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I was at Hahn AB from 77-78, home of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing. Our barracks was no more than a mile from the flight line, those F-4s were LOUD, especially when the afterburners kicked in.

I had a unique view of the operations, as I was the Army Liasion Officer during tac evals (the only other officer in my unit with the requisite security clearance was my boss, the Battery Cdr of our air defense artillery battery, he didn't need to spend any time in the hole).

COL Jim Albritton was the Wing Cdr, and we had a great relationship. It helped that he graduated from West Point, before the AF Academy was built.

During the first hour of my first tac eval, I was briefing him on the locations of our weapons systems. An NBC warfare input was dropped, and his Base Disaster Preparedness Officer recommended Alarm Red, which meant everybody outside had to go full protective gear.

I was a butterbar with a year time in grade, but I was also my battery's NBC officer, and received training at the USAREUR school at Vilseck. To the consternation and surprise of the other AF colonels in the room, I spoke up and requested approval to offer my recommendation. I gave the Wing Cdr three good reasons to go to Alarm Yellow, i.e. no protective gear, but still a heightened posture.

He agreed with me, and I could see the NATO team chief nod his approval. 15 minutes later, I heard him tell his staff that, "as long as I'm in command, I want that Army LT here whenever there's an NBC input!"

I would later be "kicked upstairs" to our Battalion HQ at Spangdahlem, another F-4 base. It was a great experience.