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Chiefs trade in Air Force bluesCombined military careers span more than 65 yearsSSgt. Rick L. FligorEditor, Gulf DefenderTwo Tvndall AFB “old timers” will turn in their Air Force blues for less formal attire in separate retirement ceremonies today.Combined. CMSgts. Lewis J. Spence, 325th Maintenance Squadron, and Thomas G. Henkel, Tactical Air Command Noncommissioned Officer Academy East, have devoted 67 years of their lives to Uncle Sam.Spence, a Waycross, Ga., native entered the Air Force in October 1954 and after completing basic training was assigned to Dobbins AFB, Ga., as an electronics repairman. The chief wasChief Spence... 325th Maintenance Squadron senior enlisted maintenance managerreleased from active duty in 1958 and served in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reservefrom 1958 to 1966.The chief returned to activeduty in June 1966. Over the next 15 years Spence served in various capacities at Hunter AFB, Ga.; Korat Royal Thai AB. Republic of Thailand; Tyndall AFB; and Griffiss AFB, N.Y. In 1982, after serving as the U.S. Air Force Air Defense Weapons Center senior enlisted advisor and chief enlisted advisor for the 325th Component Repair Squadron, Spence was assigned to Al-conbury, England.After Alconbury Spence served as senior enlisted advisor to the commander of 17th Air Force, Sembach AB, West Germany. Spence returned to the United States in 1986 and was stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C. In October 1989 Spence took up permanent residence here at Tyndall. Since that time he has served as chief enlisted manager of the 325th CRS, and more recently as the chief enlisted maintenance manager for the 325thMS.By virtue of his time in grade, Spence is the ranking chief in the Air Force. The chief is married to the former Jean Hitt, Marietta, Ga. The Spences have three daughters: Cindy, Brenda and Debra.Henkel entered the Air Force in January’ 1962. After completing technical training at Amarillo AFB, Texas, the chief was assigned as an aircraft mechanic at Dyess AFB, Texas. The Cleveland native’s other assignments as an aircraft mechanic include: Turner AFB, Ga.; McCoy AFB, Fla.; Patrick AFB, Fla.; McGuire AFB, N.J.; Griffiss AFB. N.Y.; and Kadena AB, Japan.Chief Henkel... TAC NCOA East commandantIn 1981 Henkel was assigned to the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter AFB, Ala., where he held the positions of instructor, director of curriculum and vice commandant. After completing his tour at Gunter, the chief was assigned to the Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB. Ala., where he served as departmen head, allied health, . technica branch chief and chief of affiliation.Henkel arrived at Tvndall in June 1989, and has served in his present position as commandant of the TAC NCO Academy Eastm rsince that time.Henkel will be retired in a ceremony todav, 10 a.m., in theV *base flag park. Spence will be retired in a ceremony today, 4 p.m., also in the flag park. Tyn-dallites are invited to attend both ceremonies.
Newspaper Details
Panama City Gulf Defender
Panama City, Florida, US
Fri, Nov 22, 1991
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 28 Mar 2023
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