Jake Floyd and Chereé Bailey

00:02 My name is JD Floyd.

00:06 Retired Air Force vet

00:10 And today's date is May 23rd.

00:14 2019

00:19 Hi, I'm sharrif Floyd Bailey and I'm here with my dad on the military Initiative for storycorps. Today's date is May 23rd. 2019. I'm 49 years old and daddy is 90. He'll be 91 on Memorial Day.

00:41 So Dad, I was born after you retired from the military. So I really didn't have that active military experience that my sister Connie and Cynthia had when they were growing up, but I always did have this strong awareness of service and Duty and really really stopped patriotism that you and mother to gave to all of us. So I was really intrigued because you did not speak about your experiences.

01:22 During your active duty time.

01:26 While I was growing up, but it wasn't until my children started having assignments where they had to interview someone and they chose you to interview for school assignments that I learned about some of your military experiences and situations that you went through. So I wanted to just ask you. What do you remember about the day you enlisted?

01:56 Well, it was a cold cold day in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

02:04 And it was so cold.

02:07 That's the main thing that I remember about that cuz I had never been so cold in my life as I was that particular today. And the wind was that February 47.

02:21 And you just chose to enlist?

02:25 Well, dude, I was born and raised on the farm and the

02:30 During the early.

02:32 Days of World War II

02:35 I can see these aircraft flying over real low altitude. You could almost identify do.

02:45 What the guy was wearing on his face and I we're so fortunate that time they were so low and I decided right then that that's what I wanted to be a member of

02:56 The United States Air Force or are you are Army Air corps it was in.

03:02 And how did you tell your family and friends that you were joining or had joined up?

03:10 I did not really. Tell anyone. Did I have join the Army Air Corp for sale?

03:21 I think when they sent my clothes back my civilian clothing back home that they found out to.

03:31 Or I wasn't that I was in the Army Air corps.

03:35 So when you went to Fort Bragg to unless that day, you stayed and start the count sheet then the next day I went on Fort Bragg.

03:49 Okay.

03:51 And so had it you choose that Army Air corps just from your experience of being intrigued by seeing the airplanes fly over the farm.

04:03 Mostly, yes, but the mainly I had seen the activities and involve by the Army and the Air Force for the things I do and so far as I and I decided I didn't want to crawl on my belly in the mud and all that suggest to be a member of the Armed Forces. So I chose the Army Air corps because

04:28 That's what I wanted to be.

04:31 Well, what was basic training like back then?

04:36 What's up back to we really took a 23 weeks or military basic?

04:43 And the until we came except for branch of service and then it was only 8 weeks.

04:51 I thought it was for motivation now.

04:56 But then we took rifle training range.

05:01 Everything vivolac the whole works under the Marine flight marcher, so he was pretty rough on us. We were on that my little morning before breakfast, so

05:13 We were in pretty good shape.

05:18 And do you think your basic training?

05:21 Did a good job of preparing you for the environment you were going to be in?

05:30 How did it differ from your life before you enlisted?

05:39 Well, I didn't work as hard as I did on the farm and what to

05:45 What we did do was it was quite different.

05:50 It wasn't related holy to the present-day Airman and training today. All they do is just familiarization. And that's it. None of the bills lacking.

06:08 No Small Arms fire and so forth. They just don't do that today. It's it is strictly Airforce with no army or

06:17 Involved in it

06:20 So you enlisted in war war was currently.

06:29 Active or did you and last after peach trees has had already been signed, but we were in the occupational stage so I became

06:46 When I was seven over season 2 Japan out of doing the occupational.

06:51 Forces and the Air corps we are not a

07:03 Physical

07:05 In my career, I have not a physical fighting man. So to speak. I'm The Man Behind The Man Behind the gun.

07:14 So you gave a lot of support support.

07:20 So, can you remember all the places you served during your military time?

07:30 I think I can.

07:33 So where where was your first deployment?

07:38 Assignment was

07:40 If no longer exist in that particular sent this was San Antonio Army Air corps wizard at San Antonio, Texas, which is now Lackland Air Force Base.

07:53 Then I went to Scott Field, Illinois for

07:57 Trying to get a radio operator.

07:59 It was during the massive, Mississippi River flood.

08:04 In 1947. We were $4 class fill sandbags for 2 weeks or class that already graduated.

08:13 We had a choice of remaining for three months or waiting for another class or go overseas. We chose overseas. I went to the Philippines.

