I left The Bronx, NY, and joined the USAF, in March, 1960. After basic training, I went to Sheppard AFB for helicopter(H-21, H-19) maintenance school.

 Upon graduation in OCT 1960, I was assigned to the 1376th CAMRON, 1370th PMW, Turner AFB, GA.

 In 1961 I went TDY to AST #5, British Giuana, French Giuana, and Brazil for 6 months. Our mission there was installing ground HIRAN stations by H-21 helicopter and resupplying them.

 Then back to Turner for about a year.

 Returned to Sheppard for a refresher course on HH-43's, and then another TDY to AST #7, New Guinea. Our main post in NG was at Port Moresby and we also spent time with the H-43's aboard the Merchant Marine Ship the Curtis F. Shoup. We sailed around the island of New Guinea and placed troops on ground HIRAN sites and supplied them with food, radio equipment and other supplies.

 Again back to Turner and got discharged in MAR 1964.

 I returned to NYC and became a Tractor Trailer driver. During my reign as a driver I hauled liquid sugar, copper, brass, and cookies for Nabisco. I retired from the Teamsters Union as a business agent in 1997. Then I drove a charter bus for 1 1/2 years and did tours mostly in the North East.

 I was married and had 3 kids: 2 boys and 1 girl. Then, 9 years ago, I got divorced. I'm now married again, to Debbie, and have 5 grandchildren and 2 stepgranchildren. I lived in New Jersey for a long time and now live in Long Beach, Long Island, New York. UPDATE: We moved back to New Jersey(Budd Lake) in 2005.

 I would like to hear from any of the people that I met during my tour in the Air Force. My thanks to Jim Kinter who has been my friend for over 40 years, and also the rest of the guys who have worked so hard to put this website together for all of us.

 Bill Ahern

Here are some pictures

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