Minor Smith - Autobiography

Howdy Class of '58. Minor Smith reporting in.

ROLL ROLL BIG BLUE!! GO CATS GO!!
Howdy Class of '58. Minor Smith reporting in.
James M. Smith
22733 Penny Loop
Land O Lakes, FL 34639-4716
jemsmith@earthlink.net

BLOG: http://jamesemsmith.blogspot.com/

I sure hope you all have a wonderful time at the 50th reunion and wish you all the best. As I always said: We had a great time growing up in Meridian in the 50s and I always knew I was having fun. I know we all have many wonderful memories.

I am very sorry I cannot make it to our 50th reunion. Sure would have liked to come home but my health is too bad to make the long trip from Tampa right now. I am down with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and have to have oxygen all the time but still go out with my sons Doug and Mike once in awhile with oxygen tank in tow.

Anne and I divorced after 35 years of marriage and after raising a daughter and three sons. Anne still lives in Milton. I live with my middle son Douglas here in Land O Lakes. Michael our eldest son and his wife also live in Land O Lakes. Mike is a Supervisor with Brighthouse Cable Co. Our youngest son Steven (after gaining his Masters degree in Instructional Technology from U. of Central Florida) is now working with a contractor in Orlando developing training programs for the Marine Corps. Our daughter Stephanie lives in Panama City. She has 3 sons: Matthew (24) and Jeffery (19) work at a shipyard in Orange, Texas and Patrick the middle grandson (21) joined the Army last week and is in South Carolina now.

After graduating from MJC I joined and made a career in the Air Force in the command and control career field. The Air Force was good to me and allowed me to gain a degree from the University of West Florida. After I retired from USAF, I went back to UWF and gained Master degrees in Educational Leadership and Technical/VocationalEducation.

Highlights of my Air Force career in command and control included a combat tour in 1968 in Vietnam on the DMZ supporting the Marine garrison at Khe Sahn (War is HORROR). In 1977-78 I served with an Air Force team that brought the "StarWars" Cobra Dane site operational at Shemya Alaska. At Shemya I was involved in obtaining intelligence on foreign mislle developments and maintaining surveillanceof all earth orbiting satellites. I had 2 tours each at Eglin AFB and Tyndall AFB.At Eglin I worked with missions supporting development of the SR71, F111, and F15. I ended my career with my last 5 years at Tyndall AFB with three years as an instructor and the final two years as NCOIC of the USAF Interceptor Weapons School (Top Guntype training for F15s).

After retiring from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant, I gained employment with the Navy as an Instructional Technologist at Saufley Field in Pensacola. My duties with the Navy included developing training programs and advancement exams for enlisted Navy personnel. I worked with many Navy ratings but more with the Seabees than any of the others. As a result of my failing health I decided to retire after 19 years with the Navy in Sept. 2003 with the Grade of GS-12.

God bless all of you. With the Good Lord's help maybe I can make it to the next reunion!