I must admit that my four years
at the Rhein (86-91) were, without doubt, the best of my 27 year
career! The people, the travel, the parties, and the experiences
were amazing, like no other. The unique mission, location, and operations
of the base made it central to everything happening in Europe and
the Middle East.
When I left RMAB in March 1991, I became a
Professional Military Education instructor and served as the Director
of Education and Vice Commandant of the Kisling NCO Academy at Kapaun
Air Station, Germany. This was another great assignment and I made
CMSgt while assigned to the Academy. In January 1994, I returned
to the SP career field and was assigned as the Security Police Manager
for the 554th Security Support Flight, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Unfortunately, this was absolutely the worst assignment of my career
and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I applied for special
duty and joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in 1995. I spent
eight months training in Washington DC and then was assigned as
the Operations Coordinator for the Defense Attaché Office
in Bucharest, Romania. Embassy duty was a blast and I liked it so
much that I signed up for another tour and transferred to the Defense
Attaché Office in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok is one of the
largest Defense Attaché Offices in the world and we had so
many off-the-wall, one-of-a-kind operations that it could fill several
pages (if only it wasn’t all classified). Needless to say,
Thailand was a great assignment and I retired from there in June
2002. My wife, Marlena, and I moved to Fullerton in Southern California,
where I spent a couple years working full time on our house. When
the house was fixed up my wife sent me into the job market where
I landed in the gas business at SC Fuels…. I only work three
and a half days a week and get to spend the rest of my time with
my three sons, ages 9, 9, and 8. It also leaves my plenty of leisure
time to jog, hit the gym, play racquetball, or just cruise around
on my Harley.
Things I remember most from my assignment:
· The amazing, talented, and awesome professionals
I worked with throughout my four years. Who could argue that these
guys weren’t some of the best in the Air Force: (in no specific
order) Capt Branigan, Chiefs Martin and Burbage, Larry Wimbrow,
Doug Clark, Ron Ewers, The Shirts (Tate and Swaney), Doug Warren,
Todd Huntley, Dave Ward, Chris Wilder, Lt Anderson, Chris Carr,
and of course my role model Wick Toliver.
· The competitions: I know I was a professional
competitor and I sure miss those challenges….. Defender
Challenge, Airlift Rodeo, Peacekeeper Challenge, and the many
local competitions we managed to worm our way into……
And what a crew of competitors, Ron Ewers, the Pet Shop Boys (Drew
and Rich), Harry Pfabe, John Kerrigan, Jerry Moore, Gary Simmons,
Jerry (Lars) Engemann, Scott Millard, and our great shooting coaches
from CATMS (thanks Bill, Randy, and the gang).
· Spy swaps and secret visits by dignitaries
that weren’t supposed to be in Germany (I’d tell you
who but then we’d have to hunt you down and kill you)
· The mooning McGruff farewell to Larry
Wimbrow. Should I finally reveal the man in the costume?
· Fasching parties at the Flughafen.
· Any excuse for a party at Wick’s
house (and later my house)
· Several trips to the Oktoberfest and
testing my ability to NOT hurl while riding the Pfumpter-Looper
roller coaster
· The middle of the night recall and secret
mission to repatriate the Vatican’s library.
· INF security and the Russian’s
very first inspection on the 4th of July
· Playing basketball nearly every morning
(kicking the snot out of Training).
· Security for Bob Hope and the gang. Working
out at the gym with Brooke Shields and getting an eyeful of Latoya
Jackson back stage (she was walking the halls with no top)!
· The all-nighter carrying sand bags in
the rain trying to save the dike (I swear my back still hurts).
· The Hungarian Airliner hijacking.
· The amazing travel throughout Europe.
· Deploying with the ALCE to Desert Shield
and spending the next two months bouncing from country to country
bedding down combat forces. I think Chris Wilder and I saw eight
countries in those 60 days.
· Selling Brats and Beer at the Rocket’s
football games.
· Working security with the FBI and
Germans protecting the hostages that testified during the Hamadi
trial. Meeting and even dining with the central characters and
getting to know the Stetham family.
· The hysterically funny trip to the German
Army Jump school and my five parachute jumps. I admit it was something
I always wanted to do, but will NEVER do again!!
· Just toooooooo many things to remember.
- Marvin D. McTigue, CMSgt Ret. USAF
