In preparation for our 58-08C Navigation Cadet Class Reunion in 2008, Marty provided the following biography:
AN UN-EDITED AND CONDENSED VERSION OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTY ENGELKEN AFTER MAY 6, 1958
Just 4 days after commissioning I married my high school sweetheart, Joyce A. Ross, at Mather AFB, California. Stan Hack (may he rest in peace) was one of the best men.
Our fist stop (like many of us in Aviation Cadet class 58-08) was Keesler AFB, enroute of becoming an Electronic Warfare Officer. Somehow we survived the heat, mildew, mold and the disgusting discrimination of African-Americans.
The next stop was Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD.; we arrived on a super cold January day. Others in our class also assigned were Lee Hillard, Vern Hills (may he also rest in peace), Jesse Valdez (as I recall, he was one or two classes ahead of us but graduated with us for some reason). After a short orientation to SAC it was off to combat crew training at Castle AFB, with survival training at Stead AFB enroute. Vern Hills was there with us, and I recall some fond times Joyce and I had visiting various California places of interest. Then it was back to Ellsworth until SAC decided to diversify the location of its B-52 fleet; Vern, Jesse and I went to Amarillo AFB and Lee went to Sheppard AFB. I remember the next 3 years as a time of pride, stress (every pre-alert test had the potential of ruining your career), way too much time on alert and away from Joyce and the kids (we had 3 by the time we left Amarillo), and those God-awful 24 hour Chrome Dome flights. For those of you who never had the "privilege" of serving in SAC, rent the movies "Strategic Air Command" and "A Gathering of Eagles;" that's the way it was.
In early 1964 I headed to Vance AFB, Enid, OK for pilot training with Joyce and the kids in tow. We added our fourth and last child while at Vance. At the time I learned to dislike Air Training Command ATC, but looking back on it, it was one of the best times in my life. Upon graduation I was offered an opportunity to stay as an instructor pilot, but decided I wanted to do other things, and chose to go to C-130's in MATS instead. Big mistake! I raked up the hours, but was never home to enjoy my family. I volunteered for Viet Nam (I told them I wanted anything with a stick instead of a wheel---little did I know that the O-1 had a stick!), and served as a FAC during all of 1966. Those were the best of times (nothing is as stimulating as combat) and the worst of times (being away from the family for a year).
By the time my tour ended I had wised up and decided that ATC looked pretty good after all. I came back to Vance as a T-37 instructor, and the next 4 ½ years were great. There's nothing quite like strapping on an airplane, leaving Friday and returning on Monday with the only requirement being to log some stick time and shoot a few instrument approaches.
Unfortunately all good things must come to and end. By 1971 the Vietnam War had pretty well wound down and the Air Force had more than enough pilots. I had met all my "gates" (flying time in years and hours) and was facing some sort of desk job, with a strong possibility of a Korean tour. I looked at my options, and among other things realized I would need a Master's Degree if I wanted to get promoted. That led me to the ICBM business at Whiteman AFB, MO., first as a crew member, then a year in a staff position, followed by a year as an ops office and finally a command position as the commander of a strategic missile squadron. I can't say I enjoyed any of it (I was able to fly for proficiency the first year, then the Air Force decided one didn't need to do that if one had all of his gates), but it did get me promoted and I was able to complete my Master's Degree. I was pretty much lined up for the usual progression---Deputy Commander for Operations and then Wing Commander, but by that time I'd had my fill of SAC. It seemed like a good time to spend at a nice college someplace, and found an AFROTC commander slot in Vermont. Not particularly challenging, but enjoyable and did give me the experience I needed to teach at the college level, which I had begun to consider as a second career. I had assumed that at the end of my 3 years in ROTC I would be assigned back to the cockpit in my combat weapons system (C-130), most likely to Germany. But as the end of the tour approached Joyce and decided to re-evaluate our plans. Joyce had obtained a good position in the Finance office at Trinity College (later to become VP for Finance and Administration), some of our kids were still in school, and we liked our home. It was clear that if I took a Germany assignment both of us would be looking for jobs when we returned with no contacts etc. To make a long story short, I took the Base Ops job (Chief of Airfield Management) at Plattsburg AFB, just across Lake Champlain in New York, and ended my career there.
After retiring, I used the GI Bill to obtain an MBA from the University of Vermont (my earlier Master's was in Industrial Safety, not really suitable for a teaching career). Right after graduation I was hired by Trinity College, and eventually became the Chairperson of the Business Department until I retired in 2000. I still teach one or two courses online each semester.
