental specialist. In early 1999, I was promoted to be the manager of Cal/EPA's criminal environmental investigation section and in e...Expand for more