Air Force veteran served as a dog handler


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October 16 – Today’s Veteran: Bill Austin, 70

Born: Dayton, Ohio

Residence: ÃŽle St. Simons

Service: Air Force, 4 years

Tasks: watchdog master

Rank: Sergeant

Duty stations: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan

His Story: Bill Austin was working at a steel mill in Gary, Indiana in his early twenties when he decided it wasn’t a job he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

He decided to enlist in the Air Force because he believed it had better facilities and training opportunities than other branches of the military. Testing determined it was best suited for law enforcement.

After graduating from Lackland Air Force Basic Training, he was dispatched to Kincheloe Air Force Base in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He volunteered for training as a safety dog ​​handler after determining that the K-9 branch offered the best career options.

His job was to be part of the security forces patrolling the perimeter of the base to protect bombers carrying nuclear bombs as part of Strategic Air Command.

His first post-training challenge was bonding with a dog whose former handler left the Air Force after his tour of duty ended. It was a long-term challenge for the dog to accept.

He started by going to the kennel to feed, water and chat with the dog. He said the dog was not very keen on having a new owner and that it took several weeks for him to be able to enter the doghouse.

“I started taking him to exercise and letting him do whatever he wanted to do,” Austin said. “Then we started doing things that he had done with his former manager.”

They moved on to an obstacle course, where the dog learned to take orders from his new master, and they were able to begin their duties keeping the base safe.

Austin served during the Cold War, so there was a high level of security around a base with nuclear weapons. He never had a threatening incident during his time at the base, although he was attacked by an owl one night.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has extremely cold winters, but Austin said the equipment provided to him kept him comfortably warm.

“The air force has equipped us well,” he said. “Cold weather has never been a problem.”

He worked nights on one of two shifts: from sunset to midnight or from midnight to sunrise, six days and three days off. Austin said he started taking college classes during the day and continued to take them the entire time he served.

He hitchhiked to take classes at Lake Superior State College for over two years. He also taught Sunday school classes to third and fourth graders during his time in the Air Force.

When he left the Air Force, Austin returned to the steel mill, but this time in a new position thanks to his military service and college education. And the company gave him credit for his military service on its seniority list.

“The education the Air Force has given me is lifelong,” he said. “It was a blessing.”

Austin said he has made lifelong friendships and won’t change a thing if he can start over.

“I could have gone to other places,” he said. “It was under the influence of God. To be able to do it was a blessing.”

Our veterans operate on Tuesdays. Contact Gordon Jackson at [email protected], on Facebook or at 464-7655 to suggest a veteran for a column.

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