Mike Franklin Ministries

U. S. Air Force Seal I began my Air Force career with basic training in October 1976 at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. The flight from Jackson, MS to San Antonio was my first time on an airplane. I was one of two 17 year olds in my class and served as a squad leader. From basic training I went to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS in late November. During Christmas leave, Tina and I were married. No honeymoon just back to training. As a matter of record…that honeymoon was put on hold for 25 years. I guess we got that honeymoon on our 25th anniversary when we went to Gatlinburg. Tina is a very patient person! I was a student rope (leader) while at Keesler. In January 1977 this country boy from rural Mississippi got orders to California. I’m sure we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies as we packed all we owned (or borrowed) in the bed of a short-wheel base ’68 Ford truck and took off across the country…eyes getting wider the further west we got!

At George AFB in Victorville, CA I worked in Base Operations in the scheduling office. Our shop (part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing) did the daily flying schedule for F-4 Phantoms and F-105 Thuds (the sound they made when they crashed). I enjoyed life in the desert for two and a half years and got to see the first landing of the first space shuttle. I was promoted to Airman and Airman First Class while at George AFB.

Orders to Anderson AFB, Guam moved us from the California desert to a small tropical island in the Marianas Island chain. Here I did the flying schedule for B-52 D models as part of the 60th Bomb Squadron. Our first child (Kristan) was born on Guam. We learned to love the clear waters surrounding the north end of the island and I took up snorkeling. Visited Kadena AB, Japan during one of our typhoon evacuations. I was promoted to Senior Airman while here on Guam.

After 18 months there I volunteered for recruiting duty where I spent the next 16 years doing a variety of jobs within recruiting service. The training took me back to Lackland AFB in January 1981. My first recruiting assignment was the delta region of Mississippi. I made Staff Sergeant soon after arriving. During this time word got out that I was a singer and started receiving invitations to sing the National Anthem at various military functions. I reckon I’ve sung the Star Spangled Banner over 100 times at all kinds of banquets and different ceremonies. I still love to sing it.

Our second child (Staci) was born during this assignment. I went to work as a job counselor at the entrance station in Jackson in 1984. Got a squadron level job in operations in October 1985 and was moved to Little Rock as a production control NCO. Did that for 18 months and became the squadron trainer. It was here I put on Technical Sergeant stripes. Went back to San Antonio again in May of 1989 where I worked in operations at group level for a while and then as the Air Force Supervisor at the entrance station downtown. My promotion to Master Sergeant came here.

In May of 1992 I came back to Little Rock for my two final jobs in the Air Force. I became the “A” Flight Supervisor for the 348th Recruiting Squadron...one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever had. My last job in the Air Force was as the squadron operations supervisor. I served on active duty from October of ’76 to November of ’96.

I was proud to wear the uniform of the United States Air Force and still miss it.