Big BUF is a story of a B-52 crew and their adventures (and misadventures) during the Vietnam war.
Chuck and His wi.
She still managed to have time to raise a child of our own while acting as mother and replacing an absent father.
She was leader of The Protestant Women of the Chapel and received a Letter of Commendation for her chapel work from the Air Force Chief of Chaplains.
She continued teaching Sunday school and other work in chapel programs.
She remained active in her social responsibilities.
She was always available to assist other Wives who might have demonstrated embarrassing behavior at the officers club.
The telephone would sometimes ring in the early evening and They would talk until sunup when the friend would say that she is now all right.
Merelyn told her to call when this happened.
There was the recovering alcoholic who would no longer be able to cope and wanted to turn to drink.
Merelyn was responsible for welfare and support of Wives coping with family separation.
Merelyn Holmes had the toughest job in the Air Force-that of an Air Force wife.
Chuck is now retired as Professor of Economics Emeritus.
He taught economics and statistics for twenty years.
He was appointed to Bainbridge College, of the University System of Georgia. before joining Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, teaching economics as a the senior scientist, then later director, of the Aviation Research Center.
He did Government contract work with the BDM Corporation in Washington, D.
C. in education finance in 1976.
He was awarded an M.
S in 1975, and a Ph.
D.
Returning to civilian life, he qualified for a teaching certificate in mathematics at Florida State University.
At Utapao, he completed 236 combat missions, receiving 11 Air Medals, the Bronze Star, and Distinguished Flying Cross.
He had 4 combat tours during the Vietnam War, 3 of which were 6 months each flying as combat crewmember from Guam, Okinawa, and Utapao Royal Thai Air Base.
He had over 7,500 flying hours with over 5,000 hours in the B-52, transitioning from copilot to first pilot to instructor pilot.
After flying the C-47 "Goonie Bird" in Korea and two years in troop carrier operations, he was drafted into the SAC and the B-52 program in 1959, where he stayed for the rest of his career.
He was awarded his wings and commissioned a second lieutenant in 1955.
Holmes applied for Aviation Cadet flight training in the United States Air Force in 1953.
About author(s): Charles W.
Big BUF is history seen through the eyes of those who lived it.
I have described the actual combat and bombing runs as accurately as possible.
She lived through the panic when an airplane was lost and the blue station wagons cruised through the housing areas, carrying the Chaplain and a senior officer to the home of the new widow.
They helped each other cope and took care of the ones who turned to alcohol or other men.
Wives were close.
Merelyn accurately describes life back home.
Ernie\'s Hide-Away actually existed under the name of Charlie\'s Hide-Away and was a favorite restaurant and watering hole for B-52 guys.
She had found a need and filled it.
There was also a rumor, which had a good basis, that a general\'s wife opened a house of pleasure on Guam.
For example, there was a Russian spy at Pataya Beach, Thailand, who sought information from B-52 crew members in exchange for "favors." It became a game to go to Pataya to see if one could be picked up by the lovely spy.
The book is based on actual events that occurred during the war, embellished with a little artistic license.
I would say that all characters in the book are based on combinations of individuals.
No character in the book is any one living individual.
It follows a B-52 aircrew from their entry into the Strategic Air Command, through three combat tours and to the end of the Vietnam War.
This is not only true on war, but is also true at home where the Wives and children anxiously await the return of their husbands and fathers.
It is based on the fact that war is in itself not humorous, but humorous things happen in war.
Big BUF is a story of a B-52 crew and their adventures (and misadventures) during the Vietnam war
