Page 99 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs

BILLY F. SMITH
HIGHLAND SPRINGS RESIDENT, AIR FORCE by Lark Schott, daughter
Billy F. Smith started his military career with four years in the ROTC at Mississippi State University, where he graduated with a degree
in Petroleum Geology. He entered active duty in the Air Force in 1951 and was assigned to Wright-Patterson ABF, OH in August 1951.
After basic training he was transferred to Florida State University Graduate Program in Meteorology. He was assigned to the USAF 3rd Weather Wing at Andrews AFB, MD with detached duty at Dobbins AFB, GA. He was sent to Germany in 1953 and assigned to the 31st Weather Squadron with duty at Sembach, AFB, Germany, in an old French occupied air base. The AF was then still a party of Occupation Force WWII. He saw a lot of destruction from WWII.
He had several temporary duty tours at various European bases, but principally served as Wing Weather Officer and Chief Forecaster at Sembach. He returned to the States in 1955 and joined the reserves while working full-time at Sun Oil Company as a planning engineer. He was assigned to Perrin AFB, TX, where he served as a weather officer until 1968. Bill then went to work for the Air Force Academy as a liaison officer. He oversaw 16 officers in 26 counties in Texas, recruiting the finest young men and women to attend the Academy. He served as Annual Conference Commander for several years and won the Outstanding Liaison Officer in the country.
He went back to school to receive his MBA from University of Dallas in 1972 and completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Air War College in 1976. From 1979-1982 he was assigned to work under the deputy Chief of Staff of Plans in the Air Force at the Pentagon, where he had secret security clearance. There he prepared plans and operations for energy for the United State in the time of war. During his career, Bill received 2 Meritorious Service Metals.
Bill said, “duties in the AF, either active or reserve was never a burden.” He enjoyed and was happy in his career in the AF. He retired as Colonel in 1982.
Billy F. Smith’s cermonial swords awarded by Air Force Academy (left)
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