rheishman
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Post by rheishman on Jul 9, 2009 17:44:25 GMT 9
My father, James M. Heishman served in the USAF with the 95th FIS. He was a radar technician. He retired in 1974 and in 1976 he began his own business servicing televisions and installing antenna's. I was just 11 years old when he started that business. Later he went on to installing satellite dishes. I have fond memories of my father in the Air Force. It was his service with the 95th FIS and living at some of the great places like Kingsley Field Oregon, that inspired me to join the Air Force too. And I did, in 1983. I served until 1994 with the 436th MAW now known as AMC. I was a crew chief on C-5's. My father was a good man, a hard drinker though. He loved his family. In 1997 he had heart problems. Soon in 1998 shortly before Christmas, he had problems again. This time though in the hospital, they discovered he had cancer. For 9 long months I watched a man I looked up to, a strong man who never asked anyone for help, a man with pride: dwindle down to a very small man weighing barely more than 110 lbs. On the morning of October 15th, 1999 my father's time here on earth was over. I still miss him terribly today and coming to this website has brought back some wonderful memories. I wished that I could have served with the 95th FIS. In my opinion, my father served with the REAL Air Force. Not to say that the Air Force today isn't real, but it certainly isn't the same in my opinion. The 95th saved his life. Growing up my father came from a family who had to work hard just to survive. My father had to quit school at a young age to help his family. He turned to drinking and unfortunately in his younger days he chose to do things that got him in trouble with the law. A judge had given him a choice, to either join the military or face going to jail. He chose the military and he ended up being with the 95th. Thank you 95th FIS, for saving my fathers life and teaching him skills he used for the remainder of his life. Thank you for giving him the qualities, that he passed down to me on how to always take care of your family. Thank you 95th for giving me memories of growing up with you and helping to inspire me to follow in my fathers footsteps. God bless all of you from the 95th, you served your country proud and you have children from your generation who grew up and never forgot the 95th.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 10, 2009 2:13:45 GMT 9
:welcome Good to have you in the Six Hanger. Hope you find out lots of information from those who were in the 95th and may have known your dad. Jim Scanlon 5th FIS 1962-1967, and others on both sides of those dates. :god_bless_usa
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Post by lugnuts55 on Jul 10, 2009 22:32:18 GMT 9
This is a very interesting thread and it made me think about my growing up under my dad's strict rules. I am the eldest of three boys and being so meant I was responsible for everything my brothers did, especially when they misbehaved. I got many whacks across the butt with a belt for something one of them did. I sure learned in a hurry how to teach them what not to do if it was wrong . My middle brother was hard headed and did things his own way and cost me a lot of "special" time with my dad. My dad was not mean, but learned things the hard way in his own growing up and tried to teach me how to avoid repeating his mistakes. His way of teaching this lesson wasn't very pleasant but it was how he was raised so how could he do any different? I don't begrudge him any of that because the good times I remember having with him far outweigh the bad. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1948. When he learned my mom was pregnant with me, he requested and was granted a humanitarian discharge to help mom take care of me. He served less than a year. I loved hearing him talk about his time in the AF, as short as it was, and it made me want to be in the Air Force. I knew from a young age that I was going to enlist and I did as soon as I turned 18. I have never regretted that decision. My middle brother enlisted in the AF in '72 while I was in SEA. We became very close and it was a hard thing when he passed three years ago. My dad was always proud of his sons and our accomplishments and we were always proud of him being our dad. Today my dad is 79 and is struggling with Alzheimer's Disease. My folks live 400 miles from me and I go to visit them about every six weeks. It is very hard to see what he has and is becoming. This was a man who was always doing something and the only time he was still was at the dinner table or sleeping. Now he spends his days in his recliner watching tv and napping. He has emphysema from 40 years of smoking Camels unfiltered so he gets winded very easily. I've never known him to give up but it seems like that is what he has done. He is not the same man he was even five years ago. I only hope I don't lose my faculties as I age. He is still my dad And I love him very much for the things he taught me as I was growing up. I feel like I'm rambling here but it feels good to unload a little. I'm sure many of you can relate to things in my story. I am glad you guys that have had tests since the beginning of the year have come through them ok. I look forward to reading your posts for a long time. I only wish I would have found this web site long ago. Thanks for letting me be a part of it.
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Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Jul 11, 2009 11:56:58 GMT 9
Thanks for sharing Lugnuts.
Alzheimer's Disease seems to be a disease we keep hearing more and more about. More and more elderly people seem to be falling prey to it. God bless to your Dad and all the folks with Alzheimer's.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 12, 2009 0:38:59 GMT 9
Alzheimer's is not just a disease of us older folks. Our nephew's family is one of two known in the U.S. That has Early Onset Alzheimer's. He is not 50 and is showing signs. One of his brothers in his mid fifties is in a home for Alzheimer's patients and another brother will be before long. His father and other relatives have died in their late forties and early fifties from it. It is a terrible disease, for which there is no cure. His children will have to be tested to see if they have the genes that indicate the disease.Pretty scary for a 20 year old man and a 14 year old girl. His mother and one sister do not have it. It was all on his father's side. There was a great special on HBO free channel that dealt with all phases of the disease, including my nephew's family. Pray for a cure to be found, and for treatment that works for those who are well along the path. Jim :god_bless_usa
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Post by lugnuts55 on Jul 12, 2009 9:51:58 GMT 9
Alzheimer's disease was given the name of the doctor who first recognized that it might in fact be a disease. Before that they were putting people in a sanitarium or mental hospital simply because they had no idea what was wrong with the victims. We are hearing more about it now because we are learning more about it. There is no cure but they have figured out how to slow it down in most patients. The worst part is watching your loved one regress. It's like the body ages but the mind un-ages. My dad acts like an adolescent most of the time. When I was an adolescent, he would smack me for acting like that. Now he does it and it breaks your heart. My mom is a saint for living with it every day and doing her best to deal with it. When I go there for as couple weeks, I feel guilty because sometimes I can't wait to leave. Then when I am saying goodbye, my real dad shows up and it makes it very dificult to leave. On the bright side, since I am an optimist, the house is for sale and there have been more people looking at it. Once it sells, I can move them back to Milwaukee so they will be near and I can take better care of them. My brother will be able to help as well. His job keeps him from going there to help out and I am retired. Once they get back, it should be a whole lot easier for everybody. Since my dad was diagnosed with this disease, I have spoken to a lot of people who know someone with it. I know my story is not unique in the least and some are having a worse time than my mom and me. In that respect we are very lucky. Thanks for your support. Mike
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Post by lindel on Jul 12, 2009 11:36:00 GMT 9
Mike, I watched my Dad going thru the same thing. It's a hard thing to watch, and I can understand what it's doing to you.
My Mom did the same thing as yours, both are very brave and very strong.
It's a disease that creeps on it's victims, both the ones that suffer from the disease itself, and those that have to watch their loved ones turn into someone they don't know.
If you haven't found out already, there will be moments where you'll either have to laugh or cry. None of them are easy. If you need someone to talk to, pm me and I'll send my number.
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Post by Gene on Oct 12, 2009 15:38:31 GMT 9
just found a box of old photos from my dad.... here he's a mech. on the p-51...this is after the war...around '47...in southern germany
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Post by Gene on Oct 12, 2009 15:42:36 GMT 9
my dad again...this one is in'43.... n.africa... he's on top in the cocpit... its an a-20 havoc...he was radio/gunner.
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Post by jimpadgett on Oct 13, 2009 0:45:06 GMT 9
And we thought we had it tough! My stepdad was a plane captain (crew chief) on the Navy version of the same aircraft. Thanks for the pictures.
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