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Mister D.C.Harvey, the Shavetail Editor, an apropos position, has threatened to pull a “white one” if I do not respond to his demand for a bio hastily. That threat motivates me to register for the 57-C reunion, as it is obvious that he is in need of a “Special Inspection.” I plan to enlist the assistance of Ogilvie and Nagel for this task. It may not be recalled that I, as the Third Squadron Training Officer, was affectionately known by Hotel Flight downstairs as “The Little Bastard Upstairs.” Hopefully, the weather in Laughlin will be warm enough for best results, and that Nagel will be able to get there early enough to arrange for the hotel maid’s closet for the venue.
Now…on to the “I” witness account (a mercifully brief self-serving account): I was born on September 7, 1930 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. The family moved when I was two years old, and I spent my formative years in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I was the last of seven siblings. (My parents kept having kids till they got one they liked.) Since age two, I have been called “Mike” even though my birth certificate says James Joseph. The exception in, lo, these many years was OCS, where I was known as J.J. Those of you who may remember my 118 lb., 5’8” frame might be shocked to learn that I was a six-letter man in high school athletics -- three in football and three in basketball. Veracity demands that I admit to being the team’s manager for three years. Nothing eventful in early childhood except the vague memory at age five, when my oldest brother ran over me with my dad’s car. (He was taking an unauthorized trip and I was preventing his exit from the driveway.) While in high school, I joined the local chapter of the Barbershop Quartet organization (S.P.E.B.Q.S.A). While in that group, I hooked up with four guys, the same age, who had formed a quartet. Being somewhat active in the community, they asked me to be their manager. So, I did get them a few jobs around town, including some talent contests---which they won handily. We entered a couple of barbershop district contests in those early years, but they did not fare well. BETTER TIMES TO COME. Toward the end of 1950, the Korean War was in full bloom and the Selective Service was calling up a lot of friends. One of the quartet members decided to join the Air Force, to avoid the Army, of course! I was in college at Wisconsin State in Eau Claire, but our tenor, John Steinmetz, conned me into going also. We then put the heat on the other three, and we all, THE FOUR TEENS and I, enlisted in January 1951. We made it in by the skin of our teeth, as enlistments were closed down on the very day we processed through Minneapolis center. For anyone who was at Lackland in Jan-Feb of 1951, you know it was a mess. Over 70,000 troops at a base that could accommodate 35,000. Tents, and no uniforms for about three weeks. We were scattered all over, but managed to make contact by letters to and from parents at home. I had been working at a hotel in Eau Claire, and the owner was a big fan of THE FOUR TEENS. Fortunately, his brother-in-law was Major General Bob Burns, then Deputy Commander of the Training Command. Through that contact, we managed to get all of us assigned (after basic) to Scott AFB, Illinois. Unfortunately, our bass singer had a minor medical problem and was separated while at Lackland. At Scott, we were scattered about in various squadrons, but quickly got together and started a search for a new bass for the quartet. We found one rather soon, and two days later were conned into performing as a “warm-up” for the Bob Hope show at Hangar #1. We affiliated ourselves with a Saint Louis Barbershop Quartet Chapter and made some strategic contacts there. We continued honing quartet skills as we pulled our regular duties in our various squadrons. We entered the Barbershop Quartet district competition and won it, then later entered the regional competition and qualified to go to the international competition. So, in June of 52, we went to Kansas City to compete with thirty-nine other quartets from the U.S. and Canada. On June14, the 14th annual competition, THE FOUR TEENS were crowned International Champions. The fact that a military quartet had won the