Air mobility heritage: McChord icon celebrates 40 years of service

Published Dec. 2, 2010
By Airman Leah Young
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

MCCHORD FIELD, JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASH. -- "Forty years ago, when I drove my car to this base, I had no idea I would make chief master sergeant," said Mr. Jonathan Harris. "Now look at me. I've spent the majority of my life here. And I've loved every minute of it."

Jonathan Tyronne Harris grew up in a small town called Salem, Va. He graduated from George Washington Carver School in 1961 at the age of 17. Five days later, he left Virginia for Texas to begin Air Force basic training.

"I joined the Air Force because I was 17 and I didn't want to go to college," said Mr. Harris. "There was nothing for a young African American male to do in the town I grew up in, especially without a college education."

"I was originally going in as a policeman," said Mr. Harris. "But right before I left, they told me my scores were good enough to be an auto pilot specialist."

Armed with that information, he took the job and moved to his first assignment at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. This would be his home for eight years.

"I loved South Dakota," said Mr. Harris. "I went there as young kid and left there as a grown man. It was hard living, but no matter where you live, it's what you make of it. I made some very good friends there, and I still keep in touch with them."

On June 13, 1969, his military contract ran out. He was a staff sergeant, but he chose not to re-enlist.

"I was 25 years old and I wanted to do something different," said Mr. Harris. "I didn't know what I wanted, but I went looking for it."

"When I first got out, I went home," said Mr. Harris. "And it was the exact same as it was when I left. Two months later, Boeing offered me a job."

He accepted the job and ventured out to the Pacific Northwest.

"Working on a commercial airplane is completely different from a military airplane," he said. "I felt like my co workers didn't care much. It was just a job for them."

In January of 1970, he was laid off from his job at Boeing and began working various odd jobs around the Puget Sound area. One of these jobs included a staffer for "The Facts" newspaper in Seattle.

"I was never worried about unemployment," said Mr. Harris. "I had a job the whole time I was laid off. The problem was, they were all dead end jobs. None of them were going to take me anywhere."

In September of the same year, he attempted to re-enlist in the Air Force.

"I drove up to the gate at McChord Air Force Base and I told the guard I was looking for a recruiter," said the former chief master sergeant. "I guess I looked a little older, I wasn't a young whipper snapper anymore. So he sent me to the reserves."

The 446th Airlift Wing offered him an Air Reserve Technician position. He accepted, and on Nov. 22, 1970, began working at McChord.

"I worked as an autopilot specialist for C-141 Starlifter aircraft and I made technical sergeant shortly after that," he said. "In 1979 I became an instrument shift foreman for the 62nd Airlift Wing and was promoted to the rank of master sergeant."

He moved to different leadership positions throughout the 446th and 62nd AWs, including the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron auto pilot shop foreman in 1985.

"Over the next nine years, I held various positions in the 446th AMS," said Mr. Harris. "I actually left the 446th Airlift Wing for a year and a half to be superintendant of the Federal Emergency Management Agency of Pierce County which was a senior master sergeant slot in the reserves."

"I came back to the reserves in 1986 as the guidance and control branch chief for the 446th AMS, and on Nov. 1, 1988, I made chief master sergeant and became the senior enlisted advisor of the 446th AW, which is the equivalent of a command chief."

He held that job until he retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1995 after 33 years of military service.

"The worst part about retirement was taking the uniform off," he said. "That's why you see so much emotion at retirement ceremonies. You've done this job for such a long time, and then you can't do it anymore."

"Luckily, I was able to continue working in the military community and I see the same people every day," said the former reservist. "I was still working as an Air Reserve Technician, so after I retired, I took a job as the production supervisor for the 62nd Aircraft Generator Squadron."

In 1997, he was promoted to the 62nd AGS maintenance supervisor. In July of 2003, Mr. Harris retired from Civil Service after 41 years.

"In 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Crownover, then -- 62nd Mission Support Group commander, asked me if I'd be interested in a job involving the Air Mobility Command Rodeo, which was hosted at McChord," said the former reservist. "Of course, I accepted and became a part of the project as a contractor."

"Two years later, I became the program manager and deputy director for Air Expo and AMC Rodeo," said Mr. Harris. "And that's where you can find me today."

While discussing his career, he noted a considerable amount of changes throughout his years spent at McChord.

"In a lot of cases, growth is a good thing," said the guy affectionately known around base as the Rodeo man. "But I'm attached to McChord. I hope the changes we're going through now will prove to be good."

Not only has Mr. Harris served the McChord community for the past 40 years, he has also been an outstanding leader throughout the Puget Sound area in many ways.

"In 2010, I was chosen as one of four Pierce College Distinguished Alumni inducted into the Pierce College Hall of Fame," said Mr. Harris.

"I also served as a school board member on the Steilacoom Historical School District, School Board," said Mr. Harris. "I began working on the school board in 1981 and served for 12 years. Then from 2000 to 2002, I served as a board member on the Washington State Board of Education."

Mr. Harris also served as the assistant tournament director for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association girls and boys state basketball championships for more than 20 years. He also sings in the men's choir called 'The Sons of Thunder' at a local Tacoma church.

While Mr. Harris was describing his career and his achievements, he spoke with a profound sense of pride. He says there isn't one thing he would change, and he's proud to have spent the majority of his life at McChord.

"Forty years pass by more quickly than you'd think," said Mr. Harris. "But I love McChord. This is my home."