STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of COL Earl Honeycutt, U.S. Air Force (1966-1998)

There are a variety of reasons for me joining the US Air Force. When I graduated from high school in May 1965, my best friend Jimmy Cooper joined the AF the next day and tried to convince me to go with him to Lackland. Jimmy may have convinced me had we had a plan, but he showed up one afternoon and said he was leaving on Friday and said–“Let’s go in together!”

Guess it was a little too quick and too much of a surprise for me. After working for six months and buying a Corvette, I received a letter from my local draft board instructing me to report for a pre-induction physical.

In 1966 about 50,000 men were being drafted each month! Having scored well on the AF test taken in high school, I decided to enlist and receive guaranteed training in electronics which was a new frontier at the time as far as I was concerned.

The recruiter, MSgt Rush had quite a bit of business but he had me complete the paperwork and sent me to Charlotte for a physical and to be sworn into the AF Reserve in the delayed enlistment program. The next day I visited the draft board and gave them a copy of my enlistment papers and that protected me from being drafted.

Also equally important, my uncle Fred Cook had served as a flight engineer after WW II and he often regaled how much fun he had and how he wished he had made the Air Force a career. For me, the Air Force meant training and the security of not leaving my fate up to the draft.

My path toward a military career was different from most. My original objective was to serve 4 years, gain job skills, and return to civilian life. Due to my desire to pull a second tour in the Philippines, I extended for an additional 4 months. My plan upon discharge was to attend college on the GI bill and then teach high school or find a civilian job. As I approached graduation, I considered returning to the AF through Officer Training School along with teaching jobs and working in intelligence for the federal government. Upon closer examination, my starting salary in the AF as O-1E on flight status was nearly twice that of a beginning high school teacher in NC and the AF offered me entry into OTS a week after graduating!

After OTS, Undergraduate Navigation Training, and Electronic Warfare Training, my assignments were to B-52 operational units at Beale and Mather AFBs. Being in SAC meant regimentation and constant tests, ORIs, and check-rides. After 6 years, I decided that I would transfer to the AF Reserve and attend graduate school. After completing an MBA and Ph.D. in Business, I taught on the university level for 30 years. I retired at Langley AFB on December 31, 1997.

The AF Reserve was a perfect fit as it allowed me the freedom to teach and conduct research, but contribute to the national defense and keep my hand in the game. That is, I had the freedom to participate in the AF Reserve more or less time depending upon my civilian job and the needs of my family. This control was not there during my 4+ years on SAC B-52 crews.

I never experienced combat, even though I was awarded the Combat Readiness Medal for serving on a B-52 crew and maintaining combat readiness status. My tour at Mactan AB in 1967-68 was rewarding because we were contributing directly to combat operations in Vietnam. My job was to maintain the ground to air radios in the control tower and command post. Large transports brought material and men from Guam on their way to Ton Son Nhut AB in Saigon or Danang AB.

As a B-52 EW Officer, my crew participated in a number of Red Flag combat simulations and it was enlightening to fly into a “hostile” area in Nevada where Triple As and Surface to Air Missiles would start painting the aircraft along the route. Plus there were aggressor aircraft looking for us as we penetrated the target. I offer my utmost respect and thanks to those brave Americans of all services who saw combat and were injured or lost their lives.

Sitting nuclear alert gave me plenty of time to think about the EWO mission and the consequences of going to war. Being assigned to a nuclear mission was life-changing in many ways as there were rules to follow to maintain a safe and secure airplane. I also knew I could count on my crew to complete the mission like we were trained. This “can-do” attitude followed me the rest of my life.

While we had several airborne maintenance emergencies on the B-52, none ever rose to the level of non-survivability. I thank the maintenance men and women for taking good care of our airplanes. Sitting in an ejection seat during the flight was interesting for me since I was prepared to eject if necessary, but hoped that the situation would never really happen!

IMHO every duty station has both fond and least favorite aspects. One that I remember with favor after 50 years is Mactan AB, near Cebu City, the Philippines. This was my first assignment after tech school and it was both a learning experience and a first-time away from my family.

Yes, basic and tech school was away from the family but in those days phone calls were prohibitive in cost and mail could take a week or two depending upon the weather. US C-130s were assigned to Mactan AB in 1965 due to overcrowding at Clark AB and when I arrived in early 1967 things were starting to come together and we moved from tents to dorms and the new chow hall opened.

There were a few bars outside the front gate and the beaches on Mactan were nice, but the area was unspoiled! I was assigned to the 1890th Comm Squadron and we played fast pitch softball in Cebu City, supported an orphanage, and spent quite a bit of time at the movies and the Breezeway, all ranks bar/club on the base.