08:23 Then to Japan and back to the Philippines to Guam later and general 1948 then.

08:33 They made a mustache 30 on Iwo, Jima. I was sent to either Jim or central air base. He will Jima it was barren.

08:48 Because they was they were no trees.

08:52 Only small bushes growing up after the

08:58 Skirmish had ended and

09:01 And the crater of Mount suribachi that's where they start the statue of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo. Jima was located at I'm probably one of the only people live in maybe the only one who actually stood on the base of the monument on Iwo, Jima for me will I came back home back to the States? And what's on the Smoky Hill Air Force Base candies. We close at in October of 1949 and move to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

09:37 And from there

09:40 In 1954 I was sent to Korea.

09:45 And that was your first active combat Duty I was on the phone, but I was not actually home that I care to weapon the so forth, but I

09:58 38 special but no combat.

10:04 And so tell me about some of the things that you were concerned about when you were in Korea.

10:13 What what caused you to be anxious or worried when you were in Korea?

10:18 War Korea

10:23 AutoZone to my job and career was

10:27 Afac Armed Forces Asia career, they showed me because of my specialty through my the my experience is getting the job done so far stand.

10:40 So what I did was build our bill mess Halls messing facilities dormitories and

10:49 Housing facilities for Orphans, that was my job. That was my sole purpose and Korea.

10:58 And is that when your electrical specialty came in or was that like electronic supervisor all the time? I was in cyc is a i o they called it that relations operation, which is now civil engineers.

11:22 And I've been electrician all my life and the an electrical lineman, but that was my job due to my specialty getting the job done and how I operate. That was why I was chosen for these remote areas.

11:39 So now this picture that I have hear out of your ear.

11:45 Military time

11:59 Time I remember very well then do some of my papa songs are not in some more pictures. They were they always horse around and so forth and that's what we were wondering coufal afternoon. And that was just something like the family does what you know, what we just goof around and after the evening meal ends of Fortune before dark and natural way that picture right there with curtain.

12:30 And did you have to service electrical poles or?

12:38 Tell me about a time that you were.

12:42 On an electrical pole. I remember reading in a interview you had with one of the boys something that you had that you found regrettable.

12:52 Where are you?

12:55 The voltage in Korea was a very peculiar voltage. It was 3304 here. We have 41 we call it 4160 or 5,000 volt battery was very peculiar.

13:09 And

13:11 This one day I said I was coming back from work a little project cell had completed and back to our compound.

13:21 And the

13:24 A group of people gathered on the road in front of me and I happened to look up and there was a Korean siegelman right on top of a pole and cross across arms.

13:37 Across two of those 3300 V lines and his body was smoking his clothes were just falling off of him. They were

13:48 And that was one of the

13:51 So you said to I could never understand how it happened. I'm

13:58 Rush up

14:01 All right, then.

14:03 And I'll pray for the boy's family and human ever.

14:11 Everything would be alright, but that were won the most regrettable things.

14:18 In career that record

14:24 The things that happened to me and Korea were all emotional.

14:29 Most emotional crisis and experiences of the children and so forth. What if that were my main?

14:40 Project with a children housing and feeding them.

14:46 Orphans orphans world

14:51 If over our American servicemen

14:55 Illegitimate children with Korean girls and the Koreans is far as an orphan go. They are nothing but I'll cash.

15:06 . They're just out cash had a Korean Community wouldn't take care of me.

15:15 So we see that the Air Force or the military decided to give some more and how did the Korean?

15:29 And that's when I say I have spoken about these King's Daughters, which is a I believe a Catholic organization. I'm not sure will but it was a response to the letter that I had written to the three before the editor the three four times and these ladies got a hold of Dad in the day. I left on the 14th day of December 1954 truck loads of clothing arrive there for those 34 + 9 + 9 don't know who took over the Inn.

16:02 And the Pharaoh that was a great success.

16:08 And so what was it like in December in Korea?

16:18 I'm from Korea. Where did you go?

16:22 I want some career I went to.

16:26 I went back to Barksdale.

16:30 Air Force Base in Louisiana, then from there I went to

16:37 I went to Iceland.

16:41 And what did you do in Iceland H1 or H2? 9/32 AC NW side.

16:53 With the big bubbles

16:56 Out there to Big Bubbles were there.

16:59 Aircraft now then they fly between those bubbles hit there a b and go to dust off the bubbles.

