Steve Peckham

sppeckham@msn.com

Spent 20 years in the Air Force. Joined in 1980 when Scott Fitch asked me to go down and talk to the recruiter with him. I figured there was no way I was going to sign up. 12 days later I was in Basic Training in San Antonio Texas, Technical Training in Denver Colorado, Kunsan Air Base Korea 1 year (F-4's), Barksdale AFB Louisiana 2 1/2 years (B-52's), Suwon Air Base Korea 1 year (A-10's), Mt Home AFB Idaho 2 years (EF-111's), Suwon Air Base Korea 4 years, Edwards AFB California 3 years (Special Operations Test, AC-130U Gunship), Misawa Air Base Japan 6 years (F-16 Wild Weasels)(climbed Mt Fuji). Been to every continent on Earth except for Antartica. Temporary Duty in Alaska, Philipines, Guam, Australia, Malaysia, Panama, Columbia, Cairo (2 (hours), Bosnia-Herzgovinia (1 Hour), Labrador, England, and throughout the US. Retired in 2000 and moved to West Linn Oregon where I raised my Daughter by myself for the last 9 years. As a result of back injuries and surgeries I gave up on working in Industry/Manufacturing and went to Western Culinary Institute to become a Chef in 2005. Moved Back to Longview in January this year. It's good to be back home but Longview sure has changed. Have been in contact with Steve Michels for the last 9 years, did a lot of hunting and camping with him over the last few years and still consider him the best friend I ever had. I am currently doing volunteer work at the Library working with the Project Read Program and anywhere else they need me.

I don't know who will remember this but my uncle Chuck was the school custodian when we where in High School. Short, scuffy little guy who used to come out to the designated smoking area (I can't believe that we had that) and bum smokes off of me. One day a band was setting up their equipment and a group of us was watching them. I know that Colin Carey was there because he told me that my Uncle was walking up to us. My uncle proceeded to tell the drummer that he wasn't setting up the drums right. Everybody told me to tell my Uncle to shut up, he was embarrasing himself and me. I didn't say a word (my uncle was/is a drummer, he belonged to a local union and even sat in for Quarter Flash when their drummer came down with the flu when they where playing at the Monticello Hotel). So my Uncle continued to talk smak to this guy until he said "If you think you can do better come up on the stage and show me". Now everybody was telling him to shut up, but he got up on stage and sat down behind the drum set and started to play. Everybody's mouth fell open, yeah, he could play.

Hunting (I never shoot anything but I like going out with Steve Michels and his son Daniel).
Camping (same thing)
Cooking
Walking the Lake with my dog.
Family (that is why I moved back here)

The Air Force really screwed me over on this one. Sent us to New Castle, Australia (2 hours north of Sidney) . Five Star Motel right on the beach where they hold the world surfing championships. 2 room private suite. It doesn't get any worse than that.