STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of SSgt Tom Bauman, U.S. Air Force (1966-1970)

I was attending Junior College part-time and working. In October 1965 I received my notice to appear for my pre-induction draft physical. To be honest, in spite of the fact that the Vietnam conflict was going on, I really had not given much thought to the military other than registering for the draft. I was in a fraternity and several of my friends had joined the Marine Reserves. This was just before things heated up and the first group of combat Marines landed in Da Nang. So I went down to sign up. The Marine recruiter told me that they were full up. So I decided to talk with the Navy recruiter. They had a delayed enlistment program. Meaning you could defer going on active duty for up to one year. So I decided to sign up.

In December 1965 I went to Navy Basic Training in San Diego. I was also required to attend weekend drills. After several months I was having second thoughts about serving Active Duty in the Navy. My best friend had joined the Air Force six months prior to my enlisting and liked it. He suggested that I see an Air Force recruiter. I took the AFQT and got 95 percentile across the board. The recruiter said that ALL technical training areas would be open to me. The only rub was that I had to be formally released from the Navy so I could join the Air Force. I got a release and I enlisted in August 1966 and went through Basic Training at Amarillo AFB.

I never intended the military to be a career. However, I had the opportunity to attend the sixteen-week Airframe Repair Specialist course. It was a good fit for me and I was the Outstanding Honor Graduate in my class. I got along well in the service and it built up my self-confidence.

My first permanent duty assignment was with the 479th TAC fighter wing at George AFB. They were training pilots for combat duty in Vietnam. While in the AF I studied and got my level 5 in AFSC 534XX as soon as I could. After that, the promotions came at regular intervals.

I made Staff in my first enlistment while I was still in Vietnam, but wanted to get out and go to college full time. The USAF offered me an $800 re-enlistment bonus. But even back then that didn’t amount to much. When I was discharged I studied engineering and went on to get my Doctorate in education. I retired in 2007 as a College Dean.

I had no direct combat involvement, although my base at Phang Rang in Vietnam came under mortar and rocket attack more than three dozen times during my time there. It’s a bit of a wake-up call when you realize what’s happening. I also spent time at Nha Trang while in Viet Nam. I served under the 35th SOW. I was an enlisted assistant crew leader and worked primarily on both Spooky and Shadow gunships while in Vietnam. I had the opportunity to fly on several missions. It was an amazing experience. I have a lot of respect for the pilots. Those gunships were awesome when they opened up fire. I suppose that’s where the phrase, “Circle of Fire” came from. I also had the opportunity to do some work in a few Huey’s. They were a life saver for our ground troops over there.

I suppose my stateside assignment at George AFB with the 479th TAC fighter wing was my best assignment. I was able to visit home on a regular basis on the weekends given it was only a two-hour drive. I worked on the F-4 Phantom which I thought was a great aircraft. I spent almost 2 1/2 years at George AFB before getting my orders to go overseas in April 1969.

I’m not sure as to my least favorite. The accommodations overseas were not as comfortable as stateside. The weather didn’t really suit me. While stationed at Nha Trang we were able to get off the base from time to time. During my time at Phang Rang, things were more restricted. I got to fly on several missions and rode on a couple of convoys while in country.

I remember the countryside was really quite beautiful. Very green. Lots of water buffalo. However, the base at Phang Rang came under rocket and mortar fire quite often during my time there. The experience was pretty unnerving at times, especially in the early morning. You had no idea where they were going to land. I think the majority were directed at the flight line and aircraft parked there.

I liked the order and discipline the service taught me. Frankly, it wasn’t difficult. Like most things in life, you simply do your best. If you have an issue with authority things might not go too smoothly.

Going to Vietnam was an eye-opening experience. I had no clue what to expect and I had never really traveled anywhere of any significance.

I think it was while I was there that I decided I did not want to re-enlist. My OIC and NCOIC both tried their best to convince me that I should make it a career. I was offered an $800 re-enlistment bonus. That really didn’t serve as much of an incentive to give up another four years. I was anxious to get out and follow my own path.

I was able to go to Sydney, Australia on my R&R while in Vietnam. It was there that I met my future wife. She happened to be a nurse. She came to the states after I was discharged for a visit. We ended up getting married and had three daughters.

