Texas City Rotary Sends Local Veteran Of Week The Korean War To Washington

Joseph F. De Santo
S/Sgt United States Air Force
Served his country during the Korean War
From January 1951 – 1955
Joe was born March 16, 1931 in New York and spent the Depression years out in rural Long
Island. He was drafted in December, 1950 but chose to enlist in the Air Force because of his
desire to fly and love of airplanes.
He attended boot camp at Lackland Air Base at the time of the worst winter in Texas. The base
was overcrowded by 20,000 recruits. The transition from “army green to air force blue,” was in
its early stages. There were tents all over the parade grounds to house the overflow.
After completing basic training, he was sent to Shepard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, TX to
attend Aircraft & Engine school.
Upon completion of A & E school, he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Carswell
Air Force Base’s 19th Air Division, headquarters for the 824 Air Group in Fort Worth, TX. That
group was attached to the 7th & 11th Bomb Wings which were manned by B36 bombers.
Joe was put on flying status and assigned to General Joe Kelly’s crew. While maintaining the
General’s aircraft, it also meant participating in a great deal of trips coordinating max bombing
practice exercises with the 7th & 11th Bomb Wings. At that time period, we were at max security
and keeping the peace with Russia by keeping aircraft in the air around the clock. He logged
flying time on B-25, B-26, C47, C54, C119, and C45, with most time accrued on the B-25.
After the war ceased, Joe still had time to serve so he married the love of his life and now had a
military bride. His first son was born in the “old tar paper Quonset huts” that served as
hospitals.
They were to end up with 5 children, 14 grandchildren and, currently, 5 great-grandchildren.
They will be celebrating 66 years of marriage in September, 2019, and are blessed, so far, with
pretty good health.
Joe was honorably discharged on January 5, 1955 and has been a resident of Texas City since
1956.