Georgianna Tippo

United States air force 1963-1964

vietnam war

airman third class

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. After graduating from high school and attending San Jose State College for a year, I saw a recruiting poster in the Post Office and decided to see the world (outside of accounting, preferably). On October 7, 1963, I took my first airplane flight from Oakland to LAX. A small group of us hung around the quiet airport all night before continuing on a new adventure to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. We had eight weeks of Basic Training ahead of us. Halfway through, while sitting at the parade grounds, we learned of the shooting in Dallas of President Kennedy. By the time we returned to our barracks, he was dead. The base shut down all entertainment and we were only allowed to watch a brief coverage of his funeral. It was a year before I saw the video of Ruby shooting Oswald, though I had heard it reported on my transistor radio in the basement laundry room.

Moving on, I was sent to Selfridge Air Force Base, outside of Detroit, MI. So much for seeing the world. And in their infinite wisdom, the Air Force had chosen for me the job of Accounting Clerk, with the 1st Combat Support Group. Turned out they really did know what was best for me. My civilian supervisor turned into my lifelong friend and I met a young airman from Boston, MA. We married on November 14, 1964. Since then we have, in fact, traveled the world, shared two beautiful daughters, two perfect grandchildren, many good friends and 61 plus years of a wonderful life.

Thank you, USAF!