17:08 So is that why you hate to be cold? Because you spent time and Iceland where you really cold?

17:19 Korea

17:22 I guess is this

17:24 Cuz I was young the cold didn't bother me anyway and Michigan either but

17:31 That was a it was a good healthy to her.

17:36 What are the

17:38 So your awesomeness is a circle by the Gulf Stream and

17:45 I think average year-round temperature was only 39 degrees or something like that picture of you on the rocks in front of this beautiful blue water deep blue water. Oh, that's so is that an iFunny on one of the docs down in keflavik Iceland for our main base was 12 miles out from the main base. And the that blue water was the one of the abandoned docks in the right behind me. They are Gordo's about

18:21 20 ft deep

18:23 And you could see the bottom just as clearing and right behind me and it was about a as I've told you all before there's about a 20-foot tigershark. Just laying there and some big halibut.

18:38 The giant flounders they were just laying there also every now and then you can see him move a little bit and I thought that was quite unique in the

18:51 What do you know it wasn't that cold you can walk around in it. So it got 18u00b0 twice there and that was it you can walk around and it was so dry. You can walk around a shirt sleeves.

19:05 That's interesting cuz you don't think of Iceland being having that type of class.

19:15 So from Iceland, where did you go?

19:20 Oh, I thought I went to Michigan Mount Clemens, Michigan to Selfridge Air Force Base from from there a little to get a half later I went North to

19:30 We activated another bomb wing and I went to Oscoda Michigan Works Miss Air Force Base.

19:38 To set up an established.

19:42 For sale children so far is Fargo new folks arriving.

19:48 Then from there I went to the school and they say Mitchell school for a change.

19:54 For a B-52 engine kc-135 fuel sessions and from there. I went to Blytheville, Arkansas.

20:04 Blah blah Air Force Base

20:07 And then

20:12 From there

20:29 From blonde will I

20:36 I can't remember which show

20:43 Which ones at I went to but

20:49 Oh we went to a

20:54 Oh, gosh, I get out of this gate for my mind Noster, Missouri Whiteman Air Force Base.

21:02 And then from Whiteman extra pictures of Bjorn Mama based on

21:09 Former white when I went to

21:16 Libya Africa

21:19 Short rate you must there.

21:25 I know when I came back.

21:29 I went to Whiteman.

21:34 And the

21:39 You from when I came back. I went to Vietnam.

21:45 When did you go to Vietnam? What year was that? Do you remember?

21:50 O-60

21:59 Is 66 or 6 or 6?

22:04 The following is all over.

22:09 What were your responsibilities in Vietnam?

22:15 Electrician electrician lineman supervisor

22:20 And I had to train and supervise a young Airman.

22:26 And

22:31 Also, did they managing the electrical for sandwiches for the entire Air Base, which was always my responsibility Airfield lighting the whole work overhead lighting for quarters. I don't work and that was my responsibility and the

22:52 Vietnam Rivers fan running or base

22:56 Right off the South China Sea

23:00 And the

23:04 Irish Flats my retirement, they turned it down and tan salute Air Base in

23:14 The first time

23:16 I reapply the second time they turn it down at packhouse headquarters and

23:21 In Honolulu coaches Pacific Air Command headquarters

23:27 And the why you think they turned it down?

23:31 Due to my special to my knowledge and there was only six hours in the entire Air Force where does dual afsc switch Air Force specialty codes are job titles, and they didn't want to let me go so remotely but they weren't they didn't want to let me go over Frozen a grave for 15 years without a promotion.

24:00 So I wrote to my congressman Joe Wagner 4th District.

24:05 State of Louisiana

24:08 And I had gotten a piece of shrapnel in my InStep of my left foot.

24:16 Tell me how that happened. It caused a little too or to go there.

24:25 I'm not giving my bunker and piece of crap, got me into food. I don't know why I didn't get in your rear end housing area in the base was taking on. That's the only time you at where you at, we never got any come in mail other than that afternoon. So I never got over my six-foot wall plus to sandbag.

24:48 And when it did it go went through to lay. She's all mine want to call jungle moved. It's a nylon green. Nylon mesh.

24:57 Shoe with a rubber vulcanized rubber sole on it and the

25:05 But they wanted to get that little sewer off of my foot before I came back. So in the process of doing this. Or when they made that decision I went back from mine.

25:20 My office stopped up my letter to my congressman.

