Transition to the USAF

A brief word about the man that facilitated our induction into the USAF.  In Summer of 1967, Gene Northway attended a concert we did at Baylor University.  At that time, Gene was an Assistant  National Director of Exploring for the Boy Scouts of America.  He later became the Director of Exploring of the BSA in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Gene had asked us about our draft status and he also asked us if we had ever been boy scouts.  All three of us were boy scouts earlier in our lives.  With that information, Gene contacted his friend Lieutenant General Albert P. Clark and explained the WINDJAMMER draft situation.  Soon thereafter, Sgt. Jack Townsley came to our room at McMurry and formalized the paperwork to recruit us into the USAF as a group.  Texas Congressman Omar Burleson actually swore us in and on February 1,1968 we went to basic training at Langley AFB in San Antonio.

After completing basic training, we were assigned (for one year) to the USAF Band at McDill AFB in Tampa Florida while we waited for the "slots" to be opened in the USAF Band in Washington DC.  Our name was changed to "The GOODTIMERS" since "the windjammers" was to nautical for the Airforce.

Our year in Tampa was interesting.  Since Jerrel could play the clarinet and Pat could play the flute, they transitioned into the marching and ceremonial band quite well.  For me it was different,  the McDill USAF Band already had enough trombone players.  They wanted me to play the sousaphone/tuba.  I received a few lessons, but did not put my heart into it.  It was hard enough just to carry the instrument much less learn how to play it!  The McDill Band would do many "concerts" that year, however the concerts consisted of the National Anthem, then The Goodtimers would do a 30 minute show, and then the band would end the concert with "Stars and Stripes Forever".

In July 1968 we all married our college sweethearts.  Jerrel married Cindy McCann of Lometa, Texas.  Pat married Pat Smith of Midland, Texas, and I married Martha Miers of Dumas, Texas.  All of us lived in apartment very close to each other.  We all had a good time in Tampa.