Glenn Toothman

Places lived early on The places I can remember living, as a 'beggar brat' in the USAF, were:

Waco, TX (Gray Army Airfield), Washington D.C.(,Anacosta AFB)Tucson, AZ, (Davis Monthan AFB) Holliman AFB NM, and Randolph AFB, TX.

Teen Years I was fortunate enough to be at one place from the 6th grade through my graduation from High School. We moved back to Falls City prior to my 6th grade education, and I became one of the Fighting Beavers from that point on. One unique characteristic of the Falls City School System was that,even though it was a Public School, we had Nuns teaching there, and feel I got a good education. Now one must consider the size of this school, we had the largest graduation class of the school system, we graduated 25 students, 12 boys and 13 girls.

Early Military In the summer of 1965 I enlisted in the U.S. Army, I was told I was part of the top 10% and qualified for the ASA , when I asked about the ASA, I was told it was classified, well I fell for it hook line and burn bag.

I took my Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (Ft. Lost in the Woods) B-1-2 in August through September 1965. Upon Graduation I got orders for Ft. Devens, MA

Ft. Devens I arrived at sunny Ft. Devens in Oct 1965, and started my in processing, I had enlisted for Morse Intercept school, however, it seems they had enough of those guys and all the classes were filled, and they offered me a school in Terminal Intercept Radio Maintenance. Next, they told me I'd have to wait several months to start school since they did not have my interim clearance (this was a classified school), and would have to KP and all the fun things that the Agency had available for those who had to wait for whatever reason for school. Much the surprise (chagrin??) of the personnel staff, my final clearance came through within 3 days of in processing. My father had worked within the classified umbrella from the time the AF separated from the Army to his retirement, and it was only a few months the FBI guys had to check .

I graduated from the 33C school in Oct 66 and got orders for the Pearl of the Orient, Viet Nam.

Ft. Devens part Duix I arrived at Ft. Devens, after a much too short visit home in Texas, in late Dec 67. I was put in a wooden barracks there, and the first night the temp went well down below freezing, I had covers, overcoat and anything else I could find to keep warm that nite. Processing the next day I was assigned to HHC, USASATR, with duty at the Devens Army Airfield, where we trained pilots and operators for Viet Nam.

In the Spring of that year, I re-enlisted in this fun organization, and got an assignment to HHC USASAE in Frankfurt, with duty at Rhine Main. Shortly after that there was an opening for me at the 507th USASA SPRD, in Furth, billeted at Herzo. After a few months there we were moved to Rhein Main AFB and I finished my tour with them there, returning to Viet Nam.

Viet Nam I reported to Oakland CA, and was given a wonderful trip to Sunny Southeast Asia via American Airlines. I arrived in Siagon (can't spell the air field there) and was transported to Davis Station for processing. While at Davis Station, I was introdoctinated by an attack by the local Viet Cong, who blew up a few AF aircraft, and caused me to explore the trenches and bunker at Davis Station. I was further assigned to a new outfit in Da Nang, 138th Avn Co (RR), and got to have a totally new experience in the hold of a USAF C130 aircraft there, that stopped at every airstirp it could get into, between Saigon and Da Nang.

I called the CQ, when arriving in Da Nang and was sent a chafer to collect me and transport me to the Orderly Room.

Now since this was a new unit, the orderly room was in an old French building next to the ramp at the airfield. My first nite I was put on a cot there and was awakened every time an aircraft launched, and of course the outgoing. Further billeting was at the Da Nang Hotel, in a barracks room there. Later in this tour we moved to a Villa on Trung Nu Vong Street. We did get to experience a severe attack (no not Tet) in June of 67, when the base got rocketed and attacked.

After my vacation at Da Nang I recieved orders for Ft. Devens.

Viet Nam part Hai Again the Army allowed me to return to the Pearl of the Orient, and upon Davis Station, I was greeted with great news, I was being sent back to the same Group, Bn, Company, Platoon and Squad I had left to return to Devens. The only difference was the location, they had moved to Phu Bai. Ahh really missed the EM Club at the Danang Hotel, but our comrades at the 8th were more than willing to accept us with open arms. I did a full tour there, 70-71, and recieved orders to Ft. Hood, TX, to a unit 293rd Avn Co (SA) where I completed the final months of my Army Career at Gray Army Airfield.