R. A. Lewis, Jr graduated from Sylvania High School in May of 1949. A year later,
he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. For basic training, he traveled 1,100 miles by
train from Millen, Georgia to San Antonio, Texas. This trip was the farthest from
home, and for the longest time, he had ever experienced. At the end of basic,
he returned home to Sylvania as PFC Lewis.
He hoped to attend electronics school after basic, with an eye toward a trade
after his 4 year enlistment ended. As in so many people's lives, the actions of
others took him in a different direction.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. With the increased need
to maintain security at Strategic Air Command bases, new recruits waiting for
technical schools were diverted to the Air Police branch of the service. As a
result, in January of 1951, Audrey Lewis was sent to Military Police School in
Augusta, GA. From there, he moved to his permanent base at Turner Field in
Albany, GA.
He served as a military policeman in Albany for two years. His unit, the 31st Air
Police Squadon was tasked with protecting F-84 G Tunderjets, which were
introduced in 1951.
In Albany, his favorite duty was "town patrol". The men with the sharpest
uniform got selected for town duty, and he knew all the tricks for keeping a
sharp crease in his uniform pants, and or keeping a high shine on his shoes.
In March of 1952, he met Betty Jean Shaddix of Moultrie, GA, at a square dance
in Sylvester, GA. He did no know it, but she was living with her sister Mae in
Moultrie, GA. He and a buddy traveled from Albany to Moultrie the next
night, to try another square dance...and there she was. After the dance, he gave
her a ride home (about 3 blocks, if you went the direct route) and they found
they had a lot in common. So much so that they got married on May 2, 1952, six
weeks after they met.
When they marrried, he held the rank of "Buck Sergeant." He was 20, and she
was 19. In July of 1952, he was deployed with the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing to
the air base at Chitose, Japan (on Hokaido) for a three month tour.
He came home to Albany in October of 1952. His Fighter Wing received a Unit
Commendation for the long-haul Transpacific journay, in which the fighters were
refueld in flight. The 31st was replaced in Japan by the 27th Fighter Wing.
1953 was a big year. Staff Sgt Lewis (4 stripes) completed SAC's Security
Airman's training at Camp Carson in Colorado in April. He was sent to Chitose
again in November, for 3 months. It was he first time he'd ever seen a
snow-drift. On this deployment, as a Staff Sergeant, he carried a pistol, not a
rifle, and served as "Sergeant of the Guard." He returned to Georgia in early
1954, and left the Air Force in April, after 4 years of service.
While in the Air Force, he made a life-long friend in Bill Bargobas, from
Canasota, NY. They were deployed together, and shared a house together in
Albany, GA near the end of their enlistments. In the winter photos, Bill is the
only man who looks like he knows what he is doing on ice skates!
he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. For basic training, he traveled 1,100 miles by
train from Millen, Georgia to San Antonio, Texas. This trip was the farthest from
home, and for the longest time, he had ever experienced. At the end of basic,
he returned home to Sylvania as PFC Lewis.
He hoped to attend electronics school after basic, with an eye toward a trade
after his 4 year enlistment ended. As in so many people's lives, the actions of
others took him in a different direction.
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. With the increased need
to maintain security at Strategic Air Command bases, new recruits waiting for
technical schools were diverted to the Air Police branch of the service. As a
result, in January of 1951, Audrey Lewis was sent to Military Police School in
Augusta, GA. From there, he moved to his permanent base at Turner Field in
Albany, GA.
He served as a military policeman in Albany for two years. His unit, the 31st Air
Police Squadon was tasked with protecting F-84 G Tunderjets, which were
introduced in 1951.
In Albany, his favorite duty was "town patrol". The men with the sharpest
uniform got selected for town duty, and he knew all the tricks for keeping a
sharp crease in his uniform pants, and or keeping a high shine on his shoes.
In March of 1952, he met Betty Jean Shaddix of Moultrie, GA, at a square dance
in Sylvester, GA. He did no know it, but she was living with her sister Mae in
Moultrie, GA. He and a buddy traveled from Albany to Moultrie the next
night, to try another square dance...and there she was. After the dance, he gave
her a ride home (about 3 blocks, if you went the direct route) and they found
they had a lot in common. So much so that they got married on May 2, 1952, six
weeks after they met.
When they marrried, he held the rank of "Buck Sergeant." He was 20, and she
was 19. In July of 1952, he was deployed with the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing to
the air base at Chitose, Japan (on Hokaido) for a three month tour.
He came home to Albany in October of 1952. His Fighter Wing received a Unit
Commendation for the long-haul Transpacific journay, in which the fighters were
refueld in flight. The 31st was replaced in Japan by the 27th Fighter Wing.
1953 was a big year. Staff Sgt Lewis (4 stripes) completed SAC's Security
Airman's training at Camp Carson in Colorado in April. He was sent to Chitose
again in November, for 3 months. It was he first time he'd ever seen a
snow-drift. On this deployment, as a Staff Sergeant, he carried a pistol, not a
rifle, and served as "Sergeant of the Guard." He returned to Georgia in early
1954, and left the Air Force in April, after 4 years of service.
While in the Air Force, he made a life-long friend in Bill Bargobas, from
Canasota, NY. They were deployed together, and shared a house together in
Albany, GA near the end of their enlistments. In the winter photos, Bill is the
only man who looks like he knows what he is doing on ice skates!
| Air Force Service Return to Home Page |
| Audrey and Bill December, 1953 Chitose, Japan |
| September, 1952 Chitose, Japan |
| May 2, 1952 |
| June |
| 1950 |
PFC Lewis
1950
1950
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| 1949 |
| 1949 |
| 1950 |
| F84-E Firing Rockets |