MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. -- This will be my fifth article honoring the Desert Storm Call-Up folks, and the second of ten articles honoring the 169th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS). I have received some other information from Don McManus about key maintenance personnel assigned to the 169th Maintenance Squadron. It is a much expanded listing of top personnel, and it is as follows:
Deputy Commander for Maintenance: Lt. Col. Edwin W. Fisher
Commander: Maj. Charles E. Savage
First Sergeant: Chief Master Sgt. Jerry C. Couch
Organizational Maintenance: Maj. Russell A. Rushe, OIC and Chief Master Sgt. John T. Bowie, NCOIC
Administration Branch: Maj. John V. Harsey, OIC and Senior Master Samuel H. Ezzell, NCOIC
Munitions Branch: Capt. David S. Cregger, OIC and Chief Master Sgt. Thomas A. Marshall, NCOIC
Field Maintenance: 1st Lt. Leroy Williams, OIC and Chief Master Sgt. Leo A. Chapmon, NCOIC
Avionics Maintenance: Chief Master Sgt. Joseph F. Kopak, NCOIC
Plans & Scheduling: Senior Master Sgt. Robert E. Berry, NCOIC
Quality Control: Chief Master Sgt. William D. Cliett, NCOIC (Note: I don’t have him deploying.)
Management Analysis: Master Sgt. Charles E. Couch, NCOIC
Programs & Mobility: Master Sgt. Jackie P. Lemacks, NCOIC
Training Management: Master Sgt. Corel C. Sweat, NCOIC
In addition to the above, we are including the Flight and Lead Crew Chiefs:
A Flight: Senior Master Sgt. Vitalis G. Viavoda
Aircraft 288: Staff Sgt. James R. Long
Aircraft 290: Tech. Sgt. Roger Pat Miller
Aircraft 291: Tech. Sgt. Danny Ward
Aircraft 292: Tech. Sgt. William B. Mustard
Aircraft 293: Master Sgt. Charles E. Dickson
Aircraft 294: Tech. Sgt. Wallace Barry Ward
Aircraft 295: Tech. Sgt. William H. Dimsdale, Jr.
Aircraft 532: Staff Sgt. Kenneth E. Fowler
B Flight: Senior Master Sgt. Eugene Tucker
Aircraft 296: Tech. Sgt. Michael D. Brazell
Aircraft 297: Master Sgt. James P. Christopher, Jr.
Aircraft 299: Master Sgt. Albert L. Maw
Aircraft 302: Tech. Sgt. Albert L. Atkins
Aircraft 304: Master Sgt. Frederick S. Deshong
Aircraft 305: Tech. Sgt. Dennis D. Burton
Aircraft 306: Tech. Sgt. Hattie R. Monson
Aircraft 308: Staff Sgt. Claude A. Shealy, Jr.
Aircraft 312: Tech. Sgt. James A. Taylor
Aircraft 314: Tech. Sgt. William D. Delevan, Jr.
C Flight: Master Sgt. Julian C. Tanner
Aircraft 317: Tech. Sgt. Steven L. Tanner
Aircraft 319: Tech. Sgt. William L. Allen
Aircraft 320: Tech. Sgt. James D. Turner
Aircraft 321: Master Sgt. Archie S. Thorpe, Jr.
Aircraft 322: Tech. Sgt. Gerard C. McKervey
Aircraft 325: Tech. Sgt. Phillip H. Chandler
This is an extensive list of people who all had lead roles during this deployment. Since I wasn’t part of the 169FW, I am relying on printed material shared with me. Perhaps there were some minor changes made due to many circumstances that only the lead people could make.
