NEIL D. SANDERS Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired)

USAF OCS Class 57C, OC TSGT, 3rd Squadron

I was born September 8, 1931, and grew up in Hastings, Nebraska. At about age seven, I became became acquainted with Donalee McConnell, my neighborhood buddy's cousin. (I didn't care much for girls then. They were not very good at building tree houses, digging caves, slinging slingshots, etc. At age 17, by then having changed my mind about girls, Donalee and I became "steady."

On December 28, 1950, I enlisted in the USAF. During 1951-52, I completed basic training at Lackland and Sheppard AFBs, with my first duty assignment to the 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Hamilton AFB, California, in the personnel field. From there, I went to Larson AFB, Washington, with the same unit.

Donalee and I were married in June 1952. During 1952-1953, I was at K-2 Air Base, Taegu, Korea (while over there, our first daughter, Cindy, was born). In 1954, I was back at Hamilton and our second daughter, Kathy, born. I spent 1955-56 at Williams AFB, Arizona and our third daughter, Linda, was born. II was promoted to Tech Sergeant, still a personnel guy. I transferred to Randolph AFB, Texas for 1956-1957, and then to OCS.

I knew my eyesight would disqualify me for pilot training, but my first eye examiner, a lieutenant, determined that I had barely qualified for navigator training. His boss, a captain, reexamined me and determined I was barely disqualified. His boss, a colonel, after my third exam, determined I was absolutely disqualified, and ordered me to give it up. Thus, for 1957-1958, I was one of a few OCS grads to remain at Lackland as a Basic Training Officer.

The years 1959-60 saw me as Personnel Officer, McClelland AFB, California.

From 1961 to 1965, I served as Launch Control Officer (Missile Combat Crew Commander for the last two years), Atlas ICBM, Warren AFB. Wyoming.Then, during1966-68, I was back in the personnel field in Ankara, Turkey. From that assignment, I was reassigned during 1969-70 to Lowry AFB, Colorado. For the years 1970-71, I served at DaNang, Vietnam. Returning from Southeast Asia, I spent 1971-74 as Chief CBPO (Consolidated Base Personnel Office) at Hurlburt Field, Florida. During 1974-78, I was Director of Personnel, Headquarters Pacific Communications Area, Hickam AFB, Hawaii (finally obtained a BA degree). In the years1979-81, I was Director of Personnel, Altus AFB. Oklahoma, where I earned an MA degree.) In 1982-85, I was with AF Systems Command/IG, Assistant Team Chief at Eglin AFB, Florida for two years. Then came my final and the least satisfying assignment of my career, Director of Social Actions at EGLIN AFB until I retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel on October 1, 1985.

Since retiring from the Air Force, I have been a substance abuse instructor/evaluator (full time for ten years, and now part time, on-call). I’m more interested in spending time with my best friend, Donalee; keeping track of our three daughters, six grandkids, and five great grandkids; and sailing my 28' Pearson sloop.

Neil