25:26 Download it out. I want to go home. I want my retirement approved and I went to the hospital Next Day to all the cam ranh Bay Hospital. We didn't have all we had was its dispensary if entering a base in the

25:43 5 days later that correspondence went through channels to

25:50 Why US mail to order T Wagner desk in Washington DC and back today or in five days, which is absolutely garnered off for the military Mail system.

26:05 So when I came home and I left Vietnam on the 29th day of August 1967.

26:18 I'm sedated.

26:23 I can't remember the rest of my life I can.

26:30 Everytime I think of it. I think she'll hear that.

26:34 I sure hear those kids are screaming.

26:39 The aircraft that

26:45 That took off a Harriman was checking it out with small arms fire.

26:51 From the Vietcong PC

26:55 And the

26:57 We could see there's black smoke billowing before we took off and

27:10 That was my worst. That was my worst experience in the hole.

27:15 My whole 20 years 6 months and 19 days total.

27:20 Active continuous service

27:23 And I can get it.

27:29 And that's why you're here today, baby.

27:33 It because I told Mother one day that week. We just need another one and I helped me at night.

27:46 And if she loves you because you're there.

27:51 You're not have those we came by acting out had to wait at McChord Air Force Base for 3 days for my retirement order to become effective. You know, I came home and nobody knew did I came home and check my family?

28:07 I was at that time the people went to.

28:12 Canada

28:14 Like when I came home from Korea and Vietnam

28:18 The people spit it us and threw rocks at us.

28:24 Be not work for you taking that uniform cuz you were military called we were military.

28:31 Going to see if quiche.

28:34 It was real real bad.

28:37 I don't know pin to the sixties.

28:41 Please during the fifties we weren't allowed to wear uniform into town.

28:46 For sure if we went back and forth to work you'll wear civilian clothes.

28:52 But that was of the sentiment.

28:57 It started against Harry Truman's regime, but it ain't it. I don't know it.

29:06 How it got started or nothing but

29:12 If people only understood

29:16 What a military.

29:19 Man and his family

29:22 Have to go through

29:28 I think it would be a hold the sentiment would be a whole lot different.

29:33 I know it would be 100% different.

29:36 They don't understand what?

29:40 What they go through?

29:42 The sacrifices that they make not only here at home, but

29:49 When they're away from home.

29:53 Well, I know sometimes when we're out in public running errands going to the store or if we're going out to lunch and you have your Air Force cap on sometimes people will stop you.

30:16 And thank you for your service.

30:25 Rodger and I always tell him.

30:31 It's able to said that if I could have heard the other words.

30:35 When I got lost aircraft when I came back from Vietnam I said I would have gotten down on my knees and all the kids silver shoes.

30:43 And I sure would.

30:47 Well, I did not ever know that and so the very first time you

30:56 Said that to someone I didn't understand it because

31:02 Personally, I had always held our military personnel are men and women who choose to serve in such high regard.

31:12 And so for you to explain that the

31:19 General population of America didn't always have such a favorable opinion of military personnel. I found that very disturbing and shocking but I am so pleased that.

31:33 As a whole our country seems to support our military personnel now and understand a little better the sacrifices and do a lot to support.

31:51 Support them

31:54 So I do I do feel like that has turned around a little bit.

32:01 With all I am

32:04 I know that y'all had to make a lot of sacrifices at home to

32:10 And financially because a military man was not met just don't get the pay compared to civilian pay and

32:21 A lot of people reside in our retirement say where your drawing Social Security and retirement pay

32:30 I sure learned every penny of it.

32:35 So are you?

32:37 In retrospect at almost 91 in a few days.

32:45 How do you view your time in the military? Do you regret?

32:54 Enlisting or are you glad you did?

33:02 Look up what little I did. I was not a combat veteran combat Soldier.

33:09 But I am proud.

33:13 Down in my soul of everything that I did.

33:17 To support my country sport the man who were up there fighting.

33:23 I lost friends and love I lost.

33:26 Puma women in Vietnam

33:31 And it just like a mon kids when I found out they were just that close.

33:37 And

33:40 I have a bad lot once in awhile, but my wife wakes me up and I'm okay. Look at other will have any other problem. No drugs no alcohol or and singing.

33:51 But I'm proud proud proud of being retired US servicemen.

34:02 Are supported and

34:05 Did everything I could for my country for 20 years 6 months and 19 days in and I'll never regret that.

34:14 Well, I'm proud of you, too.