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Air Force
OCS Class 61-C
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We
remember
Edward
J. Devries
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OC
Maj Edward J DeVries
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Nema
& Ed at 2003 reunion
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| SSgt
Ed DeVries military career began Oct 1953 at age 18 in airborne radar
maintenance. In 1958, he rejoined the AF and worked radar at Castle,
Goose Bay, and Biggs. Mr DeVries was selected as Commander of the "Thundering
Third," Dec 1960. A DG, Lt DeVries stayed at Lackland as a BMT tng
officer. In 1964, he and Nema went to Keesler where Ed studied Avionics
Maint Mgmt. He stayed in the career field with duties at Misawa, in
Vietnam, and Korea (Pueblo crisis), mostly in the F-100 business. In
1969, Capt DeVries joined the 438AMS at McGuire AFB, NJ (C-141). 1969-70,
he worked EC-47 at Phu Cat, RVN. 1970-73 were spent at Lowry (bootstrap
to Omaha -1972), then to Langley as ATC Advisor to TAC -- TAC was acquiring
the F-15, AWC and A10. "The best job I ever had!" Ed writes. In 1976,
Ed joined the ATC IG team at Randolph and was selected as 12FMS commander
in 1978, retiring in 1979. He stayed at Randolph in the airplane business
until switching to Real Estate. He says, "I had some medical problems
and retired completely in 1987." Ed says he quit smoking but still
plays the ponies. Nema (his wife of over 50 years) and Ed have 5 grown
children and eight grandchildren. Ed passed away August 18, 2007 after a long illness. He will be sorely missed by his friends and classmates. |