JFK...AIRFORCE ONE

[beana51]

Master Sgt. Hames was one of five stewards who cleaned and stocked 26000 with food and beverages.

President Kennedy was a "great person for soup. It was a comfort food for him," Master Sgt. Hames said. "President Johnson was kind of different. He told me that any beef prepared aboard Air Force One had to be well done. He didn't care for rare beef the way the group from New England did."

President Nixon "ate fairly light . . . cottage cheese. President Ford ate almost anything, but he was in such a short time."

One flight will forever stand out for those who were aboard: Dallas to Washington, Nov. 22, 1963. ....who can forget that?....Vin

[grizzly (Alex)]

Sleek, like Brylcreem. Oh yes 707's were everything a jet airliner should be.

[sgtmajor]

There's my ride......26000 was AF2 when I was at HMX-1.....27000 was Regan's AF1.

For some reason I always got great satisfaction knowning I came home in the same aircraft as JFK.

BTW...... I can also say I have washed and waxed 26000. (smile) In my early years in the Corps, I also was on Presidential Support (Western) with Nixon and Ford. When Nixon would come to California, we would do "small" jobs. (Usually meant, hauling Air Force Pilots around....handing packages.....Running errands.......helping out the AF1 crew keep 26000 polished up. (Smile)

Cheers,

[beana51]

Ya know Sarge,you had a very unique career. in the USMC,every time you let us know what you were engaged in ,I'm very impressed!..I would think you have a lot of stories to tell..a peek for us into history being made.,from those making it...Some day , and soon,my friend, Put it down..I feel you have a lot to tell us...thanx Sarge!...Vin!!

[Deleted]

Jul 28, 2012 10:32:21 GMT -5 beana51 said:

Ya know Sarge..I feel you have a lot to tell us...thanx Sarge!...Vin!!

And I'll second that

Roger

[sgtmajor]

Jul 28, 2012 14:38:25 GMT -5 rollerball said:

Jul 28, 2012 10:32:21 GMT -5 beana51 said:

Ya know Sarge..I feel you have a lot to tell us...thanx Sarge!...Vin!!

And I'll second that

Thanks fella's.......but trust me........I had a few very interesting assignments, quickly followed by a WHOLE lot of boring stuff. (smile)

I will admit, the Presidential duties were my favorite!! During the Nixon and Ford years not really much of anything to tell about.

Came out of boot camp in Aug. of 1973 being meritoriously promoted to Pfc in Boot Camp. Check into MCAS El Toro in September of 1973 and was screened upon check-in for Presidential Support Duty (West). I was being assigned to a Motor Transport unit (MWHS-3) and I think they were needing drivers to haul support people and cargo around whenever President Nixon came to his home in San Clemente, CA. Anyway....being Mert. promoted to PFC in boot camp is probably what singled me out from the other youngsters checking in that day. (smile)

Of course that didn't last very long, with Pres. Nixon resigning....but it was interesting duty when he came to town. Shortly after Pres. Nixon resigned....Pres. Ford changed his Western White House from California to Colorado, so we were disbanded.

A few years later, chance happened to catch up with me once again. I had reenlisted for an Aviation career about 9 months prior and on this day at Camp Pendleton, CA., I had actually been called in for an interview with a Major in regards to one of my classmates while attending basic Avionics school in Tennessee. He had asked a serious of questions into this Marines character etc., etc., when by chance he had opened my service record and noticed I had a Top Secret White House access clearance.

The interview turned towards me all of a sudden and the next thing I knew I was assigned to the Presidential Helicopter squadron HMX-1 in Quantico, Va. (smile) There I served from March `77 until Summer of `81 during the Carter & Regan years.

So......as you see.....nothing spectacular......just the right place at the right time. Those were great times and many friends and memories made, however, seems so long ago now. The Quantico years were merely a blur.....we were kept very, VERY busy during those times. Of all the places my wife and I lived..... I can remember all our homes (lay-outs etc., ) with the exception of our place in Virginia. I can remember vaguely the front of the house, however, couldn't begin to tell you much about the place.....I seemed never to be home. (smile) When the President wasn't traveling.....I always seemed to be headed to NY or Connecticut to the Sikorsky factory for aircraft inspections etc. (smile). (There always seemed to be at least one......sometimes two Presidential aircraft at the factory for higher echelon maintenance than we provided or being reworked; i.e., repainted new equipment etc.,)

Well.....that about sums up that side of my career, which was probably the most exciting part of my career. The good old days. (smile)

Cheers,

[beana51]

Me thinks your a Modest man,and a gentleman....Reminds me when I met the great "JOE DIMAGGIO' at the "CONCORD RESORT HOTEL"hotel many years ago....one of the most humble of men,with the greatest of story's.and achievements!..I had done a favor for him and his entourage in ,expediting his departure..to get to his plane!.His appreciation exceeded the deed!.I was just doing my job then..Yes..Always he will be "MR. DIMAGGIO!...The GREAT ones are like that!.....WRITE A BOOK SARGE..you tell stories well!....I can assure you Political Junkies,and Historians will love this!. Those were Presidents of The USA in a great and serous time in our history! Oorah....Vin!!...

[sgtmajor]

And......as chance would just happen again. (smile)

Here's a photo that I came across just this week of me on my very first Presidential trips.

Now.....I'll have to explain, as this was part of the HMX-1 inventory at the time.....but not the green and white aircraft typically seen associated with Presidential Service.

