Veteran F-100 Crew Chief lives quiet life on Iowa farm after Vietnam Published Nov. 7, 2023 By Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot 185th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs 03:21 VIDEO | 03:21 | Veteran F-100 crew chief lives quiet life on Iowa Farm after Vietnam Sioux Center, Iowa -- The tranquil setting of John De Groot’s family farm in Iowa’s far northwest corner is a lifetime away from the year he spent maintaining a F-100 fighter jet at Phu Cat Airbase during the Vietnam war. Since leaving the Air Force after his deployment over 50 years ago, De Groot has been content to stay on his farm where he raises corn and soybeans near Sioux Center, Iowa. “I don’t want to go to town,” De Groot said matter-of-factly about the prospect of leaving home and the realities of communal living that eventually come with aging. The situation in early 1960s was much different for De Groot when he and his classmates had little choice about leaving home. The prospect of high school graduation didn’t come with hopeful aspirations, as military service for young men was not optional. An uncertain future The United States was in a protracted war and at the advice of some of his friends, De Groot decided service in the National Guard was his best option. The Air National Guard allowed De Groot to fulfill his military commitment while continuing to live in the area and help on the family farm. INFORMATION DIVISION 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (PACAF) Phu Cat Air Base, Republic of Vietnam For Immediate Release HOMETOWNERS HAVE PICNIC AT PHU CAT Pc-9-69-21 (d) By: A1C T.P. Sullivan PHU CAT (7AF) – CONVERSATION – Four former Air National Guardsmen have a conversation at a picnic held recently by the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Phu Cat Air Base. The men: (from the left) Sergeant Glenn A. Rozenboom, 22, Rock Valley, Iowa; Airman First Class Larry R, Demerath 24, Creighton Nebr.; Sergeant Lyle L. Spieler, 24, Crofton, Nebr.; and Airmen First Class Richard T. Kummerfeld, 23, Sutherland, Iowa were once part of the 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard which deployed to Phu Cat in May. (USAF PHOTO) -30- Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The 185th Tactical Fighter Group in nearby Sioux City, Iowa was a good fit for young men from area farms and surrounding small towns. These new recruits brought aptitude and practical experience that made the move from tractor fixer to jet maintainer an easy transition. After joining in 1964, De Groot said he and his contemporary’s reasons for enlisting were not entirely noble, admitting that Air Guard membership was preferable to being drafted as an infantryman. “Joining the Air Guard seemed a lot better to me than carrying a rifle,” said De Groot, who had been watching groups of young men depart for basic training each spring following high school graduation. A U.S. Air Force F-100 Super Sabre, tail 986 with “Flying Dutchman” nose art, assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard’s 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 185th Tactical Fighter Group on the ramp in Sioux City, Iowa in the mid 1960’s. The words Big John appear on the front landing gear door. U.S. Air National Guard photo Photo Details / Download Hi-Res During drill weekends and annual training, De Groot was part of a group of aircraft crew chiefs whose job it was to keep a squadron of about two dozen F-100C Super Sabre fighter jets airworthy. “My tail number was 986,” De Groot said, who had not forgotten his specific tail number, even though it has been over fifty summers since he last turned a wrench on the iconic fighter jet. Photo archives of the aircraft show nose art on 986 with a goggled pilot in a winged wooden shoe and the words “Flying Dutchmen,” a likely nod to the pilots shared ethnicity with De Groot. The words, “Big John” were inscribed under the front landing gear door, borrowed from the popular 1961 Jimmy Dean song. It is not unusual for Air Guard crew chiefs like De Groot to be assigned a specific aircraft tail number, often for years at a time. The arrangement comes with sense of ownership but also has a great deal of responsibility. The “HUNS” as they became known, earned a reputation as a capable and rugged aircraft. The F-100s were designed in the early 1950s and known for their oval nose and iconic swept wings. The Super Sabre was also America’s first supersonic fighter jet. By the end of the war, the F-100 had become the most prolific close air support aircraft used in Vietnam. Deployment Colonel Don Forney, 185th Tactical Fighter Group Commander, reads an activation order in front of a formation of Iowa Air National Airman in Sioux City, Iowa on January 27, 1968. The 185th had received extremely short notice activation orders following the seizing of the USS Pueblo a few days earlier. Of the 860 mobilized Airmen, 350 aircraft maintainers and pilots from the F-100 Fighter unit were being deployed to Phu Cat Air Base in South Vietnam. U.S. Air National Guard photo Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Upon enlistment, all National Guard members understand that mobilization is always a possibility. In January of 1968 the situation for De Groot and the rest of the Sioux City Airmen turned ominous. North Korea had seized a U.S. Navy intelligence ship, the USS Pueblo on January 23, 1968, in the international waters of the Sea of Japan. The U.S. immediately sought to redouble its efforts in the region and war planners understood what additional air power would bring to the fight. Headlines as soon as January 25, 1968, reported the activation of 15,000 Air Force, Naval Air Reserve and Air National Guard members, along with 372 aircraft. By January 27, De Groot and 860 other Airmen stood in formation in Sioux City listening to the activation order. The number of deployed U.S. troops in Vietnam soon reached its height in 1968 and 1969. About 350 aircraft maintainers, fuels, weapons loaders, support personal and pilots, with the unit’s 174th Fighter Squadron were told they were being sent to an “Undisclosed Location.” The rest of the 185th Airmen were dispersed to Air Force bases in the U.S. and other overseas bases including Korea. Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Tactical Fighter Group work on one of their U.S. Air Force F-100 Super Saber aircraft inside the revetments at Phu Cat Air Base South Vietnam in 1968. