 |
Air
Force OCS Class 61-C
|
 |
Here's the latest
on
William
(Bill) L. LaRock
 |
 |
 |
|
OCLt
William L. LaRock
|
Bill
at 2003 reunion
|
Bill & Millie at 2005 Reunion |
| "Bill" LaRock's military career started with the NY Guard in 1952 (E-3 Tank Gunner). He switched to AF in 1953, almost a Flight Engineer, he ended up in airborne radar (F-94, F-102). SSgt LaRock, EADF IG team member, condemned an ill-fated "Texas Tower." (Tom Clancy needs to get hold of this.) He joined Coca Flt in Sep 1960. On graduation, Lt LaRock was sent to Keesler. 1961-73, he served as a Communications Electronics Officer -- with TAC in a mobile AC&W Sq, then to Elmendorf (PMEL) and special "earthquake recovery" duties. From Alaska, Capt LaRock headed for Keesler, "...where I was reunited w/Ed Erxleben and Walt Lencki," Bill writes, "... disaster stuck...Ed Erxleben and I were sent to SAC!" -- the Operations Dir at Hq SAC. In 1970, Bill headed for U Tapao, Thailand (307SW) as a TacComm off/non-rated flying position. Bill crewed 140 flight missons and "...a ground mission in NVM...1 in Cambodia." From Thailand, Maj LaRock went to TAWC at Eglin. "I spent 3 years tearing around Europe and Africa (Mystic Mission)," Bill says, "When they assigned me to the Pentagon, I retired" in 1973, age 39. Bill opened a Mobil station in Orlando, FL and hired his three sons. "Rode the Disney Boom up. Opened a second (one), towing service and garage...heavily in 'do-gooder' work...Lions, JCs, Chamber of Commerce," he says. Went to work for Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo in 1978. A "fantastic job" but the tax collector was the only one getting rich. In 1980, at age 46, Bill had a heart attack. "...laying in intensive care, I decided there were things we hadn't done," he recalls. Thus started the romance with NASCAR, in 1984, putting together a team running Oldsmobiles w/Buddy Baker. Since 1986, he and Millie have been ranching, lately, just raising & selling hay. Millie and Bill have 3 sons, 8 grandkids. |