Jay Warbiany: I Saw A Lot Of Air Force Bases in Four Years

By Carla Khan, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Jay Marbiany grew up on Chicago’s South Side and was the middle of three brothers.  Excellent grades in math and science in high school had earned him a coveted four year scholarship at IIT. But during the first semester he already knew he was bored and wanted something else out of life. Much to the dismay of his father, the 19-year-old gave up his scholarship and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the height of the Vietnam War.

The recruiter gave him a list of items to get and told him to show up at Midway Airport in one week.  Before he knew it, he and another ten recruits were flown to Texas where they reported to Lackland AFB near San Antonio.  

Jay did so well in Basic Training that after only five weeks, he was transferred to Sheppard AFB in the far northeast corner of Texas to learn all about aircraft maintenance.  He was there from April 1963 to early 1964, almost a year.  The training was fascinating for Jay; it covered pretty much all parts of an aircraft from hydraulics to landing gear and wings to rebuilding engines.  Once this training was completed, he was transferred again to Offutt AFB just south of Omaha, NE. His training was put to good use because he was assigned as a crewmember to General Curtis LeMay’s VC-97, a staff transport and flying command post aircraft.  Jay really enjoyed his responsibilities of keeping the aircraft in top condition and doing the pre-flight check.  In addition to the daily routine responsibilities, he had to be ready whenever the General needed his crew.  This sometimes meant eating in the chow hall at irregular times and “taking all you want but eat all you take.” When the aircraft did not need any maintenance, Jay was assigned to various duties, including KP. 

Being a mechanic at heart, Jay purchased a 1949 Plymouth which he rebuilt in his free time from the engine to the car seats.  The local auto hobby shop got to know him really well!

After a year at Offutt AFB, he was transferred to Goose Bay in Labrador, Canada, just 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle.  Goose Bay Air Base at that time was part of the USAF Strategic Air Command.  Not only was this a change of environment, the aircraft Jay got to work on were very different too.  Instead of a huge VC-97, he now worked on a small DeHavilland single engine aircraft.  During the winter they flew to outlying radar stations and delivered mail as well as “special orders” consisting mostly of requests for cookies, magazines, and books. The summer duties were also different because the aircraft was outfitted with pontoons and was used more “like a taxi service,” flying officers to different camps in Goose Bay for R&R.  They had a motor boat and towed the aircraft at night to a buoy.   The interesting living quarters were six story tall barracks, built to handle major snow storms.  The only thing Jay didn’t care for was the showers because the unheated water was pumped right out of the Bay!

Jay sensed a major change was coming because all of a sudden he was sent on TDY to Udorn AFB in northeastern Thailand. He had to maintain USAF aircraft and worked with a supply outfit that flew airdrops into Vietnam.  The crates were sealed and unmarked so he never got to find out what exactly they were dropping. His 30 days turned into 7 ½ months from early 1966 to late 1966 during which he never left the base.  It was not a peaceful location because suddenly they were under attack by MIGS and were under fire by incoming rockets.  Jay got wounded in his left hand and was sent back to Goose Bay where the medics did not like the way his hand looked and sent him on to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS.  By the time his hand had healed, Jay also had completed his tour of duty. 

Although being in the USAF had been a very good experience, Jay was ready to move on with his life.  It was a good decision because while he had a temporary job with Sears, he met a young lady, Christine, who also had a temporary summer job. Meeting at work led to three years of dating and eventually marriage.  At the time of this interview, Jay and Christine have been happily married for 51 years and are looking forward to adding many more years.

While he was working for Sears, United Airlines at O’Hare somehow had gotten word that there was an experienced aircraft mechanic available and they immediately offered Jay a position which he happily accepted.  He completed his 35-year career with United Airlines in 2002.  

Looking back on his Air Force years, Jay said that he had no regrets at all about trading his scholarship for Air Force experience.  “The Air Force will teach a young person discipline as well as equip him or her with job skills.  I loved the Air Force and it gave me training for life.”  Asked what advice he would give a 19-year-old about joining the USAF?  His spontaneous answer was, “Go For It!”

Jay, thank you for your service and enjoy your Honor Flight.