| Mike Zaske
uhoxgb@cox.net
|
 |
Hey Classmates,
Sorry I wasn't able to
make it back this year. I'm sitting in Kabul, Afghanistan
working with Dyn-Corp International as a Quality Control
Inspector, training the Afghan Air Force Quality Contry and
maintenance personnel.
But my life after
graduation, started with one year at the local junior college.
The draft was still going on and I had a draft number of "130",
I got a heads up that it was going up to "100", the Air Force
was already on my radar. I went in active duty Nov. 6, 73 and
retired Dec. 1, 97, 24 years/24 days. I worked 10 different
aircraft-all fighters and reconnaissance during my tenure.
During my early part of my career, I met my lovely wife Val, in
England. We got married June 27, 1981 and have never looked
back. We had one son, Christopher later on in life, and are
proud to say that he made Eagle Scout. He is now pursing an
automotive maintenance degree in college.
After retiring from the
Air Force at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV, I carried on with my
aircraft maintenance career in General Aviation for 9 1/2
years. In June 2007, I started doing Government Contract work
in aviation. In Sep 2009, I started working in Iraq with L-3
Vertex and stayed there until the drawdown in 2011. Two weeks
after leaving Iraq, I was in Kabul, Afghanistan. In March 2012,
we switched over to a new company and contract and continued to
work and train with the Afghan Air Force. I didn't hear
anything about the class reunion until after my rotation dates
were picked and my plane tickets were purchased and set in
stone. Sorry.
I'll be headed back to
Vegas Aug 4 and get home on the 5th, then my family and I will
be flying back to Minnesota a little later to see my Mom, visit,
and look for a place to plant our roots for retirement. Four
seasons, green grass, lakes, and a White Christmas, here we
come. I still have a few years left of contracting to do over
here, before I can call it quits. That will put me over 40
years in aircraft maintenance. County rocks!
Everyone, take care,
God's speed, God Bless America, and may God Bless each of you
and your families. Later, Mike Zaske
|
