CHAPTER 4 THE HISTORY OR RADIO RANDY : FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Airman First Class R Bliss USAF

Langley AFB Hampton VA

GET OUT OF MY BED! An angry man was shouting at me, just inches from my face. I struggled to wake up and discover what the hell was going on. I was in the top bunk of a bunk bed in my dormitory at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton Va. It was the middle of the night and I had been in a deep comfortable sleep. Yet here I was, awake and the target of a barrage of expletives and looks that would kill.

I had just recently arrived at Langley, my first base assignment after completing basic training and the Law Enforcement Academy at Lackland AFB in Texas. I was told to move into the room, that I would share with a Martin French. He was away on leave, so I set about moving in and getting set up.

As I surveyed the room, I noticed that both bunks were made up and looking squared away. I have always maintained that my decision to choose the top bunk was one of courtesy. I assumed that anyone in this situation would choose the bottom bunk for ease of access and maintaining.

So, there I was, sleeping comfortably in a bed, that was already made up with sheets and everything when my new roommate came back from a three-day weekend at home. Turns out, he was trying to avoid getting a roommate, so he had made up both beds to make it look like there were two people living on the room. But the bottom bunk was only a blanket, over the mattress, no sheets. Martin had fully made up the top bunk and was sleeping there, I still do not know why.

I had several friends from basic training and the LE Academy class who were all assigned to Langley as well. It was nice to start my first job with some guys I already knew. On our first night after moving into the dorm that housed all the Law enforcement and security guys, we had a small party in my room. One friend like cigars and he tapped out some ashes into the ashtray that came standard in the room. We had a few beers and talked things over as we all prepared for our training to join the Security team. Once things broke up there was a couple of cases of beer left and I told the guys to just put it in the fridge for now.

I listened to Martin fume for a bit, as he made up the bottom bunk and plopped down to sleep. I rolled over and went to sleep as well, wondering what kind of lunatic I would be living with.

Thinks were calmer in the morning, and we sat down to introduce ourselves and see what what was what. That is when I learned of his plan to avoid getting a roommate, he just did not want any hassles. So, he arrived home to find his new roommate in his bed, ashes in the ashtray and beer in the fridge and jumped to some serious conclusions about his new roommate.

Things remained icy for a few days, but eventually we began to talk about our families and background, and we learned of much common ground in our upbringing. Farming, small town life and a close family turned out to be the foundation of our friendship that grew over time.

We worked together in the same unit D Flight. We lived together and took advantage of the base facilities to play handball often. As an entry level patrol office, most of my shifts were spent working as a gate guard on one of the base entry points. Some of the gates required two people, and often Martin and I were assigned the same post and spent an 8-hour shift talking. We worked an odd arrangement of shifts, six days on three days off. The first three days were swing shifts, 3-11 PM. Then there was a 24-hour break, followed by three overnight shifts 11PM-7AM. Those over night shifts afforded us lots of time to just talk, since gate traffic was almost non-existent. I listened for hours as Martin talked about his home and family in Woodstock Va. He spent hours listening to me talk of my dream of working on the radio.

Woodstock was only a three-hour drive from the base, so Martin went home on every single three-day break. I found ways to amuse myself with other friends on those breaks, but eventually after much goading from Martin, went with him to Woodstock to see what all the fuss was about.

My visit turned out to be life changing. Woodstock, in the Shenandoah Valley was mesmerizing to me and I began to understand why Martin came home every weekend. It was not just the natural beauty that was so incredible. It was Martin’s family and friends who right way treated me like I was one of them.

Doug and Marion French became a second set up parents to me. Martins brothers and sisters became like siblings to me. Think of the Walton’s. That is what kind of family this was. We ate at a huge table as a group and enjoyed amazing dishes prepared by Mrs. French.

Martin’s two oldest sisters where married and no longer at home, but his brothers Dougie, Billy, Timmy and sisters Amy and Shelly all became part of my extended family, or should I say I became part of theirs.

I have often talked about how supportive my mom and dad have been over my life, especially in tough times and the ups and downs of working in radio. My Virginia family has been just as supportive. I spent hours talking with Marion about my radio dreams and she never failed to ask me about it when I was there with Martin.

Martin and I had many adventures and some misadventures in the Valley over the years and as we both left the AF we remained in touch. We visited as often as possible. With each visit we fell back into our normal routine like no time at all had passed. Martin visited NY a few times and got to know my folks and extended an open invitation to visit and stay in the French family cabin anytime. They built the cabin for family gatherings, since the group was so large. The cabin featured 4 large bedrooms, a huge fireplace in the living room, wrap around porches and a modern kitchen. And to this day me and my family are welcome to come and stay.

While the AF ended up being a brief detour from radio, I would not change a thing. Martin remains one of my closest friends to this day and for that I will always be grateful.

Up next, I meet one of the two great mentors of my career.