I want to relay a quick story shared to me by John Harvin who was in Maintenance Control at that time. But first I would be remiss not to mention the technicians who didn’t deploy and how they helped out tremendously with supply items, parts, and expertise daily to the deployed people. They were invaluable! John’s story relates there was a lack of halon bottles for the wing tanks in theater and it was getting to be a crisis. These are 250 pound bottles that the pilots initiate the halon into their fuel tanks to reduce any fire hazards, if hit. Many orders were submitted and finally there was a single MAC flight from Charleston bringing all the halon orders at one time to the 169th CAMS. CENTAF quickly recognized that the 169FW had just about all the halon supply in theater. I am not sure how the halon supplies were re-distributed, if they were at all. The supply people were going nuts about getting such a huge supply of halon bottles. But as always things worked out.
For this article we are honoring another 46 men and women who were deployed for the Desert Storm operation. The article will have their rank at the time of deployment, and if known their rank at the time of their retirement, and any other known information about them. The 46 folks are as follows:
-Tech. Sgt. Raymond F. Brown retired in 1999 as a Senior Master Sgt. As far as we know he is still living.
-Staff Sgt. Johnathan E. Brumble was discharged in 1995.
-Tech. Sgt. Roger C. Brundage retired in 1997 as a Master Sgt. He passed away in 1998 and his name is on our Monument.
-Staff Sgt. Jack V. Brunnemer transferred to the U.S Air Force Reserves after returning from Desert Storm.
-Staff Sgt. Joseph A. Brunson retired in 2013 as a Chief Master Sgt. He is still living.
-Staff Sgt. Harvey L. Bryant retired in 2001 as a Master Sgt. At this time we do not know if he is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. Ronald S. Bryant retired in 2011 as a Chief Master Sgt. He is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. Thomas L. Bryant retired in 2005 as a Chief Master Sgt. He is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. Thomas F. Bulman retired in 2003 as a Master Sgt. His claim to fame is he was my roommate on the “Love Boat” in Bahrain. He and I and two other guys got to go out and visit the USS Missouri. That was a treat. I believe he was from Up Country. At this time I have no idea if he is still living.
-Sgt. Britt M. Burbury was discharged in 1995.
-Tech. Sgt. Wallace D. Burrows retired in 2002 as a Senior Master Sgt. As far as we know he is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. Dennis D. Burton retired in 2016 as a Chief Master Sgt. He is still living. During Desert Storm he was Lead Crew Chief for Aircraft #305.
-Amn. Cynthia T. Calhoun transferred to the MDANG in 1994.
-Tech. Sgt. Richard J. Callihan retired in 2011 as a Senior Master Sgt. As far as we know he is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. Johnny M. Campbell retired in 2004 as a Master Sgt. At this time we have no idea if he is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. William Leroy (Roy) Campbell served from 1985-1993. He did not retire and died in Darlington in 2015. His name is on our Monument. Probably at that time we didn’t have enough information on him.
-Sgt. Percy R. Cantey transferred in 1993 to the Air Force Personnel Center. He may have re-enlisted in 1999. I don’t see him subsequently retiring.
-Staff Sgt. Bryant V. Capers retired in 2002 as a Tech. Sgt. At this time we have no idea if he is living.
-Tech. Sgt. Patrick K. Carr retired in 2001 as a Master Sgt. He is still living.
-Staff Sgt. Stephen E. Carroll retired in 1999 as a Master Sgt. We think he is still living.
-Sgt. Eleazer R. Carter was discharged in 1992.
-Tech. Sgt. Marion H. Carter, Jr., retired in 1998 as a Master Sgt. He worked in Munitions. I used to see him at the golf course playing golf with Bob Smart and David Roach.
-Sgt. Ronnie D. Carter retired in 2006 as a Tech. Sgt. We have no idea if he is still living. Tech. Sgt. Ualla R. Carter retired in 1994 as a Master Sgt. She is still living. I see her around town sometimes.
-Staff Sgt. James C. Caulder retired in 2000 as a Tech. Sgt. At this time we have no idea if he is still living.
-Staff Sgt. Arthur L. Cavanaugh retired in 2009 as a Master Sgt. He is still living and has been a faithful member of the “Lunch Bunch”.
-Tech. Sgt. Phillip H. Chandler retired in 1997 as a Tech. Sgt. As far as we know he is still living. He was the Lead Crew Chief on Aircraft #325 during Desert Storm.
