TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Second Platoon
to the jet.
We kept it cool and informed the CO back in Yuma.
Pete kept his job, until arriving back in Yuma in
October. Most of us with families brought our brides
over to the Rock for a couple of weeks. I had Ginger
come with both kids, new baby Chip and 8-year old
daughter Jessica (JJ). We all had a good relaxing time in
spite of still keeping up Flight Ops. October was return
to Yuma month and we flew the jets back across the
Pacific in-flight refueling and island hopping to land at
MCB Camp Pendleton remote air strip, refuel and hop
the last 200 miles to MCAS Yuma. Lt. Col. Hearny had
relinquished command of 513 to Lt. Col. John Gibson,
probably the one Harrier pilot at that time with the
most hours.
At that point I had amassed slightly more than 1,300
flight hours in the Harrier. I felt I was destined for a
desk job at Group Headquarters. I was also pondering
that my daughter would be 10 on her next birthday.
Annual income at about $28,000. I was beginning to
think about how would we be able to afford to send her
to college. The airlines were de-regulating and growing
and one of my squadron mates had left the Corps and
was flying with Braniff. I decided to do the same, if not
with Braniff then another carrier. I submitted my
request for resignation from active duty and convert to
the USMCR. Amidst a host of hand-wringing and “what
the f*$k’s” from my squadron mates and group heavies
I transferred out 1MAY79 and was a Reserve looking
for a job.
After My Initial Obligation was up: After leaving
active duty May 1 went to “school” and passed the FAA
Flight Engineer-Turbojet rating exam and the Airline
Transport Pilot rating exam, a must do before being
hired by any air carrier. Accepted by Braniff in June,
1979 and completed training on the Boeing 727 (Flight
Engineer) in early July. Ginger took care of selling the
house and putting our stuff in storage, then drove to
Dallas. Braniff posted me after training to New York
City. We rented a house in Katona, NY where my
mother’s brother lived. Commuted to the City by rail
flying at least a 3-day trip every week through the
Summer. Was transferred to St. Paul, MN, my first
choice of base, in September. Flew through the Winter
and then in March ’70 Braniff furloughed 750 pilots
starting at the bottom of the seniority list. I was
looking for another career.
I did join USMCR MTU (AVN) -14 (now MN-48) in
Minneapolis soon after arriving drilling with them
thru April ’80. Then joined VMA-322 4th MAW NAS
South Weymouth (back in the A-4, this time A-4M)
through April ’85. In 1985 due to workload at Grumman
(see below) I could not continue with VMA-322 and
keep hours required. Transferred to FMFLANT Staff
RAU then HQ US FORCES Caribbean Reserve
Augmentation Unit Aug 87. Had to spend 4 days a
month in Key West for those years. Tuff duty! As
Senior Reserve Marine worked under guidance Col. Jim
Rapp (Force G3), the same Jim Rapp was on Quantico
Marines Football Team 1966. Failing selection to Col. 3
times 1990/91/92 and not allowed to participate in the
liberation of Kuwait, I retired from active reserve
service at 26 total years. Would liked to have had one
more chance to fly the AV-8B and in combat.
Following is list of jobs or types of work I have
engaged in since Braniff bellied up: Management
2‐70