After playing gypsy (living various places in Florida and Vermont) for 4 years, we moved to our current home in Florida in 2004.
End of 2008 Biography,
In August 2021, I became aware that Marty had leukemia and the doctors only gave him three weeks to live. Being Marty, he outfoxed the doctors and lived for seven months while continued to play cards with his friends and enjoyed going out to lunch with Joyce. However, he did not get back on the golf course.
Portions from his memorial card:
He served proudly in the Air Force for 28 years as a Navigator, Pilot and Missilier, then went on to teach in higher education for 27 years. His family was his greatest joy.
He was predeceased by his parents; 4 siblings; his son, Chris and daughter, Laura. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce; his son Greg (Vermont); his daughter Linda (St. Augustine, FL); his brother, Dan and wife Dee (Seminóle, FL); grandchildren, Michael Hamar, Annie Bader (Dee Barnwell), Maj. Chris Engelken (Julianna), Sharon Rome (James), Ben Giese (Mavity) and Bailey Chokshi-Fox (Demetri); and reat-grandchildren, Jaiden, Xavier, Rylie and Alora.
AN UN-EDITED AND CONDENSED VERSION OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTY ENGELKEN AFTER MAY 6, 1958
Just 4 days after commissioning I married my high school sweetheart, Joyce A. Ross, at Mather AFB, California. Stan Hack (may he rest in peace) was one of the best men.
Our fist stop (like many of us in Aviation Cadet class 58-08) was Keesler AFB, enroute of becoming an Electronic Warfare Officer. Somehow we survived the heat, mildew, mold and the disgusting discrimination of African-Americans.
The next stop was Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD.; we arrived on a super cold January day. Others in our class also assigned were Lee Hillard, Vern Hills (may he also rest in peace), Jesse Valdez (as I recall, he was one or two classes ahead of us but graduated with us for some reason). After a short orientation to SAC it was off to combat crew training at Castle AFB, with survival training at Stead AFB enroute. Vern Hills was there with us, and I recall some fond times Joyce and I had visiting various California places of interest. Then it was back to Ellsworth until SAC decided to diversify the location of its B-52 fleet; Vern, Jesse and I went to Amarillo AFB and Lee went to Sheppard AFB. I remember the next 3 years as a time of pride, stress (every pre-alert test had the potential of ruining your career), way too much time on alert and away from Joyce and the kids (we had 3 by the time we left Amarillo), and those God-awful 24 hour Chrome Dome flights. For those of you who never had the "privilege" of serving in SAC, rent the movies "Strategic Air Command" and "A Gathering of Eagles;" that's the way it was.
In early 1964 I headed to Vance AFB, Enid, OK for pilot training with Joyce and the kids in tow. We added our fourth and last child while at Vance. At the time I learned to dislike Air Training Command ATC, but looking back on it, it was one of the best times in my life. Upon graduation I was offered an opportunity to stay as an instructor pilot, but decided I wanted to do other things, and chose to go to C-130's in MATS instead. Big mistake! I raked up the hours, but was never home to enjoy my family. I volunteered for Viet Nam (I told them I wanted anything with a stick instead of a wheel---little did I know that the O-1 had a stick!), and served as a FAC during all of 1966. Those were the best of times (nothing is as stimulating as combat) and the worst of times (being away from the family for a year).
By the time my tour ended I had wised up and decided that ATC looked pretty good after all. I came back to Vance as a T-37 instructor, and the next 4 ½ years were great. There's nothing quite like strapping on an airplane, leaving Friday and returning on Monday with the only requirement being to log some stick time and shoot a few instrument approaches.
