Henry C. Whitman

Henry C. Whitman was born in July 1940 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had cousins who had served in World War II, as well as neighbors who served in the Korean War. When Whitman enlisted in October 1958, he decided to join the Air Force, since the recruiter told him he would be able to leave for service right away. After two years in the service, he received a draft notice, which was, of course, irrelevant.

Whitman went through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. As an African American, he had trouble adjusting to the South at the outset of his career, and described Texas as “basically still segregated.” Whitman characterized his adjustment to military life from civilian life as easy, however, due to his stepmother, who came from a strict military family. She instilled life skills like cooking and cleaning, as well as maintaining a strict schedule, in her family. After basic training, Whitman was sent to a base in Wichita Falls, Texas for technical training as an aircraft mechanic.

Following his training, Whitman was stationed at England Air Force Base in Louisiana. He did not enjoy his time there, and described the racial segregation as the worst he encountered. Whitman was injured working on a B-50 bomber there, then was transferred to the 614th Tactical Fire Squadron. The squadron rotated around Europe, and he was able to visit a few countries, including Italy and Turkey. Whitman spent around three months in Europe, preparing weapons to fight the Soviets if necessary.

Whitman returned to the United States for a couple of years, and was then sent to Southeast Asia in 1966 with the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron. His first stop was in Ubon, Thailand. Whitman recalled this area as being close to Vietnam, and said that a lot of air attacks on Vietnam originated at the base. After a short trip home to visit his daughter who broke her leg, he was transferred to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, where he repaired planes hit by enemy fire. Whitman felt safe at this base, and described it as well-protected. After serving in Cam Ranh Bay, he was sent to Korat Air Force Base in Thailand with the 388th Tactical Fighter Squadron. As a Technical Sergeant, Whitman inspected aircraft and made sure any problems they had were fixed.

Whitman explained that people with his rank and skills were needed in a lot of places, and so he served at bases all around the world. Many of the people he worked with in one area would soon be called to another. Some, like him, went from Thailand to Torrejon Air Force Base in Spain. Shortly after Whitman left Torrejon, there was a disagreement between the United States and Spain that would reduce United States personnel numbers in Spain by half. Whitman then rotated to Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey. 

Anytime Whitman went to Europe, the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina was his departure point. There, airmen prepared themselves to fly to their overseas destinations. Whitman said working overseas provided more freedom repairing airplanes. It was easier for him to work as he wanted when he was overseas, rather than having to go exactly by the book while in the United States.

Whitman got his bachelor’s degree using the benefits from the GI Bill. He decided to do this after graduating from an NCO Academy, and realizing he could be a teacher at one of these institutions if he received a degree. Whitman was stationed in McGuire Air Base, New Jersey for the last two years of his career. He retired in 1989 as a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) and received the Meritorious Service Medal with three devices, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four devices, the Air Force Good Conduct medal with eight devices, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and others.