Jimmy and I joined the Air Force together and were sworn in at the Armed Forces Induction Center at 401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, on July 5th, 1963. Technically, no one got drafted into the Air Force—but plenty of guys joined just to dodge the Army. Our fellow inductees were about a 50/50 mix: Black guys from the Philly hood and white guys fresh out of Catholic school, all suddenly united under the same buzz cuts and boot polish.
I could write a book about our five weeks at Lackland… but I probably won’t. Then again, maybe I will. Somewhere along the way, Jimmy became “Huey” and I became “Moe”—credit Nick Dunn for that moniker, and RIP to a true character.
Jim sat behind me in a couple of my classes and he was always trying to annoy me by pulling my chair back away from the desk! Especially in typing when we were taking a speed test! Crazy guy and so very much fun!!!
Didn't know Jim well, but I like Mike Mullock's comments re the era, especially the USAF as a haven for those of us who wanted no part of the U.S. Army. I was USAF ROTC, so they gave me a commission when I completed college. I then owed them four years active duty, which I was happy to serve, given the alternative.
Michael Mullock
Jimmy and I joined the Air Force together and were sworn in at the Armed Forces Induction Center at 401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, on July 5th, 1963. Technically, no one got drafted into the Air Force—but plenty of guys joined just to dodge the Army. Our fellow inductees were about a 50/50 mix: Black guys from the Philly hood and white guys fresh out of Catholic school, all suddenly united under the same buzz cuts and boot polish.
I could write a book about our five weeks at Lackland… but I probably won’t. Then again, maybe I will. Somewhere along the way, Jimmy became “Huey” and I became “Moe”—credit Nick Dunn for that moniker, and RIP to a true character.
Janet Linden (Rivera)
Jim sat behind me in a couple of my classes and he was always trying to annoy me by pulling my chair back away from the desk! Especially in typing when we were taking a speed test! Crazy guy and so very much fun!!!
Jon Beard (Beard)
Didn't know Jim well, but I like Mike Mullock's comments re the era, especially the USAF as a haven for those of us who wanted no part of the U.S. Army. I was USAF ROTC, so they gave me a commission when I completed college. I then owed them four years active duty, which I was happy to serve, given the alternative.
RIP James Trauger.