Page 74 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine

Elmer Scarbrough USAF Longtime
lmer Ray Scarbrough of
Lubbock served his country
Efor 22 years in the U.S.
Air Force. However, the Air
Force was not his first choice. “I
graduated high school in 1954.
I wanted to join the Army and
train to be a Green Beret. I was
accepted, but since I was only
17 years old, my folks had to
sign for me. (The Green Berets
were brand-new Special Forces
whose original mission was to
conduct unconventional warfare
with quick-strike tactics.) Since
Mom wouldn’t sign for me, I
chose the Air Force, and she was
okay with that.” Elmer’s mom
likely thought the Green Berets
sounded very dangerous.
Born on February 13, 1937, in
Paducah, Texas, Elmer was one of
74 Lubbock Senior Link
Loadmaster
by Larry Williams
the seven sons of Olney and Antonio. After basic, I was sent
Mary Scarbrough. Olney to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls
worked in a roundhouse for Heavy Equipment training.
as a machinist for the After that, I went to Altus AFB
Santa Fe Railroad, and in Oklahoma for Loadmaster
Mary was a homemaker training.” A Loadmaster’s job
and a registered nurse. We included airdrop, loading and
moved to Quanah, where inspecting cargo, and operating
I graduated from high aerial delivery equipment.
school.”
“Most of my early years in
Elmer wasn’t the only son the Air Force were spent at
who joined the military. Travis AFB and March AFB in
“My oldest brother, Olney California. I had an aunt I would
Jr., served 32 years in the visit who lived in Los Angeles.
Navy. He served in the During one visit, she said, ‘I
Pacific during WWII and know a young lady you might
served during the Korean enjoy meeting.’ She introduced
and Vietnam Wars. Another me to Barbara Mora. After I left,
brother, Edward, was in the Barbara told my aunt, ‘I’m going
Army between Korea and to marry that man!’” She was
Vietnam.” right, and Barbara and Elmer
married on August 8, 1957.
Notably, “My brother,
Kenneth, was in the Elmer was involved in numerous
Merchant Marines and became flights during the Vietnam War.
the captain of a cargo ship--the “I was the Loadmaster on a
SS Union Faith. His ship was cargo hauler C-141 Starlifter. We
headed up the Mississippi and would fly from the Philippines
collided with three barges loaded into Da Nang and Tan Son Nhut
with 27,000 barrels of crude oil. Air Base. Several times, it got a
The Union Faith exploded in little hairy. We would often be
seconds. Kenneth raced across under fire, especially during the
his burning ship’s deck to drop Tet Offensive.” (On January 30,
the anchors but
was never seen
again. Twenty-
five men died,
but it’s believed
that Scarbrough’s
actions helped
prevent an
even worse
catastrophe.
“My basic training
was at Lackland
AFB in San