Take Me To Post Comment Form The air show is coming to the Midcoast Regional Airport on flag day, June 14th. The F15 West Coast demonstration team will be performing. They are the same as the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels, and are based out of Eglin Air Force Base located in Florida.
Many people have wondered about my veterans status and contributions to the armed forces of the United States of America. Thirty years ago I left Eglin Air Force Base TDY to Andrews Air Force Base, the home of Air Force One. I became the 3rd American Citizen given a tour of SAM 26,000, which was the airplane that brought John F. Kennedy from Dallas and President Richard M. Nixon flew to China.
The journey to this high honor began at Mac Dill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. I arrived there as an Airman Basic with VIP status under the personal direction of President Richard M. Nixon, in the spring of 1974. In 1976 the United States Air Force was in crisis mode due to the mass exodus and other issues, after the Vietnam War.
I worked in phase maintenance at hangar 5, where we performed periodical maintenance on the F4 Phantoms, C, D, E, RF fighter aircrafts. I was a lone shining star having establish USAF record 0.5 write-ups per quality control inspection of my work on engine bays for one quarter year, on 25 aircrafts or more. During that time period the mission completion rate for the 56 TFW had fallen to 68%.
I attended a wing staff meeting to give a detailed assessment on how to turn things around. The complexity of simplicity had the command staff saying “Whoa", at the suggestion of the flight commander of the Royal British Air Force, with the unanimous support of the wing commander and command staff. They designated an E-3 airman first class as the final authority for the four squadrons of over 80 F-4’s of the 56TFW.
The second quarter of 1976, the 56 TFW went from a 68% to 92% mission completion rate. Aviators from all over the nations came to Mac Dill for missions to save their flight status. We saved the careers of over 100 aviators. I trained air force prodigies on the Phase Two total maintenance concept.
Within one year the seven prodigies, the oldest was a 24 year old Tech Sgt. established a global training, trouble shooting team and visited over thirty bases. Over 150 officers from the Air Force Academy, “Class of 1976, were interview for three leadership position with Phase Two. Everyone was offered a generous financial compensation package under the government cost savings program. They were offered a million dollars each and I was offered 5 million dollars. I advised them to take the money, but, as a matter of honor I would decline. In Alaska we established an elite twenty man unit of aircraft maintenance specialists. Each man had at least a five level in three different career fields. The real test came at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida where our A team and B team shattered “ -4 min and broke -2 min the air force combat turn around records. The results were placed in file 13, because it gave the United States a tactical advantage over the Soviet Union
The long story short, is at Andrews Air Force Base. I declined to report to the legal office to sign a financial compensation package over $10,000,000.00. I would be the richest black man in America at that time.
There are issues that try men souls. It was a matter of honor for me.
I grew up in a strong veteran’s community in Buffalo, New York, and visited my first VA Hospital at the age of ten. I grew up watching the Vietnam War on television. I started arm forces recruitment program at Burgard Vocational High School in 1969. I joined the United States Air Force to serve my country with a joyful heart and that was enough for me. I had no desire as a man in uniform, to separate myself from the men and women, past and present who have served their nation in war time and peace. The fallen, POW,s MIA and veterans.
My private tour of Sam 26,000 was bittersweet. Over 900 people have volunteer because of my story of patriotism. I was told that President Jimmy Carter would not publicly acknowledge my contributions to the Department of Defense, at his 1978 State of the Union Address. Political types decided that I was to young and idealistic. President Jimmy Carter sent me this message. Throughout the history of mankind, great changes have been brought about by the efforts of the few and not the many. When I am just a footnote in history, the people of the world will sing your praises for your service to our nation. That is how history works and you will be remembered.
When you enjoy the air show this weekend; remember the people, the crew chiefs and maintenance and support personnel that keep our aircrafts flying.
We should all thank the people responsible for bringing the air show to Liberty County, Georgia. A Salute the troops and their families for their service and sacrifice to our nation.
TED HARRIS
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