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KING HIGH REMEMBERS PROJECT

Col. John D. McSpaddenAir Force

Vietnam and Cold WarAlexandra Mardirosian

Brandon HarrisPer. 6

Mrs. Barnard

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Early Life

Born in Memphis Tennessee on August 16, 1935

Moved to Battle Creek Michigan a year later in 1935

After living in Michigan for two years he moved to Cleveland Ohio in 1937

He then moved to Geneva Ohio in 1941 after living in Cleveland, Ohio for four years

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Education

Geneva Grade School Geneva High School Miami University of Ohio on a JROTC

scholarship from Sep. 1952 to May 1953 Received an appointment to West Point

in 1953 while at Miami University Attended the United States Military

Academy at West Point from July 5, 1953 till graduation on June 4, 1957

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Training

Sent to Graham Air Force Base, Fl for primary pilot training in July 1957

Graduated in March of 1958 Went to Webb Air Force Base, Texas in May 1958 for Basic Fighter

Pilot Training He then washed out in August 1958 because of a reduction in the

number of fighter aircraft at the time Attended Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas in September 1958 for

primary navigation training Graduated first in the class in May 1959 Sent to advanced bombardment training at Mather Air Force Base

in May Graduated in December of 1959 Was sent to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arizona in January 1960 for

B-47 combat crew training and completed his training in June 1960

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First Mission

First operational assignment was in Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana as a navigator in July 1960

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Service

In April of 1966 Larson AFB closed causing him to relocate to March Air Force Base

Flew B-52’s out of March AFB for the next for years

Was sent on temporary duty to Anderson AFB, Guam and U-Tapao Royal AFB, Thailand five times to fly air raids over Vietnam

Flew over 150 missions during this period December 1972, 100 stage 11 bomb

raids in Haiphong to free POW’s

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Service

Upon return from Thailand in April of 1973 he was made Chief of Operations for the 17th Bomb Wing

In 1975 the 17th Bomb Wing was closed down

Sent to Carswell AFB, Texas There he was made Chief of Moral and

Welfare

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Picture of Receiving 100 Mission Patch

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His Wife, Karen

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Children

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Pictures of Family

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Awards Received

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Retirement From the Air Force

In September 1977 he retired from the Air Force after being a Colonel for 20 years

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Work After Retirement

Him and his family moved back to Riverside in 1977

Worked as a flight operations analyst for the Flying Tigers Airline

In 1989 Fedex bought out Flying Tigers and he worked for Fedex for a few months

After that he worked at EDS and made flight plans for many airlines

After EDS was bought out by Systems One he held the same job

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Retirement

In September 1994 he was forced to retire when he discovered he had a back problem and had a major operation that would restrict him to drive to Los Angles five times a week

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He now resides with his wife Karen in Canyon Lake, California and stays active is West Point clubs and Veteran societies.

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Current Picture