The base’s mission was to support C-124s, C-133s, etc. fly from Guam to Viet Nam and we received several B-52 aircraft that had declared an emergency returning to Guam. My year there is fondly remembered for what I would describe as an environment where we worked hard to complete the mission and then we were free to pursue whatever activity we desired. As a young two stripper, my money went pretty far downtown and at the BX. Mactan AB was also my introduction to the AF.

Prior to Mactan AB, I spent a month at Tachikawa AB in Japan. Because I knew no one upon arrival and my assignment status was up in the air, it was perhaps my least favorite. The first two weeks the AF did not know what to do with me and the last two I was awaiting my flight to Mactan AB. In retrospect, I met and worked with some outstanding service members at Tachikawa AB and no doubt had my assignment been there, my attitude would have become more positive.

A number of memories from my military years have impacted my life.

First, being sent to the Philippines and seeing really poor people and living in a different culture is something never forgotten. I was lucky to study and travel throughout the Philippines over my entire life.

The training provided by the AF turned me into a better student and provided different perspectives from which to view things. Sitting B-52 nuclear alert gave me time to ponder what would happen to the world and all that I know if we did take off on a mission against an enemy. Also, working with so many high-quality people from all parts of the United States.

The AF taught me that you did not look at a man or woman’s race, religion, etc. but what was important was their ability to do the job at hand. Lastly, as an AF Reserve Commander, I had the privilege of directing great people and I tried my best to provide them with the training, supplies, and support needed to accomplish their mission.

One of my proudest days was March 11, 1974, when I graduated from OTS and was commissioned a 2Lt! My parents flew to San Antonio and it was a neat ceremony and my re-entry into active duty Air Force.

Another was serving in SAC and sitting nuclear B-52 alert. In the AF Reserve I was honored to serve as a detachment commander twice and as the Director of Reserve Intelligence at ACC/IN at Langley AFB. It was an honor to serve in those positions and to serve those men and women who worked for me.

In 1967 at Mactan AB, our squadron was given honorary citizenship by Cebu City for our many humanitarian deeds in the area. In 1969, the 861st Radar Squadron named me NCO of the Quarter. In 1978 the Air Force awarded me a regular AF Commission.

Throughout my career, both active and Reserve, the awards and recognition reinforced my hard work and convinced me that I was making a positive contribution to the mission.

There are many outstanding individuals who positively impacted my career. At Aiken AFS, SC First Sergeant L.C. Green gave me excellent advice and support. At OTS, Capt Jim Edge was an outstanding role model has served as an Enlisted member.

At Mather AFB, Lt Col Al Rogers and Col Jack Charles were outstanding officers who were great leaders (both retired as Major Generals). In the AF Reserve my first Commander, Col Rich Roddey set the pace and offered great advice and support. Brigadier General Thomas Penick was an outstanding leader who provided great support and guidance when I assumed my first command. At ACC/IN, Colonels Gerry Reynolds and Paul Lebra (later a Major General) gave outstanding support and advice to me.

There were also many outstanding colleagues: Reed Ledwig, Pat Brown, Al Rivas, Don Morris, Rod Weeks, and Rod Dyckman who gave me pause for thought and kept me grounded about a career in the Air Force. I thank all those listed and anyone who I may have overlooked.

Tech School Keesler AFB: Have talked with my roommate, Bob Reed who retired to SC. Great guy!

Mactan AB: Looked up a number of folks working in ground radio and most have passed on. Spoke to Fred Haalck about 8 years ago and he returned to NY after his enlistment was up.

Aiken AFS: I keep in contact with Glenn Metzl in Lynchburg, VA. Have spoken to a number of other folks over the years.

Wallace AS: Talk regularly with Reed Ludwig and Pat Brown. Have been in contact with Gerry Bargo, Tim Phillips, Dan Crossley, Butch Carroll. Returned to Wallace in 2000, 2005, 2006, and 2011. Many changes on Poro Point!

OTS – swap Christmas cards with Jack Byrne and Greg Owczarski. Would love to know what happened to Ann Abernathy and Ron Daniels.

Mather AFB – have been in contact with my first B-52 crew members: Rod Weeks (deceased), Sandy Fox in NC, John Sherman back in MI, Don Morris in Sacramento, and Rick Seda in Las Vegas. Would fly into any situation with this crew!

AF Intelligence; Still converse with Donnie Smith, Gene Allen, Paul Caissie, and Mike Fischer. Great group of dedicated professionals!