I did pretty well right from the start. I was named Outstanding Honor Graduate in Tech School. This amounted to achieving the highest average score in my class while attending Airframe Specialist School. I also was selected as both 14 FMS Squadron Airman of the Month and 831 Air Division Airman of the Month while at George AFB in 1968. This was a competitive award where I had to go before a board of senior NCO’s and answer a number of questions concerning the Air Force in general.

Afterwards, there was a big luncheon in my honor with members of the business community attending. I also was interviewed on the radio at the Roy Rogers Inn in Apple Valley.

Finally, I was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal (AFCM), for my Vietnam service from July 1969 to August 1970. I feel good about all of this. It helped set the tone for my future success in civilian life. I was notified of the award after I was discharged. There was a presentation ceremony at a local American Legion post.

Probably being awarded the AFCM for my service in Vietnam as a Phase Dock Crew Leader. I realize that the Vietnam War wasn’t popular, however, I felt I had a moral responsibility to support our mission over there. I worked with some great guys. I also was able to develop some leadership skills which would serve me well later in life. At the time I had some mixed feelings about the conflict.

In retrospect, I have come to realize that most of us that served did so honorably. In 2012 my brother and I flew to Washington DC to visit the Vietnam Memorial. I was able to play my bagpipes there for my brothers and sisters.

You can see it on YOUTUBE “Bagpipes at the Vietnam Memorial”. It was a very healing and touching experience for me.

There were two individuals. Both were NCO’s. First, SMSgt Petrungaro my NCOIC at George AFB. He always encouraged me to do my best.

Second, MSgt Houk my senior NCO while I was stationed at Phang Rang. He had a great sense of humor and fairness about him.

Overall I found that I could learn something from most of the individuals I encountered. I met people from all walks of life and every region of the United States. That made it an interesting experience for me.

I turned twenty-one while I was in tech school at Amarillo AFB. My mom had made me a birthday cake and it was to be delivered to me along with a bottle of wine. She had written me ahead of time to let me know it was on the way. The 1st Sgt evidently got hold of both and I never saw either the cake or the bottle of wine. I hope he enjoyed them. At the time I wasn’t too happy about it. Looking back I understand it.

I went back to college to become a Metallurgical Engineer and eventually I went on to get my Doctorate degree in education. I had a very successful career in both industry and education. I gained a lot of recognition and actually wrote several articles that were published in professional journals. I worked in a number of management positions with major companies in different sectors including energy, defense, and manufacturing. In fact, my final assignment in the industry was with Northrop on the B-2 Stealth bomber program.

I left the industry in 1990 to go into the field of education. I worked both as an Instructor and Administrator at the college level. I taught courses in mathematics, physics and physical metallurgy. In my final position, I oversaw educational programs in a dozen different technical fields. I retired as a College Dean in 2007.

Now have an ocean view home in Mexico where I live. I spend most of my time traveling. I recently visited Thailand, Cambodia along with both North and South Vietnam. I do a lot of volunteer work and I’m involved in building homes for the poor in Mexico with an organization called Baja Bound.

I belong to the Vietnam Veterans of America, VFW, and AC 119 Shadow Gunship Association. I attend functions from time to time when I’m in the states. There is a real sense of comradeship and patriotism in each of these organizations. Veterans can find a lot of support from one another in all these Associations.

They do a lot to reach out to the community like giving out scholarships to deserving students. Celebrating special events like Memorial Day. Having breakfasts, dinner dances and other social events. I think all veterans can benefit from joining and supporting them. They also serve as an effective lobbying group in Washington in representing veteran causes.

I gained confidence and discipline that enabled me to achieve all the goals I set for myself in civilian life. It was time well spent. I have no regrets. It’s been a great journey. I feel that all young people could gain something positive from the time spent in the service of their country.

I strongly recommend it as a potential career path for individuals who may not be inclined to go onto college after they finish high school. It certainly beats working at minimum wage jobs in my opinion. In fact, I took my grandson to meet with an Air Force recruiter after he graduated from high school. He had asked me about my time in the service. I told him it was a good way to get out on his own and decide what he wants to do with his life.

My advice is straight and simple. Do your job and stay out of trouble. In the long run, you will benefit from doing what is right. Serving in the military is both challenging and a privilege. Make the best of it. It will help you mature and build your character. There are lots of opportunities, training, and benefits available to members of the military today. I strongly recommend that young people give it serious consideration.

In retrospect, it proved to be a time of significant personal growth for me. I only served one four year enlistment and that ended back in 1970 so I’ve lost touch with all the friends I had back then. Perhaps being on TWS will get me back in touch with some of them.