A 'Story' of one man's service

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In the midst of the Vietnam War and a hostile attitude geared toward service members from their own nation, one Oregon native decided to enlist and arrived at his first duty station, Travis, as a United States Airman in 1966.

From stepping off the bus 47 years ago, to leaving his work center for the last time Feb. 28, Frederick Story has witnessed firsthand the evolution of the Air Force and Travis in facets such as base appearance, operations, uniforms, manning and personnel programs.

The self proclaimed farm boy made his own contributions and left his imprint on the Air Force by drawing from his experiences throughout his lengthy career. He utilized these experiences and lessons while serving as first sergeant, chief master sergeant, squadron superintendent and spanning active duty, Reserves and general service civilian.

Story began his active duty career in the sheet metal shop for four years. Upon arrival at Travis, he recalls the difference in personnel management compared to what it has developed into.

"Everyone would arrive on the base and get off the bus, wander around until they found billeting and stop somebody on the street to find out what to do next," Story said.

While Story did not deploy into combat during the Vietnam War, he frequently saw the impacts of war when he worked on the aircraft that returned from the war zone. He had the solemn privilege of standing on the Travis flightline 200 ramp while prisoners of war returned home.

The aircraft that Story worked on so frequently, the C-124 Globemaster II, was the first aircraft stationed at Travis. It can be viewed in the Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum on base.

Five years after arriving on Travis, Story was witness to a historical race riot that started in the barracks, which stands in the same location today. This culmination of racial unrest was a true reflection of tensions DOD-wide for the time period, and resulted in further guidance and regulation in racial sensitivities for Airmen on and off duty.

"The race riots were a result of desegregation and Airmen still being subjected to disparaging comments in the workplace," Story said. "It was situations like these that inspired me to become a first sergeant so I could have an active role in the well-being of Airmen."

Although the barracks stayed in the same place, many physical aspects of the base have changed throughout the years.

"The comparison of the physical aspects of the base is phenomenal," Story said. "We've gone through a number of wing commanders that have taken personal pride in the base appearance and greatly improved the aesthetics. Before, it looked like something out of the wild west."

Building 381, or the building on the hill, was previously the base hospital, while what is known as the air museum today was the commissary back then.

A more recent historical event occurred when Story was relaxing in the break room watching television and saw the twin towers attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

"This was the catalyst to an entirely different way of doing business," Story said. "From uniform changes, physical fitness and security, it was a snowball effect."

Story served during a time when the buck sergeant was the third stripe, when maintainers begrudgingly had to wear aircrew patches; and when khaki shorts were an authorized uniform item for bases with hotter climates. His last year of active duty occurred when the C-5 Galaxy was introduced to Travis.

The shop that Story remained with for the past 47 years is responsible for creating and installing the wing emblem that is displayed on the wing building today.

Despite the technological advancements the Air Force has undergone since Story was senior NCO, he keeps his obsolete type writer sitting on his desk that he used to write enlisted performance reports, and occasionally, still fires it up, he said.

"It's difficult to encapsulate so much time and change in just a few phrases, but I will say this: It's all about the people," Story said. "If there is anything that has kept me in for this long it's the amazing people in maintenance I get to work with."