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Today's Featured Biography
Dennis Olmstead
Hello Everyone;
I move to Milwaukee after graduation and work there for almost a year before joining the Air Force in May 1966. David Gygi and I joined in a program called the buddy system and when we left for the service, I was on one aircraft headed for Amarillo AFB and he went to Sheppard AFB, TX. We never saw each other again in the service.
My career started as a Reciprocating Aircraft (AC) Maintenance Technician. I worked as a Dedicated Crew Chief on various AC including C-121, at Otis AFB MA, O-1, O-2, at Nha Trang AB and a forward operating site Dalat, Viet Nam, and C-119 at Richards-Gebaur AFB MO.
In 1971 I cross trained to Aircraft Maintenance, Jet Engine Over Two and I was a Dedicated Crew Chief on a KC-135 at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. My temporary duties (TDYs) started and the overseas locations include two 179 day tours to U-Tapao Thailand, plus TDYs to Hawaii, Okinawa, Azores, Spain, and England. The state side locations were Grissom AFB IN, Barksdale AFB LA, and SAC Alert at Homestead AFB FL. Along with my promotions, my responsibilities increased and my duties included Assistant Flight Chief, Phase Dock NCOIC, and FMS Production Superintendent.
In 1980 we went to Elmendorf AFB, AK and I work with C-130s, C-141s and C-5s. I enjoyed more responsibilities as a C-130 Dock Chief, Maintenance Control Shift Supervisor and Support Section NCOIC. We had fun with three wheelers, fishing and I went hunting and brought back a little black bear, a moose and a Caribou. I also finished my Associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force in 1984.
In 1985 we were reassigned to Hulburt Field, Florida which is located in the northwest Florida Panhandle. I was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing and involved with MC-130 Combat Talons, H-53 helicopters and the AC-130 Gunships. I also had the good fortune to work with and deploy on TDYs with the Army and Navy Special Operation units. My duty titles included 8/16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Superintendent, 20th AMU Superintendent, 16 Special Operation Squadron Superintendent, and 16th Operation Group Chief Enlisted Manager. I wasn’t immune to TDYs and went oversea to Panama, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Italy. Some state side TDYs were at Fort Biggs, TX, Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Campbell, KY, Fort McCoy, WI and three bases in California.
I was promoted in 1989 to the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant, E-9, which is one per cent of the enlisted force. Some of my decorations include the Purple Heart for wound received in Viet Nam, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. I retired from the Air Force in June 1996 after 30 years of service.
I married Ellen Cobb upon my return from Viet Nam in Nov. 1968 and we had one son, David who has been in the AF for 14 years and is currently assign at Hurlburt Field, FL. I have one granddaughter, Katherine 13 years old and lives in Mars, PA. Upon my retirement in 1996 Ellen was diagnosed with MDS, a form of Leukemia. She received two bone marrow transplants and a stem cell booster. Her four year battle ended in Jan 2000. I am currently married to Peggy and she has one daughter with three lovely children, 2 girls and one boy, currently living in Watertown, NY. I’m a believer that life is too short, and I’m trying to enjoy it to its fullest. In 2010 I was successfully treated with radiation and chemo for throat cancer and doing great.
After my AF career I went to school for residential electrician, air conditioning technician, and cabinetry. Peggy and I remodeled our kitchen and bath and help some friend with their remodeling. We currently enjoy traveling and riding motorcycles; I’m on a Gold wing and Peggy’s on a Honda Aero 750. I appreciate having this forum to share this with everyone. Dennis
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