Albumpage9

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I transferred back to the states in Nov '70. Went to Fort Knox again ... this time for the Armor Officers Advanced Course. Following that was a two and one-half year tour at Sixth Army Headquarters, Presidio of San Francisco. That was a real hardship tour! Got caught in the bad ole RIF in '74, and returned to Valdosta. Continued service in the Army Reserve, and while serving a six-month tour at FORSCOM Hq, Fort McPherson, GA, was recalled to active duty in 1980. Had been promoted to major in the reserve, but was recalled as a chief warrant officer. Reported to Hunter AAF for the second time in my career. Was assigned to the 24th Aviation Battalion. I was medically grounded in 1982, and reclassified as an Ammunition Technician. Transferred to Ft. Bragg, NC. Army was not much fun any more, since I wasn't flying. I volunteered to go to Johnston Island, way out in the Pacific, just to get away from Ft. Bragg.

Sonja and Major General John W. McEnery, FORSCOM DCSOPS, pin on my new major's insignia at Ft McPherson, GA, 18 June 1979. When the "pinning" was done, General McEnery said that it was customary for a kiss to be exchanged. Sonja looked at each of us, and asked, "Which one?"

Johnston Atoll ... my final "short" tour. Spent a year there in '85/'86. The main island is one-half mile wide and two and one-half miles long. Nearest civilization was Hawaii ... more than 700 miles away. Who said "Fun flies when you're doing time?" Actually, it was quite an enjoyable tour ... good folks, good food, often challenging work, and plenty of recreation. I always felt that if anyone was bored at J.I., it was their own fault!

Jim's Memorabilia

Album Pg 9

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This photo of the staff was taken on January 1, 1986 at the Commander's New Year's Reception. Most of the names have already slipped my memory. The Commander, Col Orton, is standing 4th from the left. Yours truly is to his immediate right. Center, kneeling, is Major (now Major General) John Doesburg, Executive Officer.

This is part of one row of igloos filled with assorted chemical munitions.
Our guys worked hard to maintain these things until a new incinerator was built for their ultimate destruction.

A stack of one-ton containers of VX -- nasty stuff!

One project that kept our folks busy for a while involved removing an unstable lot of propellant from thousands of rounds of 105mm ammo with mustard-filled projectiles. Once the propellant was removed, it was taken to the leeward end of the island, and burned. It was a short-lived, but spectacular site!

This is a photo of a Russian vessel just outside the three-mile limit. These guys were fairly frequent visitors, but every time an aircraft came close, hatches were closed, and people disappeared. They couldn't hide the array of antennae, though.

We saw some of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen. What a treat!