Recollections: A Journey to Remember

By David Lasswell

This book highlights a complete and satisfying Christian life. It establishes comfort, peace, love, and understanding. It features growth in character, education, experience, and rewards from each. This is a story of youth, teen years, the military career, commercial broadcasting, retirement, and much more. Enjoy the read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796031621

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by David Lasswell.

ISBN:              Softcover           978-1-7960-3163-8

                         eBook                978-1-7960-3162-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/02/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

796136

CONTENTS

Dedication

Prologue

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1:     3704 Basic Military Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

Chapter 2:     92Nd Headquarters Group, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

Chapter 3:     7122Nd Broadcasting Squadron, Apo 294 Ny, Diyarbakir, Turkey

Chapter 4:     63Rd Troop Carrier Wing, Donaldson Air Force Base, Greenville, Sc

Chapter 5:     63Rd Troop Carrier Wing, Hunter Air Force Base, Savannah, Georgia

Chapter 6:     Savannah Broadcasting Company, Wtoc-Tv (Cbs), Savannah, Georgia

Chapter 7:     University Of Georgia, Wvan-Tv, Savannah/Pembroke, Georgia

Chapter 8:     Garden City, Michigan, United States Of America

Chapter 9:     408Th Fight Group, Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, Oregon

Chapter 10:   Thailand Radio And Tv Network, Korat Air Base, Thailand

Chapter 11:   26Th Air Division (Adc), Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona

Chapter 12:   7122Nd Broadcasting Squadron, Tehran, Iran

Chapter 13:   7122Nd Broadcasting Squadron, Lindsey As, Wiesbaden, Germany

Chapter 14:   7122Nd Broadcasting Squadron, Incirlik Cdi, Turkey

Chapter 15:   Usaf Home Town News Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma

Chapter 16:   7122Nd Broadcasting Squadron, Karamursel Cdi, Turkey

Chapter 17:   62Nd Troop Carrier Wing, Mcchord Air Force Base, Washington

Chapter 18:   Artic Broadcasting Squadron, Thule Air Base, Greenland

Chapter 19:   Artic Broadcasting Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

Chapter 20:   Journey, Jobs, And Junkets

Chapter 21:   Retirement Years

Chapter 22:   Summary

Epilogue

DEDICATION

My book is dedicated to family, friends from school, the Air Force and the commercial world. You are all included.

This is my life story. I seldom traveled alone. It is a journey through my childhood the military and my retirement. The memories of childhood and the military service days should never be forgotten.

I thank you for your respect for the uniform, the anthem, the flag and our country. You make me very proud.

PROLOGUE

I have admired the musical genius of the great John Denver for years. His musical talents of writing lyrics, live performances, and vocal recordings are renowned.

Beginning this project, I called on his lyrics of the song Friends with You. The lines basically say it all. Friends I will remember you, think of you, pray for you. And when another day is through, I’ll still be friends with you.

Preparing for this book, I called on other lyrics. The gifts of growing old, and the stories to be told, of the feelings more precious than gold. These lyrics are the initial ‘introduction’ for my autobiography. My story is also your story.

My friends from Port Orchard are mostly from my school days. We studied, sang, danced, debated, played sports and hung together. Most of my early military friends are journalist or broadcasters. There are others from other military specialties. None are frightened by microphones.

My associates of my commercial work era remain so today. Some have friend status. Most of my retirement friends are people of military careers; mostly Air Force. At the Community Chapel at the Academy are also retired Army, Marines, and Navy. Certainly, spouses are included.

From Seattle in 1941, I have traveled 78-years, and currently reside in Colorado Springs. I could have known you in grade school, or had the pleasure of meeting you recently. Many of my friends date back seventy plus years. All have qualified for mentioning in the book.

From my days in Port Orchard, early military years in America’s south, or time spent in the military in later years; my heart and mind remain full of memories. So is this book.

From meeting my first wife Mary Joy Davis in Greenville, South Carolina or my present wife Barbara Fay Solper in Scottsdale, Arizona; these stories are told. So are some stories of Jim and Joan Blackstock from the Greenville days to friends at the Air Force Academy Chapel where we have attended church for the past seven years.

To mention some: Henry and Teresa Mitnaul (now in North Carolina), Tom and Mary Dowell, Paul and Chris Nitch, Edwin and Rose Phelps, Keri Faurier, Rolf and Lois Enger, Ann Richardson, Curtis Jordan, Bill and Susie Vinson, Mace and Jan Porter, Lou and Faye Elbaum, Jason and Kimberly Peters, Willie and Carolyn Kalaskie, Lyle and Lillian Hagelberg, Dick and Sally Wilson and a hundred more.

