STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of SSGT Michael Bridge, U.S. Air Force (1986-1995)

Growing up I had always wanted to join the Navy. I love ships and pretty much had my heart set on the Navy after High School. During High School, I ended up getting involved in some things that started me down a path that would have ended poorly for me if I continued on it. I knew that I needed to get away from the things I was involved in and get my act together.

During my senior year, I went down to the recruiting office and spoke with the Navy recruiter. He ended up really being just a total jerk who only wanted to meet his quota and didn’t offer me anything at all. I was very frustrated with this and felt that if he represented the Navy, I didn’t want anything to do with it. I spoke with my father about it and he recommended that I speak with the Air Force recruiter.

My dad had been in the Maryland Air Guard back in the late ’50s and early ’60s and had positive memories and experiences there. I went down to the Air Force recruiting office and sat down with the recruiter, SSgt Greg Evans. I told him what happened with the Navy and what I was looking for. He worked with me and showed me what the Air Force could offer me and I was very happy. I ended up going into the Delayed Enlistment Program in January of 1986 and then left for Basic Training on July 23, 1986.

I arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and was assigned to the 3701 BMTS for basic training. I ended up being the “house mouse” in basic and worked in the flight office doing administrative tasks for the TI. I actually enjoyed basic training and really loved the confidence course.

I went into the Air Force with an “open admin” slot. During basic training, I sat with the career counselor and looked over the jobs that were available to me at the time I was scheduled to graduate from basic training. I chose Morse Systems Operator as my first choice because it sounded the most interesting of all the jobs. I took the basic Morse Code test and scored well on it. I also started the process for my Special Background Investigation to be able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance. I found out shortly afterward that I had been selected for the Morse Systems Operator Course. I graduated basic training and was sent off for Tech school.

I went to Tech school at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. I had the privilege of being in the last class of Morse Systems Operators at Keesler. The school had been moved to Fort Devens, Massachusetts and my group was the final class at Keesler. The school lasted for 6 months and was pretty tough. More than half of my class washed out and ended up being assigned to other jobs or schools. I did well in the course and ended up being the Honor Graduate. While in school, I completed my dream sheet and picked Japan as my first choice for an overseas assignment. I was lucky and received orders for Misawa Air Base, Japan and went there after my leave at home.

I arrived in Misawa, Japan in March of 1987. I was assigned to the 6920th Electronic Security Group on Charlie Flight and stayed there until August of 1990.

During my assignment in Misawa, I performed very well during training and out in the field and as a result, ended up becoming the primary trainer for new Morse Operators on Charlie Flight. I certified as an Operator in all three Blocks and in every sub-element. I also served on our flight Fire Brigade as the Chief. (our compound was secure and the base FD was not permitted inside so we had to be trained to handle any situation ourselves) I became very active in my units Sponsor program. I was lucky to have a good sponsor when I arrived and wanted to help others make an easy transition to Japan and to our unit. I was promoted to SrA Below the Zone and the promoted to Buck Sergeant. After being promoted to Sgt, I ended up being trained as a Block Controller (section head) for all three Blocks in our area. I was the only Buck Sgt who had been certified in those positions during my time there. The mission at the 6920th was very good and I really enjoyed work and my free time in Japan. In the early part of Summer in 1990, I received my orders for Fort Meade, Maryland.

I arrived at Fort Meade, Maryland in September of 1990. I was assigned to the 6940th Electronic Security Wing and further assigned to ARF at the National Security Agency. This was a joint service unit and we had people from every branch working together on our operations floor. During Operation Desert Storm, I was selected to supervisor and manage a special intelligence section tasked with providing potential strike data to Air Force commanders in the Gulf. I was proud to be able to contribute towards our victory in the Gulf and was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal for operating that section.

Shortly after Desert Storm, I was promoted to Staff Sergeant. After my promotion, I ended up managing a large section of Morse Operators on our Flight. This section included Air Force people, several Army people, two Navy people, and one Marine. I had to write the performance reports, approve leave, recommend disciplinary action when necessary, and write decoration recommendations for all of these people. I was glad that I had the chance to supervise a couple of people as a Buck Sgt because I ended up supervision 12 people as an SSgt.

Towards the end of my assignment at Fort Meade, I was sent TDY to the DIA at the DOD POW/MIA Central Documentation Office in Clarendon, Virginia. I helped to declassify two million linear feet of documents related to Americans still missing from the Vietnam War. This assignment was very important and personal to me. I wore the POW/MIA bracelet for CMSgt Calvin Glover and was able to declassify his loss report. This assignment was supposed to be for 90 days but towards the end of that time, LTC Matthews asked me to stay for an additional 90 days and I agreed. Early in 1992, I received my orders for South Korea.

I arrived in South Korea in late September of 1992. I was assigned to the 6903rd Electronic Security Group on Osan Air Base. In Korea, we worked side-by-side with the Korean Army soldiers and I made many friends there. Things there were a bit hectic during the exercises but I was able to go tour Panmunjom and Inchon. I love military history so I really enjoyed getting to visit these locations. I served as a Morse Systems Operator and a Morse Systems Supervisor during my tour with the 6903rd. We had a good mission there and work was usually exciting.