international competition created quite a stir, not only in the Barbershoppers Association, but also with the Air Force. Inasmuch as we were the current champions, we were expected to perform at shows around the country. And, given that the Air Force had an agenda, the two reached an accord that outlined our operation for the following year. The result was that we fulfilled both obligations. A combination of Air Force, commercial, and private aircraft helped satisfy a hectic twelve-month schedule. Unknown to us, Major Al Reilly, USAF Chief of Entertainment, was promoting his idea of a touring all-Air Force entertainment unit, and instituted a worldwide talent contest. TOPS IN BLUE was born! THE FOUR TEENS were selected (without the Air Force consenting) to be one of the acts, along with eighteen talent contest winners. The TOPS IN BLUE premier was at Bolling AFB, Washington, DC on July 14, 1953. A whirlwind worldwide tour followed. The TOPS IN BLUE entertained troops for 210 days, giving 230 separate performances. Being the only non-performer with TIB, I was assigned as the “Advance Agent,” traveling ahead of the troupe, coordinating logistics and pre-show publicity. While in Japan and Korea, I did join the show at times. One personally satisfying highlight with TOPS IN BLUE was my accidental encounter with a thirteen-year-old Korean piano prodigy. I was scrounging for stage equipment in Seoul, getting ready for an upcoming “Command Performance” for General Maxwell Taylor, Lt. Gen. S.E.Taylor, and Korean government officials. I heard this youngster play a classic, and I was blown away. For the first, and I believe only, time, TOPS IN BLUE invited a guest artist, and he captured the hearts of all in the auditorium. General Anderson was especially taken with Tong Il Han and inquired of me if I had any plans for the boy. I suggested we do something to get him to the U.S. to study. I also suggested that General Anderson’s three stars might be more effective than my three stripes in accomplishing that goal. He agreed. 5th Air Force toured him around the military bases and took up free will donations, raising enough to send Tong Il Han to the Julliard School of Music. My big thrill came in Nov of 55, while stationed at Lowry AFB, when “Tony” and I met again in Denver, where he was the guest artist with the Denver Symphony. The Tops in Blue tour wound up in late February of 1954 and on March 1st, I married my High School sweetheart, June Grill. After completion of my first four years at Scott, we moved to Denver and I reenlisted at Lowry. At that time, we had one little one, Kate, who had arrived in November of ’54. Maureen was born in Denver in June of ’56.
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After a couple of years at Lowry, I realized there was not another stripe in the offing. I didn’t have a 7 level, and couldn’t get one as the career field had an overage. So, I applied for and was accepted for OCS. No need to review for all of you, what a delightful six months that was. After three weeks I was relegated to the “fat-backs” table, not because I had to shed pounds, but to gain some, having dropped to 118. An interesting few weeks there, accepting the gracious offers of the overflabbed to eat their desert. Some personal memories of OCS include my upper class nemesis, Mr. Boyette. I think he was on Group Staff. He recognized my delicate sense of humor and was personally responsible for my many ramp hours. As a matter of fact, I had a carry-over account when we became first class. The escape of LUD-EGAN productions helped to maintain some semblance of sanity. Most satisfying, when we were second class, was the successful hiding of the mother’s apron and bonnet.) Nagel will never forgive me for the frequent demolition of our room. The first class privileges we extracted wagering with OC Captain Collins (of 57-B) made the effort well worth it. A big event occurred two weeks before graduation, when our first (and only) son, Mark, was born. Another biggy was at graduation when I expected no family members to be able to come -- after we tossed our hats, I turned around and there was my older brother John, saluting and demanding the first dollar. It was especially poignant since John was a WW II vet with 52 missions in a B-17 out of North Africa and Italy.
