Much Welcome Big D.
I also got to meet and suit up General Chuck Yeager when I was a Buck Sgt. My last APR was endorsed by General Chuck Horner, I had beers with him several times, He was our Wing Commander at the time and was a full Bull. I was in the Triple Nickel. One of my Red Flag duty I got to meet BG Steve Richie http://www.veteransadvantage.com/va/herovet/brig-gen-steve-ritchie. my first Squadron Commander was Col. John "Smash" Madden, he got 3 Mig kills in Vietnam flying the F-4D.
I was a lucky dude in my first 4 years.
ps. The F-4D G-meter was a big tattletale, lol.