About halfway through my assignment in Korea, I had a routine physical that discovered some potentially serious problems. I had multiple tests and procedures done to try and determine what was going on. At first, it looked like I had Leukemia and that was what they were preparing to treat. I was sent to Okinawa for a bone marrow biopsy that showed no Leukemia but did figure out what I had. I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. I was put through a couple of treatment regimens while in Korea and none proved effective. In March of 1993, I was sent to Okinawa again and ended up having a splenectomy. This treatment should have fixed things but ended up not being effective either. The Physician in Korea decided to transfer me to David Grant Medical Center in California for further treatment.

In July of 1993, I was transferred to David Grant Medical Center on Travis Air Force Base in California. I was a patient in the oncology ward at the hospital and ended up working on the ward to help the other patients. I worked as a ward clerk for a couple of months and then was transferred to be a Dormitory Manager on base. I went through some additional treatment options during this time that did not prove effective. In late 1993, I was sent to Texas to see the Medical Evaluation Board to determine my future.

I went to Lackland Air Force Base in December of 1993 to see the Medical Evaluation Board. Since I was still undergoing treatment at the time, the board ruled that I should be placed on the Temporary Disabled Retired List pending the outcome of my treatment.

After being placed on the TDRL, I moved from California to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. I worked on base as a security guard while continuing my treatment. After a year of treatment, my ITP finally was considered to be in remission. (at this time, it cannot be cured)

In the fall of 1995, I received the word from the Medical Evaluation Section and they recommended that I be permanently retired. I appealed this decision and went in front of the Medical Evaluation Board a second time. The board again ruled that I should be placed on permanent retirement. I appealed this decision a final time to the Secretary of the Air Force and she agreed with the Board decision. In December of 1995, I was retired from the Air Force because of permanent, physical disability.

I loved all of my time in the Air Force and would not trade it for anything. I wish I could have stayed in but that was not meant to be.

I did not participate directly in any combat operations but supervised a special duty section that provides direct support to air operations during Operation Desert Storm. I ended up receiving my Joint Service Achievement Medal for supervising this section.

Working for the DIA at the DOD POW/MIA Central Documentation Office was my favorite assignment. I volunteered to do a 90-day TDY for this assignment and after my 90-days were up, Lt. Colonel Matthews asked me to stay for another 90 days.

I have always been interested in our missing men from the Vietnam War and wore the POW bracelet for CMSgt Calvin Glover for many years. The work was very emotionally rewarding to me since I was able to declassify the loss report and other documentation related to CMSgt Glover and the other members of his aircrew.

We worked in this office to declassify and redact over 2 million linear feet of documents related to our POW’s in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. All of these documents were reviewed by the Senate Committee for POW/MIA Affairs and then released to the Library of Congress.

I am incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of that effort.

The memorial dedication parade I participated in while stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The 6920th dedicated several buildings to honor airmen who were killed in action during the Vietnam War.

The most emotional part of the ceremony was the missing man formation flyover while taps were being played at the end.

Probably my Joint Service Commendation Medal. It was awarded for my service at Fort Meade, Maryland and also for service with the DIA at the DOD POW/MIA Central Documentation Office. The work I did at Fort Meade and with the DIA was very rewarding, emotional, and meaningful to me personally.

Probably Msgt Mike Huskins (ret) who I served with in both Japan and Maryland. Mike was a great, fun guy to work with and also to go out and hit the town with. He was always motivated and positive and helped keep everyone around him motivated as well.

The best officer I ever served with was Major Paul Gifford when I was stationed in Japan. He was a former enlisted man who had gone to OCS. He used to come around the operations center at all different times of the day and night just to visit with all of us. He so impressed me that I had him re-enlist me the first time. When we did the ceremony I was very surprised that he read all the words from memory. The other times I swore my enlistment oath the officer read them from a paper.

When I was stationed in Japan, we had a section supervisor who was nicknamed “potato head”. One year at the group Halloween party, my friend Jeff came dressed up with a gigantic baked potato on his head. When he came into the party I laughed so hard that I had tears in my eyes.

Thinking about it still makes me laugh!

I have suffered some health problems and was medically retired due to physical disability in 1995. After going through all the medical treatments and such that I did, it got me very interested in the medical field.

After being retired, I went to school and became a paramedic. I have been in that field for almost 15 years now and really enjoy it.

Being a paramedic is an extremely rewarding job because it is one of the few jobs that give you the opportunity to make a difference every day! At the company I work for, I have worked my way through the ranks as a shift paramedic, crew chief (Lt), Operations Supervisor (Captain), and now Director of Operations.(Major).

Just Together We Served at this time but I was able to reconnect with a friend from Korea and that is a great benefit. I have also made some new friends here and hope to make many more.

Serving in the Air Force taught me that I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to. I learned to put 100% into everything that I do and it has allowed me to succeed in everything I have attempted. I am motivated and never quit.

I also never take anything for granted and make the best of every day I have.

Keep making the best of all the things the Air Force gives you. You will get out of it what you put in so give it your all. You will learn so many skills and other things that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

It is giving me a connection to things that I thought were only memories. It has also allowed me to reconnect with a friend I served with in Korea and I hope it will allow me to connect with other friends and also make new friends.