Unfortunately all good things must come to and end. By 1971 the Vietnam War had pretty well wound down and the Air Force had more than enough pilots. I had met all my "gates" (flying time in years and hours) and was facing some sort of desk job, with a strong possibility of a Korean tour. I looked at my options, and among other things realized I would need a Master's Degree if I wanted to get promoted. That led me to the ICBM business at Whiteman AFB, MO., first as a crew member, then a year in a staff position, followed by a year as an ops office and finally a command position as the commander of a strategic missile squadron. I can't say I enjoyed any of it (I was able to fly for proficiency the first year, then the Air Force decided one didn't need to do that if one had all of his gates), but it did get me promoted and I was able to complete my Master's Degree. I was pretty much lined up for the usual progression---Deputy Commander for Operations and then Wing Commander, but by that time I'd had my fill of SAC. It seemed like a good time to spend at a nice college someplace, and found an AFROTC commander slot in Vermont. Not particularly challenging, but enjoyable and did give me the experience I needed to teach at the college level, which I had begun to consider as a second career. I had assumed that at the end of my 3 years in ROTC I would be assigned back to the cockpit in my combat weapons system (C-130), most likely to Germany. But as the end of the tour approached Joyce and decided to re-evaluate our plans. Joyce had obtained a good position in the Finance office at Trinity College (later to become VP for Finance and Administration), some of our kids were still in school, and we liked our home. It was clear that if I took a Germany assignment both of us would be looking for jobs when we returned with no contacts etc. To make a long story short, I took the Base Ops job (Chief of Airfield Management) at Plattsburg AFB, just across Lake Champlain in New York, and ended my career there.
After retiring, I used the GI Bill to obtain an MBA from the University of Vermont (my earlier Master's was in Industrial Safety, not really suitable for a teaching career). Right after graduation I was hired by Trinity College, and eventually became the Chairperson of the Business Department until I retired in 2000. I still teach one or two courses online each semester.
After playing gypsy (living various places in Florida and Vermont) for 4 years, we moved to our current home in Florida in 2004.
End of 2008 Biography,
In August 2021, I became aware that Marty had leukemia and the doctors only gave him three weeks to live. Being Marty, he outfoxed the doctors and lived for seven months while continued to play cards with his friends and enjoyed going out to lunch with Joyce. However, he did not get back on the golf course.
Portions from his memorial card:
He served proudly in the Air Force for 28 years as a Navigator, Pilot and Missilier, then went on to teach in higher education for 27 years. His family was his greatest joy.
He was predeceased by his parents; 4 siblings; his son, Chris and daughter, Laura. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce; his son Greg (Vermont); his daughter Linda (St. Augustine, FL); his brother, Dan and wife Dee (Seminóle, FL); grandchildren, Michael Hamar, Annie Bader (Dee Barnwell), Maj. Chris Engelken (Julianna), Sharon Rome (James), Ben Giese (Mavity) and Bailey Chokshi-Fox (Demetri); and reat-grandchildren, Jaiden, Xavier, Rylie and Alora.
In preparation for our 58-08C Navigation Cadet Class Reunion in 2008, Marty provided the following biography:
AN UN-EDITED AND CONDENSED VERSION OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTY ENGELKEN AFTER MAY 6, 1958
Just 4 days after commissioning I married my high school sweetheart, Joyce A. Ross, at Mather AFB, California. Stan Hack (may he rest in peace) was one of the best men.
Our fist stop (like many of us in Aviation Cadet class 58-08) was Keesler AFB, enroute of becoming an Electronic Warfare Officer. Somehow we survived the heat, mildew, mold and the disgusting discrimination of African-Americans.
The next stop was Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD.; we arrived on a super cold January day. Others in our class also assigned were Lee Hillard, Vern Hills (may he also rest in peace), Jesse Valdez (as I recall, he was one or two classes ahead of us but graduated with us for some reason). After a short orientation to SAC it was off to combat crew training at Castle AFB, with survival training at Stead AFB enroute. Vern Hills was there with us, and I recall some fond times Joyce and I had visiting various California places of interest. Then it was back to Ellsworth until SAC decided to diversify the location of its B-52 fleet; Vern, Jesse and I went to Amarillo AFB and Lee went to Sheppard AFB. I remember the next 3 years as a time of pride, stress (every pre-alert test had the potential of ruining your career), way too much time on alert and away from Joyce and the kids (we had 3 by the time we left Amarillo), and those God-awful 24 hour Chrome Dome flights. For those of you who never had the "privilege" of serving in SAC, rent the movies "Strategic Air Command" and "A Gathering of Eagles;" that's the way it was.
In early 1964 I headed to Vance AFB, Enid, OK for pilot training with Joyce and the kids in tow. We added our fourth and last child while at Vance. At the time I learned to dislike Air Training Command ATC, but looking back on it, it was one of the best times in my life. Upon graduation I was offered an opportunity to stay as an instructor pilot, but decided I wanted to do other things, and chose to go to C-130's in MATS instead. Big mistake! I raked up the hours, but was never home to enjoy my family. I volunteered for Viet Nam (I told them I wanted anything with a stick instead of a wheel---little did I know that the O-1 had a stick!), and served as a FAC during all of 1966. Those were the best of times (nothing is as stimulating as combat) and the worst of times (being away from the family for a year).
