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Feeling nostalgic

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Clark
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla --  

In 1965 Jim and Sandy Bush arrived at Altus Air Force Base. They spent the next two years here; Jim, served in the Air Force and Sandy, in civil service, both learning to serve each other in their new marriage.

Now, 49 years later, the Bush’s returned to Altus as part of a 10 state, 5,000-mile road trip in celebration of their 51st wedding anniversary.

Jim joined the Air Force in 1963 for several reasons, he said. “At that time there was kind of an economic depression and not much opportunity.”

“And there was a draft going on at that time,” added Sandy. “There was that romantic idea of him joining the Marines with their nice uniforms,” she joked, “but they were all going to Vietnam and it just seemed like the Air Force had better job opportunities.”

As high-school-sweethearts, Sandy was with Jim throughout his military career in one way or another.

“We dated before I enlisted, and then I got stationed in Italy as a non-Morse intercept operator for two years,” said Jim. “Then, when I got orders for Bangor, Maine, I was 20 years old and we got married and of course, just as I sent all my clothes to Maine, my orders were changed to Altus!”

With plans of learning to snow ski and making preparations for a harsh winter, being diverted to Altus was a bit of shock.

“I remember a lot of dust, jack rabbits and heat,” said Sandy, “but we were happy it wasn’t Maine!”

When Jim arrived as an aircraft dispatcher in Base Operations, Altus AFB was a Strategic Air Command base that primarily housed the B-52 Stratofortress.

“As a non-Morse intercept operator I copied codes from Chinese satellites, and when I got here I provided the pilots with weather reports, box lunches and maps,” said Jim. “And Sandy got a job in the base finance office.”

As they got used to their new jobs, Altus helped them learn to live as a married couple.

“It was nice to be here when we got married. We lived so far away from home, we had to learn to rely on each other,” said Sandy.

“And 51 years later here we are!” Jim added. “We had our first house here, we got baptized here. There’s lots of good memories. When it was so hot in the summer, we’d wait till the evening then we would put our cat on a leash and take it for a walk!”

Along with time, Altus progressed and during their return the Bush’s were able to see much of that progress as they toured the base.

The Bush’s made stops at the control tower, radar approach control facility, base operations, C-17 Globemaster III simulators and the finance office. “I’m just blown away how much things have improved,” said Jim. “The level of technology really stands out. It’s truly amazing the way y ’all train all the new guys coming in.”

In the four years the Bush’s served in the Air Force, they came away with lasting effects.

“Serving made me grow up a lot faster than I would have,” said Jim. “Saying yes ma’am, yes sir; it all taught me responsibility and a lot of things that transferred over to my other jobs and things that has helped me in our marriage.”

“For me, it taught me to be self-reliant,” said Sandy. “When we got here, we only had each other.”

After living out firsthand the life of an Airman and a civilian, Jim leaves this advice: “The military is great. It provides you with learning experiences that you just can’t equal in the civilian life. Take advantage of all the educational and career opportunities it offers as well as the life experiences.”