After a short course at Lackland I was assigned to Crete when child # 4, Elizabeth, was born in Tripoli. Then, it was a USAFE installation. Shortly after arrival, Air Force Security Service took over the base and I was shifted to Special Services. A pleasant tour, with family in the middle of the Med. As with a majority of Security Service people, back to Texas in Personnel Services. In late 1960 I wanted more stability, got out of the AF and moved to Colorado. Slung hash for a couple of years, and was recalled in January “62. No shock that I was assigned to Security Service and spent 2 years at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo. During that stint I went to Squadron Officer’s School at Maxwell. Being one of the senior Lieutenants, they damn near killed me in the soccer and flickerball games. I did manage to win the class 62C Speech Tourney though. From Goodfellow to one of Security Services’ exotic locales in Peshwar, Pakistan. Why India covets any of Pakistan is a mystery to me. After leaving the shadow of the Khyber Pass, what else? Back to Texas in the Personnel Plans Shop at Security Service headquarters. With the objective of avoiding the frequent moves in that command, I answered the solicitation of Recruiting Service. Assigned to Lowry in early July of ’66 in the officer procurement effort. It was a “Group” headquarters, covering eleven states. Quite a bit of travel to colleges, teaming with the local recruiters soliciting college seniors for OTS. THAT’S A “T” boy ! With the anti-war sentiment of the times, it was sporty, and at times a bit dicey when the SDS decided to try to disrupt our efforts. But our local recruiters were well acquainted with the campus and usually had several friends on the football team that defused any untoward behavior. An unprecedented four years on that tour. As a major selectee, my mixed blessing “reward” was an assignment as Recruiting Detachment Commander in Alexandria, Virginia. Daughter Jennie joined our growing brood in October of ’70. I was fortunate to be able to have a hand in the selection of my Ops Officer and Ops NCOIC, both of whom were fantastic! Our area, parts of VA, MD, and DE included Baltimore and Washington DC. In that era of anti-Vietnam discord, it made the job challenging and sometimes spooky. My recruiters took a lot of S--- from some of the Fonda-following freaks. Overseas beckoned after a two-year stint in that recruiting job. One of the most challenging and rewarding duties of my career. The benefits of good people and a couple of “flexible” bosses. Beware of the personnel officer who asks if you like to hunt and fish. To Elmendorf AFB, Alaska in the Personnel Plans shop at Alaskan Air Command. A couple of months there and there was a double switch, due to a promotion of the other guy…so I was shifted to Chief, Personnel Services and he came to the Plans shop. I spent a good deal of time answering “congressionals” from Senator Proxmire who thought our recreation camps were an unnecessary luxury and a waste of taxpayer money. While in Alaska, our sixth child, Kerry, was born. Summer of ’72 an old friend from Colorado called to find out when I was going to retire, (with the carrot that he had a job waiting). So I put in my papers, moved the family to Aurora for the Fall school term…spent a couple of months batching it in Alaska and returned to the lower forty-eight to work as P.R. Director of a new small Bank. Retired 1 March ’73. After several years in Banking P.R. I went to work for a friend as Director of Marketing for his manufacturing company. Not a good move. Two years later I opted to go into the travel business. Since starting wages for novices in that business were meager, I wrote a 2yr. Training program, which was approved by the State and the V.A. so, I did the G.I. Bill OJT program. I found the travel business fascinating, and at times challenging, though not very rewarding. A few good benefits with a chance to visit a few exotic venues. In late 1992 it was announced that Denver would host the ’93 WORLD YOUTH DAY, and visit by Pope John Paul II. I volunteered to help with the event and worked a couple of days per week. Several months before the event, I made some critical suggestions regarding the lagging preparation for housing the expected 260,000 young people. The result of that was that I was tasked with more work, quit my travel business, and worked full-time until the big event in August. My “panic” partner, Chuck Ballot should have been here as we teetered on the brink of pandemonium. It turned out to be a magnificent event, and without doubt, the most rewarding experience of my life. We had a personal setback a few weeks later when June suffered a stroke. She battled back from that, and fortunately has few residual effects. Since then, I’ve been actively retired, visiting the six kids around the country, and doing some volunteer work in the area. We sold the big old house and moved in to a high rise condo in an old fart’s community. No mowing now and when you get the urge to travel, just lock the door and head out. Hope to see everyone in Laughlin for the ’00 reunion. I also hope to attend one of the reunion seminars on why are we celebrating the new millennium one year early? (Apparently I lied, merciful briefness was unaccomplished, I guess.)
J.J.Egad
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