Thank-you for a great life

  • Published
  • By Frank W. Smith
  • USAF, Retired
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  

Editor's note: This message was received on Oct. 17, 2013. The subject line contained the words, "Thank-you for a great life." Mr. Smith - we thank you for dedicating your life to service twice. Once as a member of your Air Force and a second time in the realm of education. We also appreciate that your words are encouraging and heart-felt and by posting them here we hope your message reaches Sergeant Smoak and every MTI who ever donned a campaign hat.


Please pass this on to the Training Wing. I am having trouble with the proper website. Thanks.

     In 1978, I had just graduated from high school in Pittsburgh, PA. I was a smart-aleck kid, growing up in a town with no jobs to be had. I had always planned on joining the Air Force, but now the time was upon me. I met with a recruiter and after all the tests, and paperwork, I was finally in the Air Force.

     My first night at Lackland was horrifying. I had Sergeant Tom Smoak as my Training Instructor, and for the first time in my life, I was intimidated. He was HUGE, but he never spoke loudly except when calling cadence. He was scary as hell.

     For the next six weeks, Sgt. Smoak and the rest of the team at Lackland--Flight 498, 3702 Squadron-- bent me, shaped me and taught me everything from how to walk to how to dress. He taught me respect, and most of all, showed me respect. I hadn't ever had a "father-figure", as my parents were divorced when I was much younger. Sgt. Smoak, taught me the things a father should have, and then turned me loose on the Air Force. I found that I liked what I had become. I liked it so much, that I made it my career.

     I spent twenty-plus years in the Air Force, and then retired. While my life in the Air Force was never singularly heroic, I did retire honorably. I went on and went to work for a major university making a good living using the skills the Air Force taught me.

     Now I'm disabled after a major back injury and two surgeries, but I have my memories. Without the things that Sgt Smoak taught me, I would NEVER have seen Okinawa, Mainland Japan, the Philippines, Guam, or Korea. I would never have had the opportunity to spend time in Germany, both East and West before the wall fell, Luxembourg, Italy, France, or Belgium.
I would never have been able to make friends with people from all those nations. Remember, I was just a tough, punk kid that would likely have been stuck working some dead-end job.

     Over the years, I've tried to reach Sgt Smoak through contact pages all over the web. I've never been able to find him. I would have liked to shake his hand, one more time. Thank him one more time. Salute him one more time. Since I have been unsuccessful, I want to sent this to every single Basic Training instructor that will take time to read it.

     Without you men and women, who give up time with your families, sometimes miss out on holidays, and show us the way. Comfort us when we need it, and yes, even shout at us when we need it...and like Sgt. Smoak, whisper softly while scaring the hell out of us. There are several million Air Force retirees and veterans and not a single one of us would have made it where we are today without YOU and those like you.

Thank-you for making me the man I am.

Warmest Regards,

Frank W. Smith, USAF retired