The picture was taken in Japan during President Carter's trip to Japan and Korea (1979)

I wasn't yet part of the Executive Flight Branch (White Top Presidential Aircraft).....but was still on the Support side of the house. Our mission was to provide support to the Exec., side by hauling news people....supplies....and a host of other support jobs. Even though I had a TS cleareance during my previous Presidential Support activity....when I arrived at Quantico, further follow-up and back ground checks had to be made to catch everything back up to current time. That always takes a while depending how much you had moved around......and I had moved around a lot. (smile) Anyway....I was still on the maint. side of the house, however, moved over the the Executive Side shortly after returning from this trip.

Anway.....here I am.....a young 25yr old in front of one of the Huey's we took to Japan. If my memory serves me correctly, we were just about ready to start tearing down the aircraft to load on the Airforce C-5 to head for Korea and the second part of President Carter's trip. This was our typical working uniform when on the road.....flight suit and black baseball cap with the Presidential Logo.



Cheers,

[beana51]

Thanks..NICE!. .like I say ,you have a lot to "SHOW and TELL"reflecting a great career serving our country....
Wonder if you still have that unique cap??....I would bet you got a box full of Pics?....Nice to be 25..DO IT?...Cheers Sarge!.....Vin!!

[sgtmajor]

No Vin......that old cap wore out many years ago.....however, I still have a few of the old patches......and yes...... I have boxes and boxes and boxes of old photos and memento's from the good old days.

I should set down sometime and start cataloging some of the photos etc., and/or put them in albums.

My problem....everytime I open up a package of photos.......before I realize it, hours have gone by and I haven't gotten anything accomplished EXCEPT....looking at old photos. (smile)

Cheers,

[beana51]

;D So do we all,God we accumulated TONS of Photos, Like you once I start looking,hours go by.with the standered remark "Where Did The Time Go?"some of my CP oriented kids have started to save them..on disks..But I have neither the Talent,Know How or the Time.for this task!

My Mom ,would keep some pics displayed, she picked those who left the family!..I would kid her,"MOM! whats that? An alter for ancestor worship?..she Poo pooed me,and said" I look at them and they are with me,a alive.and comfort me"...Darn I would say,we really must be Romans and believe in ancestor worship.

On shelves over my desk top,I now have an exhibition of all those who left us..and it seems I'm running out of space...Yes my friend its a nice feeling to gaze on them,and yes,talk to them...makes me feel connected...for some day ,I hope my Kids will do the same...If we are remembered?.we live,once out of sight and mind?...We are gone.....

Thanx for allowing sharing of thoughts with you ..the day was long,tedious,and a bit sad. My two daughters care for their mom. Moms need daughters..for sons cannot do the job they do!My Beautiful Red Headed Bride of 58yrs now,is not too well......Who ever said anything good about the "GOLDEN YEARS" is a liar!..When you have Youth,Good health,a clear mind!..Thats Golden.....No joy in the winter of ones life!....Cheers my friend!..To bad we will never met each other..I'm sure we would have fun!....Vin

I got an old Pic too Sarge ;D,Was 21 here Logan Heights,Ft.bliss Texas! just got assigned to a Basic Training Battalion,BTRY "C" 12th TNG BN (BASIC) AAA RTC 4052nd ASU.. was a DI here for the ,first 8 weeks ,working with new CRUTS!!!was fun,in retrospect!!

[sgtmajor]

What a good looking young man Vin......you Army guys were always better looking and a lot smarter than us Marines. (smile)

Sorry to hear your wife isn't doing well Vin...... I'll keep her and your family in my thoughts and prayers as well.

It is true that "WE" here at TOH haven't met in person.......but then again.....what actually is meeting in person?

All the regulars here have met....shared thoughts....ideas....dreams....and actually the best part of ourselves, without all the other distractions that come with meeting and knowing all of each other and our faults.

My dear friend......I wouldn't trade the friendships I've made here with any of the other friendships I've made face to face. Each of you here have become so much more than "friends"......I'd dare say.....more of border lining on "family."

Each morning as the coffee is brewing, I can't wait to get in here to see what my dear friends at the Hanger are up to. (Smile) I've found one of the more wonderful things here is being on the West Coast and a day behind Bruce. (smile) By the time I rise each morning, everyone else has been up and about for sometime.............and on the flip side.........because I'm somewhat of a night owl...... I can usually get the last word in before retiring each evening. (smile) (I've only been married now for 34 years......so it's rarely I ever get the last word in around here. (smile)).

Yes Vin...... time ticks on quickly.....never slowing down for us or anything......but oh what a great ride it is!!!!! (smile)

All the best my friend!!!
Steve

[beana51]

And with those nice words Sarge,I will say GOOD NIGHT!..I'll reflect on them as I drift off.... Yes my Friend TOH is rich with Nice People..So Rare these days.We will remain forever young here......Regards To ya both!...Vin!!

[sgtmajor]

Thanks Vin....rest easy my friend......tomorrow brings a new day and fresh ideas. (smile)

P.S. Not only that.....tomorrow the wife returns from her 5 wk. trip home to see her father and a nephew's wedding......finally off KP and house cleaning detail......back to the easy life for me. (smile)

Cheers,

[Deleted]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories with us you guys. Vin, I'm so sorry to hear about the missus and I hope so much that she is back to good health soon.

Roger