In A Heartbeat

USAF Retired SMSgt Kevin Kellett was born and raised in New Jersey. He enlisted in the Air Force in October 1968, completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. Then onto Lowrey AFB in Colorado, to train as an Aerospace Photographic System repairman. While there, he met his future wife, Candy. Upon completion of school, he got orders to Vietnam where he spent 6 months at Pleiku AB and 6 months at Tuy Hoa AB, working on various aircraft photo systems. He received orders back to Lowrey AFB and he and Candy married and had their first child.

After 3 years they got orders to Torrejon AB, Spain, where their second child was born. This was Candy’s first trip out of the USA, and it was one of their favorite assignments. Another 3 years passed and then it’s on to Homestead AFB, Fl. At Homestead, Kevin was still working maintenance when he attended NCO Leadership school and was subsequently assigned as an adjunct instructor at the school. During this assignment, their third child was born. Kevin continued as an instructor until he received orders.

His next assignment was Osan AB, Korea. Back to maintenance working on F-4’s and some new systems that had been added to the career field. This could have been an accompanied tour, but their oldest child would’ve been boarded in Seoul because the elementary school only went to 5th grade. They opted for Kevin to take a short tour. Candy and the children moved back to Colorado for the year. His next assignment was to Dyess AFB, Texas, which was the first time he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command. He went from working on fighters (F-4’s) to Bombers (B-52’s). They were there for about 18 months because the B-52s left and Kevin didn’t have a job on the new B-1 bomber. So, it was off to Guam, where he served as the Avionics Maintenance Squadron Pro Super for much of his tour. This was another favorite assignment. The family really enjoyed the beaches. They might have extended to stay in Guam but the oldest was going into high school and the schools weren’t the greatest.

From Guam to Minot AFB, North Dakota, what a huge contrast. Winters were brutally cold, and all six weeks of summer were brutally hot. Kevin served as the Offensive/Defensive Avionics Branch Chief. Despite the weather, the family enjoyed their time there until after the 3rd winter, Candy told Kevin, “Get me back to Florida.” 

Kevin got orders to Tyndall AFB, Florida, in 1989. He became the Avionics Flight Chief. He retired in 1994, after 26 years in the Air Force. They always planned on retiring in Colorado, but their first grandchild was born and there was no way Candy was moving away from Florida. Unable to keep himself away from Tyndall AFB, Kevin worked for Lockheed Martin for about 13 years after retirement.

When people ask Kevin, “Would you do it again?” He answers, “In a heartbeat.”