-Sgt. Rodney O. Chaplin. At this time I have nothing on him. I need to do more research.
-Chief Master Sgt. Leo A. Chapmon was an active member when he died suddenly in 1993 from a heart attack. I made him a retiree and his name is on our Monument.
-Sgt. Richard J. Chivers. In 1991 he transferred to the SC Army National Guard.
-Master Sgt. James P. Christopher, Jr. retired in 2003 as a Senior Master Sgt. At this time we have no idea if he is still living. During Desert Storm he was the Lead Crew Chief for Aircraft #297.
-Airman 1st Class Willis M. Clarkson, III retired in 2005 as a Tech. Sgt. At this time we have no idea if he is still living.
-Airman 1st Class Sarah E. Claytor. In 1992 she was discharged. When Sarah first came in the Air Guard she was assigned to the 240th as a Radio Operator. And then she transferred to the 169th.
-Staff Sgt. William Tommy Claytor was discharged in 2013 I believe as a Senior Master Sgt. He is still living. I see him around LR occasionally.
-Staff Sgt. Mark E. Cloer retired in 2000 as a Tech. Sgt. At this time we have no other information on him.
-Tech. Sgt. Lanny W. Cobb retired in 2019 as a Chief Master Sgt. He is still living.
-Tech. Sgt. Randy S. Coleman retired in 2009 as a Chief Master Sgt. and is still living. I talk to both he and his wife at times via email. They live in the Ft. Motte area and I believe he is the Fire Chief there.
-Tech. Sgt. Dexter R. Collins retired in 1995 as a Tech. Sgt. At this time we have no other information on him.
-Senior Master Sgt. Warren C. Connor retired in 2004 as a Chief Master Sgt. He was also the 8th State Command Chief. He is still living.
-Staff Sgt. Alan R. Cooper was discharged in 1991.
-Tech. Sgt. Daniel R. Corley retired in 2003 as a Master Sgt. At this time we have no other information on him.
-Sgt. Phillip K. Corley was discharged in 2001.
-Staff Sgt. Stephen H. Corley retired in 2005 as a Senior Master Sgt. and First Sergeant, one of our old Lunch buddies.
-Master Sgt. Charles E. Couch retired in 1996 as a Master Sgt. During Desert Storm he was NCOIC of Management Analysis. He is still living.
-Chief Master Sgt. Jerry C. Couch retired in 1993. During Desert Storm he was the First Sergeant of the 169th. He is still living.
-Staff Sgt. Sandra M. Cowan was discharged in 1994.
Statistics for this month 33 of the 46 honored deployed folks retired from SCANG. The breakdown on rank at their retirement are nine Chief Master Sgts., six Senior Master Sgts., 11 Master Sgts., and seven Tech. Sgts. This means for this month 72 percent of the folks honored retired from SCANG. The rolling total of 239 folks honored, 169 of them retired or some are still serving, which is almost 71 percent. By rank the overall breakdown is Two Maj. Gens., four Brig. Gens., 13 Cols., 12 Lt. Cols., six Majs., 28 Chief Master Sgts., 19 Senior Master Sgts., 58 Master Sgts., 22 Tech. Sgts., four Staff Sgts., and one Senior Airman, which accounts for the 169 Retirees.
Next month we plan to honor 47 more deployed folks and provide any other pertinent information about them.
Other deployments or significant things that happened during the month of March:
Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 – Qatar – deployed approximately 400 folks at that time.
The 240th Combat Communications Squadron was stood down on March 31, 2008.
1947 – First fighter aircraft assigned to SCANG (P-51F Mustang)
1979 – First ANG unit to fly night close air support missions while deployed in Panama. There is a picture on Page 155, 40th Anniversary Book, showing Maj. George Inabinet getting ready to fly the first night mission.
1981 – First Mother/Son combination (Tech Sgt. Sue Joyner and son Mike)
1983 – First SCANG pilot to fly the F-16 (2nd Lt. Jody Weston) while in flight training.