Sgt Jeff Welch, U.S. Air Force (1986-1990)

After Tech School, I went to Beale AFB to work on the SR-71 Blackbird. My first day at Beale, the Deputy Base Commander was speaking at a newcomers’ briefing and asked if anyone liked to sing. I raised my hand. He “ordered” me to come the following week to the “all ranks” choir practice. I showed up, and while singing, I spotted a beautiful 2nd Lieutenant, Sandee, on the other side of the choir. She came over to welcome me to the choir at the end. Over the next months, we talked after each practice. In the spring, we had a cookout for the choir, where I spent most of the time talking to her (we were not in uniform like we were at practices or events). We were together so much that day that the Base Commander (invited by his deputy) mistook us as “a couple.” Nobody there wanted to tell him that I was enlisted; he thought I was an officer. After that, I asked her out… “I mean, why not?” I said, “The Base Commander already thinks we are dating!” 😊Very reluctantly, due to strict fraternization rules back then, she agreed we could meet at her apartment (off base) to talk more freely. I left the next morning as a contestant with my quartet, working our way up to the Air Force Worldwide Talent contest and trying out for the Air Force’s Tops In Blue entertainment showcase. We won 1^st Place Vocal Group, and I was also selected to go on the 1987 tour of Tops In Blue!

While on tour, she told me she could not risk getting caught, so she ended it before I came home. I sent her flowers at Christmas (still not back from the tour), just to let her know I was thinking about her. In February of ’88, she called me; the flowers worked! In July 1988, we tied the knot. She had to face the Wing Commander when she reported that she had married an enlisted man. The Commander told her, “At least you got a good one!” He knew me because I was selected for the prestigious Tops In Blue tour. He had one command… “Do NOT be seen anywhere together in uniform.” When the Base Commander got word, he ran into me one day and said, “I knew you both were seeing each other!” I told him, “Actually, not before you suggested it! Thank you, sir!” He laughed. I soon got orders to PCS to the other side of the world. I turned them down, which sealed my fate to get out at the end of my term. Sandee was worth it all! We have been married for 37 years, have 2 wonderful kids, and 3 grandchildren! Thank you, USAF! After exiting the service, the then-retired Wing Commander who had given me those orders became my flight instructor at the Aero Club. We had a very friendly relationship. 

Read the Military Memories of our Runner-Ups.