PRESERVING A MILITARY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The following Reflection represents A1C Joseph Jr. Carvalko’s legacy of their military service from 1959 to 1964. If you are a Veteran, consider preserving a record of your own military service, including your memories and photographs, on Togetherweserved.com (TWS), the leading archive of living military history. The Service Reflections is an easy-to-complete self-interview, located on your TWS Military Service Page, which enables you to remember key people and events from your military service and the impact they made on your life.
Of all the medals, awards, formal presentations, and qualification badges you received, which one(s) are the most meaningful to you and why?:
Post Cuban Crisis, October 1963, I was honored as Outstanding Airman of the 818th Strategic Aerospace Division Lincoln, AFB. I had three consecutive monthly wing recognitions while serving in the 307th Bomb Wing, Medium, SAC, Armament, and Electronics Squadron. Now, from a pool of 6,000, I, amongst five others, was nominated for the Award that included two bomb wings and a missile wing. I took home the honor, partly due to my role in the critical launch of the final B-47 Bomber during the Cuban crisis.
The Award led to my receiving the Military Achievement Award from American Legion Post 2, the largest post in the country, and a commendation from Lincoln, Nebraska’s Mayor Bartlett. Governor Morrison conferred on me an Honorary Admiral of the Nebraska Navy. My wife also received remembrance gifts, and together, we appeared on the local Joe Franklin show; thereafter, I represented Lincoln Airbase in the Veterans Day parade.
Before President Kennedy addressed the nation about the Soviet arms build-up in Cuba on October 22, 1962, we airmen had heard the horns and took up our assignments as we had on other readiness base alerts. Typically, the armed bombers would roll out from the pad only to return to their starting point. But not in this instance. Now, I stood transfixed, witnessing an awe-inspiring orchestration of raw power and precision that unfolded before me like a choreographed dance of destruction, unlike anything I had ever seen before. Fifty silvered B-47s, engines revving, lights flashing, turned onto the 8,000-foot runway and, in fifteen-second intervals, thundered down the runway at over 125 knots, then lifted off, followed by the pilot igniting the JTOs, which changed the trajectory, catapulting these deadly titans into a clear sky, unleashing a potential that could end earthly life.
One B-47 remained grounded, and a potential mission aborted. I was assigned to fix the issue. Its bomb had already been uploaded, so it was surrounded by guards, locked and loaded. Tool bag in hand, an hour passed before I diagnosed a problem with the 20mm cannons, not the radar. After several hours, I fixed the problem. The crew boarded, the plane was cleared for takeoff, and, like its sisters, rocketed down the runway, disappearing into the Nebraska sky.
The once bustling flightline was now quiet. The mission was complete, but the threat remained—SAC headquarters, a likely Soviet target, was sixty miles away. That night, armed with an M-16, I stood guard over an empty lot, one once bustling with airmen and machines. Now, the only sound was the chirping of crickets, the potential inheritors of this place, should the bombs fall.
What I did that mid-fall day was quite small in comparison to the sacrifices that were being made by thousands of GIs at a moment when the sanctity of the free world was threatened. Over time, I came to understand that the accolade bestowed upon me was not singularly mine. It was a recognition extended to every man and woman in uniform who answered the call. Their bravery and sacrifice echoed in the silent weight of the Award in my hands – a thank you to the unsung who, unyielding, saved the nation.
Read the Military Memories of our Runner-Ups.
PRESERVE YOUR OWN SERVICE MEMORIES!
Boot Camp, Units, Combat Operations
Join Togetherweserved.com to Create a Legacy of Your Service
U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard
SHARE:
For Joseph Jr. Carvalko : Thanks for sharing. Lincoln AFB was my first duty station following boot camp and Air Police school in 1958. I well remember the hot dry July winds coming off the plains and the serious cold conditions of a Nebraska winter. Being Wisconsin raised, no big deal and the A.F. issued arctic gear was great. One major event during my time at Lincoln was when we were on alert status for a world crisis, working 12 on 12 off, duffel bags packed and subject to a one hour recall. We had done a couple practice runs where 6 x 6s picked us up at our barracks, took us to the armory to check out weapons and then to a aircraft where we loaded up. However for this event further steps were taken : this time the doors were closed and engines were started. We started taxiing and could see 47s and support aircraft moving toward the runway. The chatter died down and the aircraft commander came over the PA system advising us he had been authorized to open his orders and our destination was and RAF base in England. Shortly after we could see aircraft not in a take off roll, but taxiing down the runway and back to their parking spots. The alert was over. Following Lincoln I did a 18 month tour at Anderson, AFB, Guam and then completed my enlistment at Offutt AFB, NE. where I served on the Strategic Air Command Drill Team.