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Ed King
Rank
CMSGT - E9. Dates of Service
11/30/1973 - 1/1/2011 |
Branch of Service
Air Force War(s) / Conflicts |
I enlisted with the intent of becoming a Pararescueman (PJ). Having completed Basic Training I entered the PJ Indoctrination (Indoc) training school. After successfully completing the training and passing the Indoc school test which included a range of physical tasks as well as underwater harassment, altitude chamber and flight physical I was entered into what was called the pipeline of schools. The pipeline included Army Air Born, Air Force Medical, Navy Diving, Air Force Survival/POW and PJ school training where all the training from the pipeline of schools was put together with additional training in mountain climbing, advance practical medical, tree and water parachute jumps. Finally having graduated and received my beret I entered weapon system training that included training as an air crew member on C-130 Hercules fixed wing, HH-3 and HH-53 helicopters.
My 1 st duty assignment was at Eglin AFB Florida with the 55th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron; As a PJ our primary mission was combat rescue but we had various other military and civilian missions. One such mission that I was selected for was the launch mishap Apollo-Soyuz recovery team. We trained a great deal with installing the orange flotation collar on a mock up capsule and on how we would remove the astronauts and put them into the billy pew net to be lifted away. It was exciting to be at the Cape, watching from a helicopter in flight as the Apollo rocket launched; There were other missions but preparing for the Apollo launch was the highlight of my tour at Eglin. My follow on assignment was a 1 yr. isolated tour in Iceland. It was a fulfilling tour that included working with Icelanders, rescue missions on glaciers, recovery of personal off a ship 200 miles from land in the North Atlantic in
rough high seas and evading a Russian troller to recover a U.S Navy crew member from a submarine. Though I enjoyed being a PJ it was difficult on the family and family was my priority, so I chose to leave the Air Force. Shortly after returning home to Wisconsin I had an opportunity to train to be an aircraft welder. That opportunity lead to becoming a full time welder at the 128th Air Refueling Wing. As the Unit welder with limited machinist training I deployed to Egypt for Desert Storm. I was fortunate to advance to be the Fabrication Supervisor responsible for the Weld, Machinist, Sheet Metal, Corrosion Control, Non-Distructive Inspection and Survival Equipment shops. The experience prepared me to later be selected by the Wing Commander to be the Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCMSgt) and his senior enlisted advisor. As the CCMSgt. I deployed to the United Arab Emirates and a 2nd deployment to Iraq both during the Iraq war. Returning from Iraq I was asked to take on a new assignment at the 128 ARW as the Base Facility manager. After retiring with 37yrs. service I joined the Greendale American Legion Post 416 and enjoy continuing to serve the community as a member of the Honor Guard and 3rd Vice, responsible for the Americanism program.
All my military accomplishments are over shadowed by the best decision I ever made in marrying my wife Jill. The most challenging task has been working with her to raise our 4 children, all of which attended the Greendale school system K-12 as well as 7 of our 10 grand children. The 10th grandchild is expected to be the 8th who will attend the Greendale schools.
My 1 st duty assignment was at Eglin AFB Florida with the 55th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron; As a PJ our primary mission was combat rescue but we had various other military and civilian missions. One such mission that I was selected for was the launch mishap Apollo-Soyuz recovery team. We trained a great deal with installing the orange flotation collar on a mock up capsule and on how we would remove the astronauts and put them into the billy pew net to be lifted away. It was exciting to be at the Cape, watching from a helicopter in flight as the Apollo rocket launched; There were other missions but preparing for the Apollo launch was the highlight of my tour at Eglin. My follow on assignment was a 1 yr. isolated tour in Iceland. It was a fulfilling tour that included working with Icelanders, rescue missions on glaciers, recovery of personal off a ship 200 miles from land in the North Atlantic in
rough high seas and evading a Russian troller to recover a U.S Navy crew member from a submarine. Though I enjoyed being a PJ it was difficult on the family and family was my priority, so I chose to leave the Air Force. Shortly after returning home to Wisconsin I had an opportunity to train to be an aircraft welder. That opportunity lead to becoming a full time welder at the 128th Air Refueling Wing. As the Unit welder with limited machinist training I deployed to Egypt for Desert Storm. I was fortunate to advance to be the Fabrication Supervisor responsible for the Weld, Machinist, Sheet Metal, Corrosion Control, Non-Distructive Inspection and Survival Equipment shops. The experience prepared me to later be selected by the Wing Commander to be the Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCMSgt) and his senior enlisted advisor. As the CCMSgt. I deployed to the United Arab Emirates and a 2nd deployment to Iraq both during the Iraq war. Returning from Iraq I was asked to take on a new assignment at the 128 ARW as the Base Facility manager. After retiring with 37yrs. service I joined the Greendale American Legion Post 416 and enjoy continuing to serve the community as a member of the Honor Guard and 3rd Vice, responsible for the Americanism program.
All my military accomplishments are over shadowed by the best decision I ever made in marrying my wife Jill. The most challenging task has been working with her to raise our 4 children, all of which attended the Greendale school system K-12 as well as 7 of our 10 grand children. The 10th grandchild is expected to be the 8th who will attend the Greendale schools.