While surfing through the internet tonight, I came across your web site of the Madera Air Force Station. It`s interesting that a lot of things still remain but slightly different from age.

I was the last enlisted airman to leave Madera in 1966 along with one officer. It was great duty. Madera had very nice people and although I was just a single 18 year old ( who in one year would be in Vietnam) I still think of it as one of the best times of my life.

(Reply to Larry from Tom Page with copy to Guy Coleman) Thanks for the note, Larry. The last officer to leave Madera AFS might have been (then) 1st Lt Guy Coleman, the Comm. Officer; if he wasn`t the last to leave, he was one of the last. I knew him years later at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ, where I currently work. Guy is retired now; I haven`t heard from him in a while, so I don`t know if he`s still in the area or not.

I`m still around. I wasn`t the last officer to leave; I left in June 1966 for Greece.

The other officers were: Maj Don Sandvig, commander, Capt Greg Hummel, Chief of Maintenance, Lt. Ed Lansdale, Admin Officer and a Lt. whose name I don`t recall, Supply Officer. I would guess Capt. Hummel was the last to leave since he remained in Madera and taught Jr. High School for years after the base closed. I still talk to the Philco Tech Rep, Bob Smith, every morning on the radio. Bob remained in Madera and taught physics in Madera High School. He is now retired, and I believe Greg Hummel is retired as well.

Lt Lansdale was the last officer to leave. If I recall, he was the son of an admiral or a general. I have a newspaper article from the Madera Daily Tribune (July 29th, 1966) which did an article about the closure. I had left a week earlier but my girlfriend from Madera sent it to me in Colorado Springs. A couple of years ago while cleaning out some old USAF stuff, I came across some 774th memorabilia (the original Squadron flag, the patch, the Air Force publication about the station and my old membership card to the NCO club (airman were members because there was no airman`s club). After a correspondence with the Madera Historical Society, I sent the items to them. They said something about they were going to display them in "the war room" (whatever that is). I haven`t been to California in years so I can`t say if they are there or not.

I went to Madera in December of 65. I can remember that I never truly saw the site for 3 weeks because the fog was so thick. I was assigned to communications where Lt. Coleman was in charge. My memory of him was "one smart officer especially when it came to electronics". I vaguely (c`mon guys, we`re talking 40 years now!) remember that he was married and possibly had a daughter - maybe not. I think he was a 2nd Lt. at that time. The Head NCO was MSGT Scott - a good sort but "worshiped at the NCO club every night". He went to Vietnam afterwards and other than one Christmas card, I never heard from him. Also in the Comm Center was Airman Pruit (a large Afro-American who had played semi-pro football) Airman Price (went to Vietnam) SSgt Stone and SSgt Anstead (sp?) (who daily waxed his beautiful green Porsche).

Madera had one of the best chow halls I have ever seen in the Air Force and on Sundays, we always had visitors from Castle AFB down for the famous steak dinners. The chow hall was run by an Afro- American Sgt who in addition to being a great cook, was one of the smartest chess players I have ever come across.

The radars and domes were removed when I was there about early spring of 1966. They brought in a giant crane to do it; I think I have some pictures of it. The duty there at that time was unbelievably easy and I actually took a job in Madera (Farmer Johns Pancake house - located just off the interstate in front the CHP barracks) to relieve the boredom. For the last couple of months, I just swept out the HQ and forwarded all the mail to guys that had left.

The 774th was officially known as the "Watchdog of the Valley" but unofficially, it was known as the "Country Club of the Air Force". We even had a 3 hole golf course on the site and others played at a nearby golf course. Good duty, Good food - it all resulted in a good tour for those that served.

Lt. Lansdale`s father was Gen. Edward R. Lansdale, who ran the Phoenix program in Viet Nam for a number of years. Phoenix was a cointel program that has been a subject of controversy among gentler folk. I did have a daughter at Madera (Tracy), she was born December 8, 1965. She now has two children and lives in Escondido, CA. I`m still married to the same lady.

I made 1st Lt. just before I left in May or June 1966.

According to my Tech Rep friend, Lt. Lansdale was married just after I left. I haven`t heard anything about him since. Capt. Hummel now lives in northern California. His daughter (Margo) still lives in Madera and works at a pump supply house as an accountant. Another ham radio friend who I chat with every morning works as an installer/repairman at the same company.

Are you the young airman who came in and was told to get "the morning cannon report" (Bravo-Oscar-Oscar-Mike)?

Yes, I was the green airman who fell for the cannon report as well as a couple of other hazing tricks during those "thrilling days of yesteryear"!