Veteran's Corner - David Bilow

ENDICOTT–Local veteran David Bilow joined the Air Force security police in 1970, during the Vietnam war-era, and was discharged in 1973.

Bilow went to college for two years after high school and was not drafted, he explained.

"I had a 2S deferment, because I was going to college for two years after I got out of high school," Bilow said, explaining that he quit going to school after the two years when they introduced the method of drafting where they gave a number.

"Number one was the first to go, and the millionth was the last," Bilow explained, "Mine was 50. I decided I didn't want to go into the Army."

Bilow explained that he knew he was eventually going to get drafted so decided to just join the Air Force, because he liked planes.

"I already tested, and these things were going to happen. They went way past number 50. They were drafting quite a lot of people at that time," he said.

"I didn't want to go to Vietnam," Bilow said, "I was not thrilled, a couple buddies I had from school did not come back from 'Nam, and so I had already had experiences at a funeral or two."

So Bilow just decided to join, he explained, adding he saw that as the best chance he had of staying in the states.

"As it turned out that's what happened, so the work was just the work. It was interesting. It was different," he said, explaining that all his time was in Texas, Montana and Alaska.

As security police there are a number of jobs, Bilow explained, noting that his job was to secure locations, and work on the missile sites.

"I had to protect the particular features that the base has that need to keep certain bad out," Bilow said, noting that it wasn't police work but more of a security guard.

Bilow's first post he was stationed at was in Billings, Montana, after tech school and basic, he explained, adding that he spent about three months there before he went to Alaska.

"Then I came back and I was stationed at Great Falls, in the air base there, which had missiles. Minute-men missiles.

"They come out on the site, and then we have guards out there just to be around in case some wild animal decides they want to get inside," Bilow explained, noting that he was never involved in any kind of incident.

"Most people just left us alone," he added.

Bilow got married to his wife Gale when he was in the service. "I didn't want to go out in the field anymore so I got a job on the base," he said, adding that they called that code.

"Both the maintenance and the security people have to have a special code to open up certain parts of the site, so for access and supply provide security while the site is unlocked and stuff," Bilow said.

Bilow explained that he worked up North of the Great Fall in Conrad for most of his time on the missile sites, "I was in for four years," he said.

"We were at a site there at King salmon, and it had a couple of radar domes," Bilow said, noting that was about all that was really there.

Bilow enjoyed watching the jets go off, and reminisced on the times spent fishing and going into town.

"It was a great fishing area, so there were a couple of generals that would come fishing a lot," he said.

"In the summertime, they were looking for workers, and us guys would take three days and we'd go down there," Bilow said, explaining that they'd fly them down to work for the three days and make some money, "I only had a couple stripes at that time," he said.

Bilow was born in Canyon City Colorado, moving to Seattle when he was four or five years old.

Bilow's father was in the marines right at the end of WWII, ROTC, he explained, adding that his grandfather was also in the service.

"My other grandfather went around the world when he was in," he said, noting that his grandfather departed on the ship that went to Europe, and was the main ship to bring John Paul Jones home.

"When he got back then he ended up leaving again, and ended up going all around the world again, including the Philippines," he added, noting that he finally came back and was discharged in California, and then went back to Colorado.

"None of my grandparents, my dad or anybody was in a shooting match. I think my dad was just a little bit young," Bilow said, noting that he was ROTC when he was in school and was going to college and became an engineer in college. The war was just about over when he became free enough for him to go somewhere.

Bilow's brother joined the airforce, but he was in the reserves. Bilow explained that by that time the war was over.

When asked what advice he'd give those joining the military Bilow explained that though he didn't want to go in at the time he thinks it is a good experience for those who join.

"I think it's a good option for a lot of people," he said, "It will teach you something."

Bilow and his wife currently live in Endicott where they moved in 2007 after getting into horses, and meeting several people down here.

"We like it here," he said.