Page 192 & 193 Dad's Military Album Vol. III

Journaling
With Dad’s transfer to Elmendorf AFB, came a transfer in commands. For the remainder of Dad’s career, he was assigned to the USAFSS (United States Air Force Security Service). The Air Force Security Service was established on 20 October 1948 at Arlington Hall Station, Virginia. The newly formed organization was created to head up the fledgling Air Forces crypto-logic mission. In 1949, the Security Service moved their headquarters to Brooks AFB, San Antonio, Texas and in 1953 they moved to Kelly AFB in San Antonio. Today the USAFSS is the Air Intelligence Agency.

Once you were assigned to the Security Service you never left. During the Cold War USAFSS’s mission grew and before long it enveloped the globe with units in many far away places. Manned by ear-phoned clad signals operators, linguists and analysts, these units helped America keep a watchful eye on the activities of the Soviet Empire. The men and women of the Security Service manned airborne platforms like the EC130 and RC135; pounded out reports on their teletype machines in Surveillance and Warning Centers; and spent hours on end “spinning and grinning” their R390 radios while tied to the AN/FLR-9 “Elephant Cages” or dipoles. Sworn to the uttermost secrecy, they are best described as “Silent Warriors.”

The USAFSS Command Emblem symbolizes the command mission. It consists of a shield divided equally into quarters by a vertical and horizontal line and identifying scroll. Significant of the command’s worldwide influence, the first quarter is blue, thereon a green sphere with yellow land markings. Pertinent to transmission, the second quarter is red, thereon a yellow lighting streak. Significant of the United States Air Force, the third quarter is yellow, thereon a blue half wing. Symbolic of protection and security, the fourth quarter is blue, thereon over a sword with point to base (hilt and pommel yellow), a white shield, thereon a yellow flame shaded red. The emblem was approved by Headquarters USAF in August 1952. The motto, “Freedom Through Vigilance” was adopted in January 1964. ~ Author unknown.

Silent Warriors
What is the make-up of this breed....
these strange and special few?
Where do they come from, year-on-year?
What is it that they do?

They are like shadows in the night
or vapor in the air
so seldom seen and rarely heard
but rest assured, they're there

They come not from a single place
they come from far and wide
the open plains, the city streets
the rural countryside

They are the farmer's little boy,
the girl who lived next door
the uncle of a high school friend
who gave his life at war

They are the barber's youngest child
who heard his country's call
or friends with whom we laughed and sipped
whose names are on "THE WALL"

And what they do, you needn't ask
for none will ever tell
in silence based on "need to know"
they proudly serve so well

They're much the same as all before
who vanquished freedom's foe
they are the ones who fuel the fire
which keeps THE TORCH aglow.

~ Russ Butcher 2002

When Dad read this poem in 2004 it touched his heart. When he died in 2015 I read this poem at his viewing. I almost didn't make it through the reading, my eyes were so filled with tears.

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