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Air
Force OCS Class 61-C |
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Here's the latest
on
John
C. Fernandez
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OCLt
John C. Fernandez |
John & Theresa
2007 |
John
was born in Havana, Cuba a score before Castro. A/2C came to OCS as
a medic. Lt Fernandez stayed at Lackland as a BMTS tng officer after
graduation. In 1962, John went to Keesler to be schooled on the Atlas
Missile. He then joined a missile crew at Warren AFB, WY. From there
it was on to Vandenberg AFB to work in the Atlas warhead reentry system.
Then, after Squadron Officer School, John commanded a Distant Early Warning Line Radar site in the Aleutians.
Capt Fernandez returned to Keesler for Staff Officer Course and then to
Homestead AFB with a TAC Control Sq. Maj Fernandez was then assigned
to the Pentagon, office of the SecDEF and then to the Air Staff Social
Actions Office. From DC, John went to Shaw AFB, NC as Wing Social Actions
Officer. He retired in 1977, age 37, a Major w/3 AFCM and a BS degree
from U. of Tampa (he roomed with Jerry Cox). Then John started a 2nd
career in human resources mostly in the healthcare industry. He is
currently Human Resources Director for Mariners Hospital, Florida Keys.
He married Teresa in '84. John has 4 children and three grandchildren.
His youngest daughter, Chrissie, was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2001
-- "But thank God and modern medicine, she's in remission after ...very
intense chemo, radiation...surgery," John writes. He remembers most: "The
day we were commissioned. The most proud moment of my professional
career." Dec. 9, 2011: My youngest daughter will be graduating from law school in May 2013 but I'll make every effort to attend. FYI I'm now, at 72, the HR manager for Worldwide Sportsman/Islamorada Fish Company in the Florida Keys. It's part of Bass Pro Shops which some of you may recognize. I've also been a certified Florida teacher and taught Spanish and World History for a couple of years until money ran out in our school district. The stories that I've read from some of you bring back many memories. I guess at our age, some of us wish we could relive that time in OCS. I certainly do. The amazing thing to me is that a Cuban kid who came to the U.S. on July 4, 1951 not knowing any Ennglish was able to achieve a commission in the U.S. Air Force in less than ten years. That's the American Dream!!! |