I thought some of you may want to know a bit about where Brad's life took him before his death in 1980.
Brad joined the Air Force in 1960 and went to technical school in Denver, CO for training in Munitions(specifically bomb loading). Upon completion, he was assigned to Dover AFB, Dover, DE in 1961 and we were married that same year. Our first child, Lori, was born in 1963 and by that time we were on our way to Suffolk County AFB, in Riverhead, NY. While there, our second child, Bradford Lee II, was born and within a year we moved to Chambley AFB, France. We spent two years in France then moved to Ramstein AFB, Germany. We lived in Germany for two years. During his tour there, his bomb loading team won the LOADO competition which meant that they were the best in all of Europe! From there Brad was sent to Viet Nam for one year. While there he was actively involved in the construction of an orphanage. I went back to Vermont with the children and upon his return, we were sent to Mountain Home AFB in Mountain Home, ID and remained there for two years. Our next home was at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX where Brad served on the Inspector General Team. This required him to travel throughout the US as an inspector. Unfortunately, he was assigned to another tour of South East Asia, this time to Thailand and once again, the children and I returned to Vermont. It was during this time that he became an avid Scuba diver. Our next destination was Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. We were there for two years and by this time our children were nearing Junior High and we both wanted to be assigned to a base that would allow us to remain there for the remainder of his 20 years (this meant 4 more years). Brad signed up for a controlled tour and we ended up at Grand Forks AFB in Grand Forks, ND. Not the most inviting place we had ever lived but at least we weren't going to be moving anytime soon. What a change this was for all of us - especially our children. This continous change of schools, friends, etc. was not always easy for them.
All during this time, Brad's military career progressed amazingly well, and he was promoted each and every time he was eligible, which meant that he was in a supervisory position at a very young age but this never phased him. He was a very well respected man and he was in his glory. By the time he had been in the service for 16 years, he had already reached the maximum rank for an enlisted man and he was the Senior Listed Advisor for the entire Bomb Wing.
Brad was an avid sportsman all his life and never missed a chance to go hunting or fishing. He was a great lover of people and he never met a stranger. To say that he was a charmer would be a complete understatement! He had a real zest for life and lived his life to the fullest.
He planned to retire in July of 1980 and we would be relocating to Omaha, Nebraska where he already had a job waiting for him. He and three of his friends went on a fishing trip to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. Unfortunately Brad's life ended far too soon as a result of a boating accident. An unexpected spring storm took his life and the lives of all three men with him.
Brad was buried with full military honors in Springfield, VT.
Shirley, Thanks for the summary of Brad's life. As you may well remember, Brad and I were very good friends and played sports together for many years. Knowing now that he led a very good and satisfying life makes me feel better. I had heard about his passing many years ago, but knew little else. Howard
Shirley Lemire (Cichonowicz)
I thought some of you may want to know a bit about where Brad's life took him before his death in 1980.Brad joined the Air Force in 1960 and went to technical school in Denver, CO for training in Munitions(specifically bomb loading). Upon completion, he was assigned to Dover AFB, Dover, DE in 1961 and we were married that same year. Our first child, Lori, was born in 1963 and by that time we were on our way to Suffolk County AFB, in Riverhead, NY. While there, our second child, Bradford Lee II, was born and within a year we moved to Chambley AFB, France. We spent two years in France then moved to Ramstein AFB, Germany. We lived in Germany for two years. During his tour there, his bomb loading team won the LOADO competition which meant that they were the best in all of Europe! From there Brad was sent to Viet Nam for one year. While there he was actively involved in the construction of an orphanage. I went back to Vermont with the children and upon his return, we were sent to Mountain Home AFB in Mountain Home, ID and remained there for two years. Our next home was at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX where Brad served on the Inspector General Team. This required him to travel throughout the US as an inspector. Unfortunately, he was assigned to another tour of South East Asia, this time to Thailand and once again, the children and I returned to Vermont. It was during this time that he became an avid Scuba diver. Our next destination was Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. We were there for two years and by this time our children were nearing Junior High and we both wanted to be assigned to a base that would allow us to remain there for the remainder of his 20 years (this meant 4 more years). Brad signed up for a controlled tour and we ended up at Grand Forks AFB in Grand Forks, ND. Not the most inviting place we had ever lived but at least we weren't going to be moving anytime soon. What a change this was for all of us - especially our children. This continous change of schools, friends, etc. was not always easy for them.
All during this time, Brad's military career progressed amazingly well, and he was promoted each and every time he was eligible, which meant that he was in a supervisory position at a very young age but this never phased him. He was a very well respected man and he was in his glory. By the time he had been in the service for 16 years, he had already reached the maximum rank for an enlisted man and he was the Senior Listed Advisor for the entire Bomb Wing.
Brad was an avid sportsman all his life and never missed a chance to go hunting or fishing. He was a great lover of people and he never met a stranger. To say that he was a charmer would be a complete understatement! He had a real zest for life and lived his life to the fullest.
He planned to retire in July of 1980 and we would be relocating to Omaha, Nebraska where he already had a job waiting for him. He and three of his friends went on a fishing trip to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. Unfortunately Brad's life ended far too soon as a result of a boating accident. An unexpected spring storm took his life and the lives of all three men with him.
Brad was buried with full military honors in Springfield, VT.
Dr. Howard Whitney
Shirley, Thanks for the summary of Brad's life. As you may well remember, Brad and I were very good friends and played sports together for many years. Knowing now that he led a very good and satisfying life makes me feel better. I had heard about his passing many years ago, but knew little else. Howard