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Air Force
OCS Class 61-C
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Here's the latest
on
James
(Jim) H. Ehlers
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OC
Lt James H. Ehlers
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Darlene & Jim
at 2003 reunion
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| Jim joined the Air Force in June 1955 and married Darlene in February 1956. He was an A/1C Personnel-type September 1960 when he joined Bravo Flt. An OCS Distinguished Graduate, Lt. Ehlers was assigned to Lackland as a BMT Training Officer and was accepted for navigator training at James Connelly AFB, graduating in the spring of 1962. Jim traveled to Charleston AFB, SC, was assigned to 76ATS, and navigated C-121 and C-130 aircraft. He "bootstrapped" Florida State Univ in 1965 earning a degree in Business Managementt. After Charleston, Capt. Ehlers was assigned to the 50MAS at Hickham in C-124s. In 1969, he was sent to Pleiku AB, RVN as navigator on Electric Goons (EC-47); he finished his SEA tour at Danang. On stateside return, Jim went to Ohio State Univ (AFIT) earning an MBA ('72). Then, for 5 years, he was stationed at Offutt AFB in Management Engineering (two years as cmdr, Offutt SACMT.) LtCol. Ehlers was then assigned to AF Management Engineering Agency and commanded AFINTELMET retiring in July, 1979 w/DFC, 5 AM, 2 MSM, AFCM and more. Jim then worked for Convair Div, General Dynamics in San Diego, CA on the ALCM program and later, the Advanced Cruise Missile Technology Study program. In 1987, he was recruited by Northrop and ultimately worked on the F/A-18 program. "Reaching the age of 60, Darlene and I decided to retire and fulfill a lifelong desire to travel," Jim writes. They sold the Culver City, CA house, put the goods in storage and bought a 37-foot diesel motor home. They hit all states, all Canadian provinces possible. And, five years later, purchased a condo in their hometown of Alton, IL. " . . . we sit on our balcony (and watch) the tugboats plying the Mississippi . . . the lights of St Louis in the distance." Jim and Darlene have 2 sons and 2 daughters, 9 grandaughters, 2 grandsons, one great-granddaughter (more due in March!). |