Proud to serve for more than 50 years

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olenda Peña-Perez
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
Elmendorf Air Force Base --  "Most people don't like corned beef, but that's because they haven't had mine." 

Norman Facer doesn't worry about having leftovers when he cooks, because he knows how to make unpopular dishes into new favorites and after 52 years of service; 40 of those being a cook -- he does just that. 

Mr. Facer, a cook at the Iditarod Dining Facility, was recognized and received a 50-year pin for serving in the Air Force as an active duty member and a civilian for more than 50 years. 

At the age of 17, he joined the Air Force in 1955 with the encouragement of a couple of co-workers. 

"I was working at a sawmill at the time and a couple of older guys said they were going to join the Air Force next Monday and dared me to join with them, so I showed up - they didn't, and I joined up," he said. "Anyway, it was the best thing I ever did." 

He was sworn into the Air Force at Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah, and then sent to Parks Air Force Base, Pleasanton, Calif., for basic training. 

"I was only 17 years old and knew nothing about the military, and when I got to basic I couldn't figure out why they yelled at you - I found out later," he said. 

Shortly after graduating basic in March 1955, Parks AFB was closed. Mr. Facer went to aircraft maintenance school at Amarillo AFB, Amarillo, Texas, for single engine jets including the F-86, F-94 and T-33. 

"It was pretty challenging for a dumb ol' farm boy who had never seen a jet plane," he said. 

After graduating, Amarillo AFB was closed. 

When he got to his first duty station, Yuma Municipal Airport, Yuma, Arizona, at 2 a.m. it was 120 degrees. 

"I wondered what had I gotten into," he said. "When I arrived at the base at 8 a.m., all I could see were tents. I asked what was going on and was told it was a new base and we would have to live in tents until we got new buildings - it took two years." 

When I reported to the orderly room, the first sergeant asked me where my parents were. I told him they were in Idaho, and I was reporting in - he said 'damn they're sending me kids now.' I was told I was assigned to a very elite base." 

Nearly everyone stationed there were either F-86 pilots or Aces from the Korean War. Mr. Facer became an assistant crew chief on his commander' s (Col. Jabar) F-86, and about a year later he replaced the crew chief who changed station. He also received his third stripe. 

"I was pretty proud that I was given the colonel's plane to crew. It was quite a privilege," he said. 

While he was stationed at Yuma, Mr. Facer started working part time helping chefs at the Stardust and Flamingo Hotels. 

"My second career was started, and I had some very good chefs to learn from," he said.
After the new buildings were up in 1957, the base was sold to the Marines for $1, and he was sent to Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Fla. After getting to Florida in 1958, he started working on F-101's and F-102's, he was married and had a baby girl, Melanie, and he started working part time at some restaurants and hotels as a cook. 

In 1959, he was temporarily deployed to Macdill AFB, Tampa, Fla., for one year, and then returned to Tyndall. In November 1961, he received orders to Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska. 

"My wife wasn't too keen about going to Alaska, but still came along, and we arrived in March 1962," he said. "When I reported to the orderly room, I was told I would be on heavy maintenance crew, but first, all new people had to do 30 days of kitchen patrol."
During K.P. duty, Mr. Facer became good friends with Mr. Delk from the base welding shop. 

Mr. Delk and he were friends for more than 40 years before Mr. Delk passed away.
"He helped restore the P-38 static display, and the day before its dedication, he passed away. It was quite a shock," he said. 

In August 1962, Mr. Facer's wife took their 2-year old daughter and newborn son back to Florida, and they parted ways. 

"In 1963, I was sent to the ejection systems school and we opened our shop the very day President Kennedy was assassinated."
 
Mr. Facer, again, started working part time at a restaurant on Government Hill and in a bowling alley, which is now a church. 

"This is where I met my present wife in 1964," he said. "I worked with her sister, she told me that her sis was coming to visit her from Texas and wanted me to meet her. When Norma got here, she introduced her to me, and I didn't believe they were sisters. Sandy was short and brunette and Norma was a good looking, long-legged, redhead. This lady is my pride and joy to this day. We've been married for 41 years. She brought a son, Rick, with her and we had a son, Keith, together. You might have seen him in real estate magazines. He is quite successful and the only millionaire in the Facer family." 

In 1966, Mr. Facer was transferred to Edwards AFB, California. He was only there a short time before coming back to Alaska. He got out of the Air Force, Aug. 12, 1966. 

"When we came back, I leased a restaurant in Government Hill and many of the people from the base would come eat with us. One day in 1967, a lady from the civilian personnel office came in and mentioned they were hiring cooks, so I applied and was hired. I worked one year at the Yukon Dining Hall before it was closed. I was then transferred to Kenai Dining Hall where I worked for most of the last 40 years. 

"I've had a good career in food service and met many interesting people from all over the world, including a lot of our country's leaders like President Bill Clinton when he was here in the late 80's. I got to sit with Hillary and I talked to her and she said she really liked Alaska. 

"I take much pride in saying I've worked for the Air Force for over 50 years. I think the Air Force is the greatest organization in the world, and I tell many people this very thing; 'if it weren't for the Air Force, we wouldn't be a free nation and our standard of living wouldn't exist.'" 

Mr. Facer said he has received many awards but the one he was most proud of was when he won Civilian Employee of the Year for Alaska in 1989. 

Unfortunately for the people at Elmendorf, Mr. Facer put in his retirement paperwork Oct. 3 and plans to make it official Jan. 5. Good luck to you, Mr. Facer.