Born 9July1941
Grew up along the Texas gulf coast.
Quit school at 17and knocked around at several small jobs while living at home.
Returned to school and graduated at 18 years in 1961 at the bottom of my class.
Joined the Airforce in June after knocking around a bit and flew from Lackland AFB on my birthday to finish my basic training and begin learning how to be an Aircraft Weapons Tech. (Gun Plumber) at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado.
At the end of my training I was awarded my first stripe and sent to Luke AFB in Phoenix, Arizona where I finished my AF hitch and then worked for 2+ years at Luke as a civilian Weapons Tech for Lockheed loading weapons on the F104 StarFighter in the training program that trained German pilots how to fly this amazing plane.
First marriage ended, quit my job, returned to Texas, knocked around for a few months, rejoined the AF and was sent to McDill AFB in Tampa, Fla. where I went on my one and only blind date a young woman from Hartford, Ct. two days before she went back to work in Hartford. A few short months later I got orders sending me to Cahm Rahn Bay, Vietnam and took a military flight on a 40 day leave to Hartford to explore my potential future.
(This is the short version of course!) 4o days working part time, spare time getting acquainted with my soon to be- future wife and her family. Off to Nam for a year, returned to marry, extended for six months in the AF, accepted a 3 year tour/honeymoon at Bitburg AFB. Returned to Connecticut in 1970 with the Love of My Life, a young daughter and an infant son.
Worked for a few months at mechanical duties for United Nuclear building a reactor, unforeseen lay off, worked for several months as a machine adjuster for Cheeseborough Ponds maintaining the equipment used to fill Vaseline jars. Worked for 1/2 a year as a mechanical handy man at a machine shop in Essex, Ct. Decide I needed to have a trade and in 1972 found a job as an apprentice plumber working for a third-generation plumber/contractor.
Earned my Journeyman ticket after 4 years of experience and training. Applied and was accepted as a pipe fitter trainee with Pratt and Whitney in Middletown, Ct, and after a year become a full-fledged "pipefitter", served for a year as such, became a foreman for 2 ears, caught up in a lay-off, lost my job to a senior foreman who lost his department, returned to being a pipe fitter for a year. I applied for and received my plumbing contractor's license in 1978, worked part time as a plumbing repairman until I decided to work as a full-time plumber in 1982 and left P&W.
At lunch one day I overheard a couple of fellows talking. One asked, "Have you seen Lew?", the other relied, "Which one, Lew the electrician or Lew the plumber?" and I've been "Lew the Plumber" ever since!
Last Oct.31st my license and insurance finally expired and the next day at '81 I retired!
Sorry to be so long winded, but I felt I had to present this the only way I know how,
CJ
