Lubbock, Texas, from my windshield!

We moved from Sumter, SC, to Lubbock, TX, in June, 1976. I was assigned as an aircraft maintenance instructor in a Field Training Detachment (FTD) located on Reese AFB, about 6 miles west of Lubbock. We drove from Sumter to Lubbock in a 1975, blue, Honda Civic CVCC station wagon. It was small but it we bought it new and it was easy on gas.

Jennifer was three, Julie was less than a year old, and Deborah was pregnant with Jeff when we made this trip. Julie had diarrhea before we started the trip so we went to the Shaw AFB hospital to have her checked. The doctors looked at her and said it was just a normal stomach problem and to give her plenty to drink. The diarrhea continued with a vengeance during the trip. By the time we arrived at Reese AFB we were quite concerned about her becoming dehydrated so we took her immediately to the base hospital. After a few quick tests the doctors told us she had a stomach parasite and gave us the appropriate medicine to take care of the problem. She got well in just a day or two.

My job at Reese was to teach aircraft mechanics how to work on the T-37 and T-38 jet trainers. I also taught ground service equipment operation and technical order (TOs) document (the books that told mechanics how to fix specific airplanes) maintenance.

There were four other airmen assigned to the detachment when I arrived. Among them were MSgt. Lamar Gautney, MSgt. Tom (Tinker) Bell, and SSgt. Rick Shuskey (sp?). I forget the name of the Master Sergeant who was the detachment commander at the time.