By the time my tour ended I had wised up and decided that ATC looked pretty good after all. I came back to Vance as a T-37 instructor, and the next 4 ½ years were great. There's nothing quite like strapping on an airplane, leaving Friday and returning on Monday with the only requirement being to log some stick time and shoot a few instrument approaches.
Unfortunately all good things must come to and end. By 1971 the Vietnam War had pretty well wound down and the Air Force had more than enough pilots. I had met all my "gates" (flying time in years and hours) and was facing some sort of desk job, with a strong possibility of a Korean tour. I looked at my options, and among other things realized I would need a Master's Degree if I wanted to get promoted. That led me to the ICBM business at Whiteman AFB, MO., first as a crew member, then a year in a staff position, followed by a year as an ops office and finally a command position as the commander of a strategic missile squadron. I can't say I enjoyed any of it (I was able to fly for proficiency the first year, then the Air Force decided one didn't need to do that if one had all of his gates), but it did get me promoted and I was able to complete my Master's Degree. I was pretty much lined up for the usual progression---Deputy Commander for Operations and then Wing Commander, but by that time I'd had my fill of SAC. It seemed like a good time to spend at a nice college someplace, and found an AFROTC commander slot in Vermont. Not particularly challenging, but enjoyable and did give me the experience I needed to teach at the college level, which I had begun to consider as a second career. I had assumed that at the end of my 3 years in ROTC I would be assigned back to the cockpit in my combat weapons system (C-130), most likely to Germany. But as the end of the tour approached Joyce and decided to re-evaluate our plans. Joyce had obtained a good position in the Finance office at Trinity College (later to become VP for Finance and Administration), some of our kids were still in school, and we liked our home. It was clear that if I took a Germany assignment both of us would be looking for jobs when we returned with no contacts etc. To make a long story short, I took the Base Ops job (Chief of Airfield Management) at Plattsburg AFB, just across Lake Champlain in New York, and ended my career there.
After retiring, I used the GI Bill to obtain an MBA from the University of Vermont (my earlier Master's was in Industrial Safety, not really suitable for a teaching career). Right after graduation I was hired by Trinity College, and eventually became the Chairperson of the Business Department until I retired in 2000. I still teach one or two courses online each semester.
After playing gypsy (living various places in Florida and Vermont) for 4 years, we moved to our current home in Florida in 2004.
End of 2008 Biography,
In August 2021, I became aware that Marty had leukemia and the doctors only gave him three weeks to live. Being Marty, he outfoxed the doctors and lived for seven months while continued to play cards with his friends and enjoyed going out to lunch with Joyce. However, he did not get back on the golf course.
Portions from his memorial card:
He served proudly in the Air Force for 28 years as a Navigator, Pilot and Missilier, then went on to teach in higher education for 27 years. His family was his greatest joy.
He was predeceased by his parents; 4 siblings; his son, Chris and daughter, Laura. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce; his son Greg (Vermont); his daughter Linda (St. Augustine, FL); his brother, Dan and wife Dee (Seminóle, FL); grandchildren, Michael Hamar, Annie Bader (Dee Barnwell), Maj. Chris Engelken (Julianna), Sharon Rome (James), Ben Giese (Mavity) and Bailey Chokshi-Fox (Demetri); and reat-grandchildren, Jaiden, Xavier, Rylie and Alora.
AN UN-EDITED AND CONDENSED VERSION OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTY ENGELKEN AFTER MAY 6, 1958
Just 4 days after commissioning I married my high school sweetheart, Joyce A. Ross, at Mather AFB, California. Stan Hack (may he rest in peace) was one of the best men.
Our fist stop (like many of us in Aviation Cadet class 58-08) was Keesler AFB, enroute of becoming an Electronic Warfare Officer. Somehow we survived the heat, mildew, mold and the disgusting discrimination of African-Americans.
The next stop was Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD.; we arrived on a super cold January day. Others in our class also assigned were Lee Hillard, Vern Hills (may he also rest in peace), Jesse Valdez (as I recall, he was one or two classes ahead of us but graduated with us for some reason). After a short orientation to SAC it was off to combat crew training at Castle AFB, with survival training at Stead AFB enroute. Vern Hills was there with us, and I recall some fond times Joyce and I had visiting various California places of interest. Then it was back to Ellsworth until SAC decided to diversify the location of its B-52 fleet; Vern, Jesse and I went to Amarillo AFB and Lee went to Sheppard AFB. I remember the next 3 years as a time of pride, stress (every pre-alert test had the potential of ruining your career), way too much time on alert and away from Joyce and the kids (we had 3 by the time we left Amarillo), and those God-awful 24 hour Chrome Dome flights. For those of you who never had the "privilege" of serving in SAC, rent the movies "Strategic Air Command" and "A Gathering of Eagles;" that's the way it was.
