Edmund Rafalski Jr.: Maintaining The OV-10 in Support of the 1st Cavalry

By Lale Schram, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Edmund (Ed) Rafalski served in the Air Force from August 1968 to August 1972. He  grew up in Calumet City, Illinois with one brother and two sisters. With a goal to get a good education, Ed enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17. However, his parents had to sign for him because he was not yet of legal age. Two months before his 18th birthday, Ed was processed into the Air Force. His first stop was Lackland Air Force Base in Texas where he completed his Basic Training. This was Ed’s first time in an airplane.

After Basic Training, Ed was sent for advanced training at several bases. At Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas he received his technical training to repair the C-130, a cargo plane with propellers. His next stops included Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas and Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, spending six weeks at each location.  Lastly he was sent to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for additional training for OV-10’s. In Vietnam, the OV-10 (“O” for observation; “V” for short takeoff) was highly adaptable and performed many missions for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Its machine guns, rockets, and bombs could quickly make a mission ferocious. Upon completing his training Ed was given a month’s leave so he went back home to Calumet City. 

In January, 1970 Ed left for Vietnam, landing in Binh Hoa. From there he  went to a processing center in Quan Loi, eleven miles from Cambodia. Ed was assigned as a Crew Chief and supported the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division. A vivid memory of Vietnam included the ground shaking each time the B-52 strikes occurred. He also recalled evenings spent playing cards or talking with pilots and the Army officers. For Ed, his time in Vietnam went very fast. 

The area around the camp in Quan Loi was formerly a Michelin Rubber Plantation. Everything, including the food, was covered with red dust but despite this, the food was not too bad. The mess chief made sure that all of the soldiers were fed and had what they needed. 

While in Vietnam, Ed received lots of letters from his family and friends. His sister recently found all the letters among his parents’ things. Ed was able to relive Mail Call and read through them again.

Recalling the sleeping quarters, Ed says it consisted of a metal roof building with sandbags halfway up the walls and bunkers outside. Since most of the battles were fought at night, the servicemen learned quickly that if they heard a noise like a train they were to take cover quickly. A definite advantage of the Air Force, Ed slept on a wooden pallet while the Army guys slept on the floor.

One day, while in the food line at Quan Loi,  Ed met a neighbor from Calumet City, Richard Narug. Neither of these men knew the other was there! They have remained friends ever since that chance meeting. When the war in Vietnam was winding down, the Quan Loi Base Camp closed and Ed was assigned to Bay Sung and then to Phouc Vinh. Ed continued to provide maintenance for the Air Force Controller Aircraft in Vietnam until he returned home in January of 1971. He was welcomed home to his neighborhood with signs made by his neighbors and family.

During the rest of his Air Force service,  Ed traveled throughout the United States and the world. He always had his bag packed as his squad traveled to many places including Greece, England and Germany. They worked on C-130’s, picked up parts, delivered parts and provided maintenance to those aircrafts. Ed’s younger brother was so envious of Ed’s travels that he also enlisted in the Air Force, although he was only stationed in Guam during his career.

While in Vietnam, Ed had served under Major Don L. Brooks.  Major Brooks wrote a book Fly to the Sound of Battle. In this book are stories about his combat tour flying OV-10’s over South Vietnam and Cambodia. Ed was mentioned in this book under the name of ‘Ski’.  

Ed left the Air Force in August of 1972 and began his long career as a mechanic for Bauer Buick in Harvey. Illinois.  He also used the GI Bill to buy his first house. Today, Ed is happily retired and spends some of his free time at the Manteno American Legion Post. Ed spent many years as a football referee for junior high, high school and Minor League games. He just recently retired from officiating those games also.

Ed views his time in the service as a good experience; he felt it taught him discipline as well as strong work ethics.

Thank you for your service, Ed.  Enjoy your Honor Flight day with your comrades!