I was born in Leavittsburg, Ohio, October 25, 1931 and reared in Warren, Ohio. I attended public schools and enlisted in the USAF as a private at the age of seventeen years seven months on June 8, 1949. I married the former Nancy Jane McGill of Warren, Ohio on April 5, 1952, at Sampson AFB, New York. Our children are Shirley Jeanne (Lowry) Hawkins, born at Sampson AFB, New York; Stanley M. (Bud) Lowry Jr, born at Sampson AFB, New York; Jeffrey E. Lowry, born at Sampson AFB, New York (died of a brain tumor at age 34); Karen Sue (Lowry) Thompson, born at Scott AFB, Illinois; John C. Lowry, last American born at Chaumont AB, France; Cynthia Ann (CeCe) (Lowry) Alderson, born at Toul-Rosieres AB, France. We have, as a result, fifteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Nancy and I have lived in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC, since December 1979.
Career highlights and assorted trivia include: Highest enlisted grade -- technical sergeant; highest commissioned grade – colonel. Active duty was 35 years, 23 days of which 8 years and 3 months were enlisted. Named a distinguished graduate from OCS in September 1957. Selected for lieutenant colonel below-the-zone and attended senior service school. I had four joint assignments, one Hq USAF assignment, and two major command headquarters assignments. I held command positions at detachment, squadron, and group levels and had seventeen permanent changes of station; nineteen household moves in nine states and two foreign countries. I was assigned to ten air bases (two of them twice), three Army posts, and the Pentagon twice. I had four overseas assignments (France, Thailand, Germany, and Hawaii). I retired from the USAF July 1, 1984 at age 52 years and 8 months. I then worked fourteen years with the defense industry-- 1984 to 1998 -- retiring twice more.
Other schools and education: USAF Communications Officer’s Course at Scott AFB, Illinois, 1958; Squadron Officer’s School by correspondence, 1964; Bachelor of General Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha, (Bootstrap) 1966; National Communications Security Course, National Cryptologic School, NSA, 1969; Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1971; Master of Political Science, Auburn University, Alabama, 1971; National Security Management Correspondence Course, Industrial College of US, 1973; U.S. Army War college, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, 1976.
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My officer assignments include: 1239th Airways and Air Communications Squadron (AACS), Maintenance and Supply Officer and Commander, 1952-2 Communications Detachment, Chaumont AB, France, 1958-1960; 1952nd Communications Squadron, Chief of Maintenance, Toul-Rosieres AB, France, 1960-1962; Headquarters, Air Force Communications Service, Plans Officer, Scott AFB, Illinois, 1962-1966; Commander, 1987th Communications Squadron & Base Communications Officer, 56th Air Commando Wing, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 1966-1967; Headquarters , U.S. European Command, J6, Joint Communications Electronics Staff Officer, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, 1967-1970; Joint Tactical Communications Office, (TRI-TAC), Joint Communications Systems Officer, Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, 1971-1973; Headquarters USAF, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Executive Secretary, Air Staff Board, 1973-1975; Commander, 1957th Communications Group and Director of Communications, 15th Air Base Wing, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, 1976-1978; Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, 1978-1979;Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (OJCS), The Pentagon, Washington DC, 1980-1984.
Jobs at OJCS: Chief, Defense Communications Division, 1980; Senior Communications Officer, J6, Joint Task Force, 1-79, 1980; Chief, Contingency/Crisis Management Division, C-3S, 1980-1984; Final assignment, Assistant Deputy Director For Tactical/Theater C3 Systems, 1984.
Military Decorations and Awards: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 OLC, Army Good Conduct Medal with Clasp and 3 Bronze Loops, Medal for Humane Action, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star (BSS), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 BSS, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” Device and 2 OLCs, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with 1 Silver and 2 Bronze OLCs, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
My post-Air Force civilian employment chronology: Electrospace Systems Inc., Arlington, Virginia, 1984-1993; Lowry Consulting Services, Springfield, Virginia, 1993-1994; Electrospace Systems Inc., 1994 – 1996; second retirement in 1996 at age 64 years 4 months; Lowry Consulting Services, Inc., 1996 – 1998; third retirement at age 67 years 2 months.
Current interests: Genealogy and Shriners activities.
Stan
Ed. Note: Stan Passed away 0n 4 July 2004 from lung cancer. We will surely miss him.
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