In early 1964 I headed to Vance AFB, Enid, OK for pilot training with Joyce and the kids in tow. We added our fourth and last child while at Vance. At the time I learned to dislike Air Training Command ATC, but looking back on it, it was one of the best times in my life. Upon graduation I was offered an opportunity to stay as an instructor pilot, but decided I wanted to do other things, and chose to go to C-130's in MATS instead. Big mistake! I raked up the hours, but was never home to enjoy my family. I volunteered for Viet Nam (I told them I wanted anything with a stick instead of a wheel---little did I know that the O-1 had a stick!), and served as a FAC during all of 1966. Those were the best of times (nothing is as stimulating as combat) and the worst of times (being away from the family for a year).
By the time my tour ended I had wised up and decided that ATC looked pretty good after all. I came back to Vance as a T-37 instructor, and the next 4 ½ years were great. There's nothing quite like strapping on an airplane, leaving Friday and returning on Monday with the only requirement being to log some stick time and shoot a few instrument approaches.
Unfortunately all good things must come to and end. By 1971 the Vietnam War had pretty well wound down and the Air Force had more than enough pilots. I had met all my "gates" (flying time in years and hours) and was facing some sort of desk job, with a strong possibility of a Korean tour. I looked at my options, and among other things realized I would need a Master's Degree if I wanted to get promoted. That led me to the ICBM business at Whiteman AFB, MO., first as a crew member, then a year in a staff position, followed by a year as an ops office and finally a command position as the commander of a strategic missile squadron. I can't say I enjoyed any of it (I was able to fly for proficiency the first year, then the Air Force decided one didn't need to do that if one had all of his gates), but it did get me promoted and I was able to complete my Master's Degree. I was pretty much lined up for the usual progression---Deputy Commander for Operations and then Wing Commander, but by that time I'd had my fill of SAC. It seemed like a good time to spend at a nice college someplace, and found an AFROTC commander slot in Vermont. Not particularly challenging, but enjoyable and did give me the experience I needed to teach at the college level, which I had begun to consider as a second career. I had assumed that at the end of my 3 years in ROTC I would be assigned back to the cockpit in my combat weapons system (C-130), most likely to Germany. But as the end of the tour approached Joyce and decided to re-evaluate our plans. Joyce had obtained a good position in the Finance office at Trinity College (later to become VP for Finance and Administration), some of our kids were still in school, and we liked our home. It was clear that if I took a Germany assignment both of us would be looking for jobs when we returned with no contacts etc. To make a long story short, I took the Base Ops job (Chief of Airfield Management) at Plattsburg AFB, just across Lake Champlain in New York, and ended my career there.
After retiring, I used the GI Bill to obtain an MBA from the University of Vermont (my earlier Master's was in Industrial Safety, not really suitable for a teaching career). Right after graduation I was hired by Trinity College, and eventually became the Chairperson of the Business Department until I retired in 2000. I still teach one or two courses online each semester.
After playing gypsy (living various places in Florida and Vermont) for 4 years, we moved to our current home in Florida in 2004.
End of 2008 Biography,
In August 2021, I became aware that Marty had leukemia and the doctors only gave him three weeks to live. Being Marty, he outfoxed the doctors and lived for seven months while continued to play cards with his friends and enjoyed going out to lunch with Joyce. However, he did not get back on the golf course.
Portions from his memorial card:
He served proudly in the Air Force for 28 years as a Navigator, Pilot and Missilier, then went on to teach in higher education for 27 years. His family was his greatest joy.
He was predeceased by his parents; 4 siblings; his son, Chris and daughter, Laura. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce; his son Greg (Vermont); his daughter Linda (St. Augustine, FL); his brother, Dan and wife Dee (Seminóle, FL); grandchildren, Michael Hamar, Annie Bader (Dee Barnwell), Maj. Chris Engelken (Julianna), Sharon Rome (James), Ben Giese (Mavity) and Bailey Chokshi-Fox (Demetri); and reat-grandchildren, Jaiden, Xavier, Rylie and Alora.
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