Recalled

By Mickey Frame

It is what the author would have been doing on active duty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Nov 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665748933

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Copyright © 2023 Mickey Frame.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-6657-4892-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4893-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023915763

Archway Publishing rev. date: 11/15/2023

CHARACTER PAGE

Major General Robert (Bob) Jones

Melinda Jones Major General Jones’s wife

SSgt. Charlie Johnson, Major General Jones’ aid

Riley, Lieutenant General Jones’s secretary

Lieutenant Colonel George Koffee

Alicia Koffee Lt. Colonel Koffee’s wife

Amn. Andrew (Pic) Pickford, Colonel Koffee’s aid

Christine: Lieutenant Colonel Koffee’s Secretary

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M Y MOTHER, MY SISTER AND I went to their favorite music store. After looking at all the Country artists 8- track tapes and albums, I had seen all I wanted to see so I went

outside to smoke a cigarette.

As I went outside, I saw an old high school friend that had joined the Air Force and had become an Air Force recruiter. We talked for about ½ an hour. About 2 weeks later, he showed up at my apartment with a case of beer, about 2, 6 packs later I signed up (enlisted) in the Air Force. If he had brought nothing with him, I probably would have joined anyway, it got me away from my soon to be x-wife. I stayed in for two enlistments.

I retired with a total of 26 ½ years federal Service. Due to injuries, I sustained while on active duty, I applied, and after several doctor appointments, I was approved to 100% disabled. Not being able to work gave me time to go to school and got A PhD.

Most of the guys I run around with are vets as well, one of the things we talked about a lot was going to school and how to keep the youth of today in school or the military, we would meet at our favorite restaurant once a week for lunch and talk.

We had nearly finished eating, when one of the guys phone rang, he answered it, talked for a few minutes, then I heard him say yes, he’s right here, do you want to talk with him? he handed me his phone and said talk to the lady.

The person on the other end said Is this, George Coffee?

Yes,

She then said, You are being recalled to active duty.

I said, What did you say?

She said is this George Koffee?

Yes ma’am, it is. Could you repeat what you just said please?

She paused and said, you need to report to Lake AFB at 0800 tomorrow morning for in processing, orientation, when you arrive report to Mrs. Jacks, she will tell you what to do from there to be issued new uniforms and orders, you are being recalled to active duty.

I went home, told Alicia what had happened, I should have kept my mouth shut because she told me that I have already done my duty, but I gathered my paperwork to prove my PhD anyway.

The next morning, I reported to Mrs. Jacks at Lake AFB for in Processing, handed my paperwork to her. She was the in-processing lady, looked over everything paused a moment then said we can’t recall you as a Technical Sergeant. You’ll have to come in at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

I got a stunned look on my face and said no problem, i’ll take that promotion. She made a phone call then sent me to the orders station where they changed my orders to reflect my new rank. Then they sent me to a long hall full of basic trainee’s getting their first issue of uniforms. As I stood there looking in amazement, an MSgt came in and ask me what I was doing with the basics, I told him I had just been recalled to active duty.

He took my orders and said, Are you LtCol. Koffee? They told me about you, at which time some of the basics close by said he’s a col. wonder why he’s in this line.

Then the MSgt took me to a fitting room where another guy handed me a new long sleeve dress shirt and said, put it on so I can fit you.

It didn’t take him long and he had it fit to my size. He then took the shirt, gave me a pair of uniform slacks, and fit them to me. He told me to wait a few minutes and within ½ hour, he brought the entire uniform back with my rank on the collar, nametag, ribbons and a flight cap.

The MSgt came back in and took me to get my ID card then he told me, you are going to a training base for a refresher course and need three more dress uniforms and two full sets of work uniforms. He then sent me to the travel section in full uniform.

I walked in and told the clerk an Airman who said, Sir your travel pay is ready and everything is ready for you. Just sign here. She handed me the money. I went home, told Alicia what was going on, and that I did not know how long the school would be but I would call her as soon as I know.

I took a flight to the airport closest to the base. When I got there, I rented a car at the airport, got directions and drove to the mail gate of the base. I reported to the squadron headquarters and was issued a room on the first floor. I was grateful. I hate stairs.

The class started on a Monday and by Wednesday I found I remembered more than I thought, it turned out it really was just a refresher class for me. I was the only officer student in the school. In fact, I out ranked everyone at the school, even the school commandant was only a major, by protocol they had to bring in a bird colonel to be my instructor. All the other students were new to the career and were all noncommissioned officers.

(NCO’s) as the only officer in the class, I tried not to intimidate the rest of the class sometimes just being in the classroom was intimidating because it was only a refresher, it was fast track for me. The Air Force has standard Procedures of which some are localized at every installation, the standard procedures are taught at the school, which teaches the student to think on their feet.

Class runs from Monday through Friday at 0800 (8:00am) and dismisses at 1530 (3:30). Several of the enlisted would get there early around 0700 (7:00) to made coffee, most of us drink coffee throughout the class. One of the guys had worked in a coffee shop before the Air Force so we all let him make the coffee, he made the best of anyone there. I had just poured my first cup when the Superintendent called me into his office, even though I out ranked him, I could have just walked into his office, but because of his position, I reported to him as if I was one of the enlisted.

He told me he had just received a call and for me to report to the Wing Command Post at 0800. It was 0735 then, I ask, what was it about he said he did not know, but I had better hurry up, I headed out walking, the CP was only three blocks away, I got there a few minutes early.

I would rather be early than late. I went into the building, down the long hallway to the CP entrance door and pushed the button on the wall, I heard a voice that told me to place my ID against the door window, I did, the door buzzed and unlocked so, I opened it and stepped inside. As I entered, I got a real shock, standing there inside was Bob Jones now a Major General, Him and I had worked together a few years before when he was a Captain and I was enlisted.

As I walked in, he saw me and said Col, let’s go to the office, get a cup of coffee and talk, we walked into the office, one of the Airman from the console brought both of us a cup of coffee then went back to the console.

Bob looked at me and said, George, it’s been a long time since I saw you last, the last time I saw you, weren’t you enlisted?

Yes, Sir,

how long have you been an officer? I looked at him grinned and said, "5 weeks Sir. I got recalled to active duty and because of my PhD I was promoted to the rank of Lt Col. and it has been a few years since we worked together,

Sir and you were a captain and Sir I was enlisted. Since then, I’ve gone back to school and got a PhD, he said Well, congratulations! I am glad it’s you they sent, George, because I know your work ethic from the past. Oh, by the way you are now the OIC (officer in charge) of this Command Post? Do you think you can handle it?

Would it make any difference if I said no, Sir?

No George, to which I responded, I know I can, but I still have two weeks of classes.

He looked at me, kind a chuckled and said, not anymore. The school said you have had all the refresher you need. The rest of the class is for the rookies. Now you need to go to command school and in 6 weeks, you will be the OIC of this Command Post. You have one NCO and six airmen, and it is going to take some work to get it in shape.

I looked at Bob and said, Yes Sir. I’ll get with personnel to get the details worked out. May I use your name to back me up sir?

Yes, of course, you may,

Before we left for the O-club, I went to the console and told the controllers on duty, When I get back, I want to have a meeting with all the controllers.

Then The Gen and I went to lunch at the O-club. They have a really good buffet. When we finished, I went back to the CP. I introduced myself to