From my military years my mind recalls: Roger Williams, Jack Martin, Ann Gandee, Larry Rogers, Jeff Bailey, Ray Klipsch, Cal Miller, Bob Garcia and many more. All very talented broadcasters. I have worked with pros.

I have to mention a few from Port Orchard. Dave Covey, Kathy Standsberry, Lee Carter, Roy Bolinger, Sharon Siegert, Janet Lundberg and Jan Grosso. There are many more referenced in the book.

I have stood with many and I salute all of you. The book is full of friend’s names and of stories told which has made my life complete.

I also want to mention Priest and Pastors who have blessed me and given me peace and helped me better understand the love of my Lord Jesus Christ. To mention just a few: Father Greg, Father Sebastian, Chaplain Williams, Chaplain Cobongs, Chaplain Walker and many more. These are men of the Clergy whom I love and respect.

The book covers my activity in sports from Little League, Babe Ruth League, high school, military sports, my coaching, my broadcast of military, college, and high school basketball and football. Many great sport broadcasters with whom I worked are included.

I am very proud of my children and my grandkids. Brandon, Kayla, Nick, Corine, Nat, Zain, Gavyn. Kia and Jordis. I can’t leave out our great grandson, Shya. Yes, they are better than most.

RECOGNITION

I am a strong Christian and I have been all of my life. My mother and my brother Jim were also Christian believers. Two members of my high school graduating class were also strong believers. I learned by listening to Karl Gronberg (we called him Deacon) and Roy Bolinger. Both still friends today.

About the flag: USAF Colonel (Ret.) Brian Van Hook, while serving in Iraq flew an American Flag over Bagdad in my honor. I cried when given the flag. I still fly the flag today on special occasions. I first met Colonel Van Hook when he was a young second lieutenant in May 1992. We have been friends since. All who know him respect him as an officer and gentlemen. To me, he is also an honorary son.

My all-time favorite broadcast interview: It was absolute honor to shake the hand, interview, and to pray with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This occurred in Savannah, Georgia in early 1965 while working with WTOC-TV. It was after a church service at a Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

My all-time favorite sports interview: Coach John Thompson of Georgetown University. He was the most supportive of the military of any sport celebrities I interviewed. The interviews were done at the Great Alaska Shootout, in Anchorage, in 1982.

My favorite military interview was in July 1970 in Korat, Thailand. The interview was with SMSGT Calder L. Robertson, the 13th Air Force Command Sergeant Major. He was delightful, serious, but full of humor that the GI’s stationed in Thailand could enjoy. The interview lasted about twice as long as originally planned.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank USAF Colonel (Ret.) and Mrs. Rolf and Lois Enger for their diligent and difficult work they provided in making this book publishable. Please accept my heartfelt thank you. Your efforts will always be greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank USAF Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dr. (Chaplain) Jason Peters for his continued support and participation with this project.

As I aged many stories were told about my early times and those of my family. My mother told and retold most of the stories. Example: I knew nothing about my father’s service in the Navy until later. I took all information as truth and factual.

I have retold in this book information I accepted as fact. When my wife Joy mentioned conversation, she had with her mother about the cancer her mother was suffering; I was not there to hear first-hand.

Again, I readily accepted the material as the gospel and have lived with those stories for years. To me, these are factual.

Please understand the quotes are from years ago and could be slightly different from what was actually said. However, the meaning of what was said still holds true.

Throughout the book references will be made as to how I intervened in the activity. In other words, news found me.

The story written about the unload and load of the Atlas Missile, once carried by the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, is available to see on the Internet in a video format.

FOREWORD

The Third College Edition of Webster’s New World Dictionary explains the word AUTOBIOGRAPHY as the story of one’s own life written or dictated by oneself.

My life has been splendid, achieving success and recognized as a professional. I am also known for being loyal, honest, and with a flair for dealing with others. My character represents mature qualities. I have always been self-motivated. I have enormous respect for others both junior or senior.

I treasure my lifetime of faith and peace with the Lord our God. He has allowed me full involvement in his universe. I know I am loved by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have been blessed

The book encounters new customs and old traditions. The book features prayer, panic, and personal factors to overcome. Prepare yourself to fly, cry, and please understand; some will die.

We visit England, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Holland, Iran, Italy, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. We will travel on