One night in 1968 I came through the main gate at Mactan AB and someone was checking his Filipina girlfriend on base and we whistled and said how lovely she was (yes we were drinking). Her boyfriend did not like our behavior and yelled a cuss word at us and we responded. We were being taken on base by a pedicab and about 1/4 mile from the gate an AF truck began flashing their headlights at us. I told the driver to stop and a new 2Lt came up and demanded my name and the name of my OIC. I told him and he said he would talk to my ILt.

The next morning at 0700 I was standing at parade rest outside Lt Hurst’s office when he arrived. He looked at me and said OK, tell me what happened. I related the incident and he asked me why I had cursed the 2LT. I said no sir, nothing like that and told him the story again. He looked at me for about 15 seconds and said: “go to work and don’t do that again. I will talk with the 2Lt.” I saluted, said thank you, sir, and got the heck out of there!

During my Wallace AS tour, we use to get entertainers about once a month and one night there was an exotic dancer who was the star attraction and she pulled one of the radar operators on the floor to dance with her and she coaxed him to lie on the floor and put a cigarette in his mouth to remove while she danced. As she positioned herself over his head she stepped on a wet spot and fell on the poor Airman. Believe it or not, the Airman was knocked out and the medics carried him out of the club. Everyone was in stitches and the poor guy was kidded for months! Still, chuckle every time I think about it!

Around 1988 we were conducting weigh-ins and I went down to get weighed and when I walked in a Captain and Major were yelling at one another. Seems the Captain was refusing to get weighed (not sure why he went downstairs to get weighed) and the Major kept saying–“get on the scales.” I walked in and listened for about 10 seconds and said: Major L you stand next to the scale and read the weight. I then looked at the Captain and said: Captain, you will stand on the scale and you will do it NOW! Dead silence from both individuals who did precisely what I had ordered as Commander. Yes, the Captain was 10 pounds overweight as we all suspected! This resulted in a diet and monthly weigh-ins!

After leaving active-duty in 1979 I transferred to the AF Intelligence Reserve and completed the MBA and Ph.D. in business administration. For 30 years I taught marketing and sales at UNC-Wilmington, Old Dominion University, and Elon University. This was my goal, to teach at the university level, since earning my BS degree in 1973 and returning to active-duty. I applied to teach at the AF Academy, but it was difficult to leave flying until you completed your first gate–which was 7 years at the time I suspect I would have eventually taught at the AFA, but perhaps I was too impatient!

There is an old saying that the best thing about working in academia is June, July, and August (LOL)! Being a professor provided me with ample time to serve in the AF Reserve and we lived close to many bases in eastern NC, SC, and VA. The AF Intelligence Reserve also was a flexible program that offered extra man-days or active duty to support the active duty.

I enjoyed my time in academia, felt that I helped a large number of students learn more about business. The position also permitted me to learn more about the world, economics, and the US role in politics. Let me conclude by stating that none of this would have ever happened had I not enlisted in 1966, taking advantage of the GI bill to earn my BS and two master’s programs. The AF showed me what it took to succeed and provided me with the opportunity to be the best I could be. I am truly grateful.

I am a life member of the Air Force Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Reserve Officers Association. Over the years I attended a number of AF Association meetings and when in the Philippines I frequent the VFW in Angeles City near the former Clark AB and at Post 9892 near the former Wallace AS near San Fernando, La Union.

I also volunteer at the USO of NC at Raleigh Durham Airport where I interact with many retired and former military members. It seems that the AFA and VFW posts are slowly dying.

IMHO the military made me what I am today. The AF provided me with excellent technical training both as an Enlisted and as an Officer. Being in the military allowed me to attend college and earn both a B.S. and an MBA through the GI Bill. Finally, I worked for many outstanding leaders and worked with colleagues from all parts of our great country that taught me that as long as a man or woman did their job well, behaved honorably, and were loyal little else mattered.

I miss the people I worked with and who worked for me over the years. I miss the important missions we performed. As a 20-year-old ET, I maintained radios that allowed the command post to communicate with our aircraft. As a 28-year-old 2Lt, I pulled B-52 nuclear alert to guard our country against a surprise attack. As an 0-6 I had a large number of intel personnel who performed admirably even when short-handed.

Always do the very best job no matter how trivial it may seem. Always be a friend and help others. You never know when one of your friends at work needs a kind word or helping hand. Get as much education as you can. Maintain a positive attitude and decide where you want to be in 5 years. Then, find out what it will take to reach that goal. Nearly everyone can go far in the Air Force, they just need to acquire the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to reach that goal.

TWS helped me record my memories of my AF time and it is a pleasure to read most of the service reflections of other members. Also, TWS has provided me with phone numbers for 3-4 former friends some of whom I have not spoken to in 35-50 years! This is a free service of TWS and I thank them for their prompt and accurate service.