Lackland AFB Tour at the Convention

[Rick G.]

Re: Lackland AFB Tour at the Convention

Maybe it was the time of year, I was there in May 1960. We had fire watch because the heat was on in those old wooden barracks and if there was a heating malfunction someone needed to sound the alarm to get everyone out before those tinder boxes went up in flames. I believe it was not just a training exercise (E.I.: "Halt who goes there?"), but it was born from sad experience. Perhaps not a Lackland or even in the Air Force. Those wooden barracks were common in all branches of the military. Can you imagine the carnage with all those sleeping bodies and a fire.

Edit add: I must have just missed you Rick.

Hi Terry,

I stayed in the Air Force Reserve and retired in 2003. Travis AFB had a few of those old wooden barracks and sometime in the mid 80's they put one on fire as part of a Fire Department training exercise. It was fully engulfed in flames in less than a minute and a half. I witnessed what was an incredibly hot fire and dangerous. The rest of the barracks were bull dozed.

[Michael F.]

Re: Lackland AFB Tour at the Convention

I hope to attend and will pass, I was deputy/commander of a squadron back in 80s so been there, done that and retired AF

[Steven B.]

Re: Lackland AFB Tour at the Convention

Aahhh, I remember the wooden barracks well in August and fire watch. All you could eat in a few minutes and S, S & Shave in less. I still do the hospital corners and my wife thinks I am nutzz. We trained with South Vietnamese---they loved raw eggs on top of everything. One dark morning marching to the "dining hall" we saluted what we thought was a full bird---he was a mailman. We double timed the rest of the way. Our DI, McKinney, shook our hands on the last day and left us in the day room to wait for the bus. A fellow from another squadron thought he would be funny and put his hand in is blouse looking like Napoleon. A first shirt came in, saw him, and told him he could repeat. I miss those days.