How I Ended Up Working on the F4 Phantom Jets

In 1965 I was a college student in New Jersey and lived at home a commuted to college. I was not the best or brightest student but wanted to do well but had signed up for more than I could handle. It looked like I would fail a math class and my American Government class was a possible C. My average still would have allowed me to continue with at least this grade but anything lower could make me subject to the "draft". Hard to believe now, that we actually drafted young men into the military. I was beginning to give serious thought to joining the military but it was only an option at that point. I was super studying for my final exams and I had to at least get a C in American Government. When I drove to the school the morning of the final exams and entered a large testing hall I knew something was wrong. A speaker came to the podium and said the American History exam was stolen over the weekend and now they were going to give a "different exam" and this exam was prepared by the other teacher for the course and not my teacher. There now was going to be only two essay questions and I only knew how to answer one of them. This meant that I only could possibly get 50% at best. I made an effort, but it was painfully obvious that I was now going to be listed on the draft. It would take about 3 months for all of this to take place, but it would happen.

I decided to join the Air Force and a friend wanted to join with me. We decided to join on the "buddy" system which was a plan the military proposed where you would stay with your friend through boot camp. We went to the conscription location in New Jersey, said the pledge, received our orders and never saw each other ever again. I received orders to go to Denver Colorado and learn electronics specifically for the F4 Phantom jet. I was in Denver for about 10 months and they did really train us well. Our school was 6 hours a day 5 days per week. We certainly did the typical marching and polishing etc., but a lot less of this than you might think.