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The news was the same for their counterparts in the Iowa Army National Guard’s 2nd of the 133rd Mechanized Infantry with units in nearby communities of Le Mars, Sheldon, Cherokee, Ida Grove, Mapleton, and headquartered in Sioux City. Farm country in Iowa’s Northwest corner was ripe for picking both Soldiers and Airmen in 1968. Iowa Air Guard members began arriving in Vietnam in May of 1968. Their undisclosed deployment location was Phu Cat Airbase, where they immediately began flying combat sorties as part of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing. “We launched aircraft every day,” De Groot commented about the operations tempo during the deployment. As aircraft returned from a previous launch, maintainers quickly refueled and rearmed the F-100s. According to De Groot, slow days saw only a couple of sorties, most days however saw a third or fourth launch. “The regular Air Force had F-100s too, but they had a lot more problems than we did because ours were in pretty good shape,” said De Groot. “Theirs had a lot of wear and tear already; they had a lot of them that were always down.” The group took their duty seriously, understanding that the “rifle carriers” on the ground needed the air support that they were providing. Iowa’s 174th Fighter Squadron joined three other Air Guard F-100 Fighter Squadrons in Vietnam. Colorado’s 120th, New Mexico’s 188th and New York’s 136th were all activated, along with a fifth group of Guard volunteers from New Jersey and Washington D.C. A pilot from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 174th Fighter Squadron is soaked after being dowsed with water inside the revetments at Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam upon the completion of his final combat flight in the spring of 1969. Other Iowa Air National Guard F-100 aircraft with the “HA” tail flash can be seen in the background. U.S. Air National Guard photo Photo Details / Download Hi-Res By the end of their time in Vietnam, the Air National Guard units ended their tours as the most productive in country. In every way measurable, including hours flown, sorties flown, munitions delivered and bombs on target, the Air Guard units completely dissolved the “weekend warrior” preconceptions. “When they go home, they are definitely going to be missed. They have been leaders in just about every field since they arrived in Vietnam’” said Col. Leroy Manor, Phu Cat’s 37th Tactical Fighter Wing commander in a May 4, 1969, Des Moines Register article. When the Sioux City guardsmen were due to come home, they had flown more than 6000 combat sorties. Unit members were awarded 12 Silver Stars, 35 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 30 Bronze Stars, 115 Commendation Medals and 300 Air Medals. The deployment was not without tragedy however when 185th pilot Lt. Warren Brown was shot down over the AShau Valley on July 14, 1968. Brown was a kindred spirit, as he and De Groot were both married, and both had young families at home. “I remember watching him take off that day,” De Groot said. “Then he just didn’t come back.” Des Moines Register May 4, 1969 The Iowans on today’s cover working on an F-100 Supersabre flown by pilots of the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Vietnam are Sgt. Gary Grace of Remsen and Sgt. John De Groot of Sioux Center. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res De Groot said that everyone he deployed with was a “good group of guys.” He said he remembered that Warren Brown was always happy. On the Homefront The support the Iowa Airmen received during their time away was also a unique part of their story. People at home had been closely following the Air Guard unit with news of their activities being sent back regularly and published in local newspapers. Much to their surprise, De Groot and colleague Gary Grace of Remsen, Iowa were featured on the cover of the Des Moines Sunday Register’s “Picture” insert on May 4, 1969. The Register article highlighted the important contributions made by aircraft maintainers like De Groot and Grace. In the article, 185th pilot and squadron commander Lt. Col. Gordon Young had high praise for his ground support crew. PHU CAT (7AF) – BOARDS SUPERSABRE – Lieutenant Colonel Gordon L. Young, 43, Sioux City, Iowa commander of the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Phu Cat Air Base boards an F-100 Supersabre prior to a mission supporting Free World Forces. Young joined the 174th more than 20 years ago and has been an F-100 pilot since 1961. As commander of the 174th he is proud to say; “I’m the envy of all Phu Cat commanders because of the experiences pros I have in my outfit.” (USAF PHOTO BY AIRMAN FIRST CLASS NICK GRISANTI, DET 16, 600 PHOTO SQUADRON) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “They are every bit as vital to the mission as the pilots, perhaps just a little more so. Unless those jet fighters are in the best maintenance shape, with no bugs whatsoever, and unless those bombs are hung just right, insuring release when the pilot pushes the button, you cannot fly the mission. I am real proud of the record my group of Iowans has rung up during our stay in Vietnam,” Young was quoted. When the 185th came home, public support for America’s first “forever war” had gone from bad to worse. In many places around the U.S., military members didn’t dare wear their uniforms in public. The threat to service members was not due to operational security concerns from a foreign adversary, the hostility instead came from their fellow Americans. Iowan’s support for the war may have been mixed, but in the coming days the community support for their returning military members would prove to be unmatched. Military and civic leaders salute at the beginning of a welcome home parade as a sign reading “Welcome home 185th” is carried down Nebraska Street in Sioux City, Iowa on May 24, 1969. The event was organized to welcome over 800 members of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Tactical Fighter Group back to their home in western Iowa following a yearlong mobilization. Of the group of deployed Airmen, about 360 were deployed to Phu Cat Airbase in Vietnam with their F-100 Fighter jets. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res In early-May of 1969, as plane loads of 185th Airman began returning home, their return was celebrated by family members and crowds of well-wishers who were gathered at the Sioux City airport. As the pilots made their way back a few days later, they were greeted with a huge sign that read “Welcome home 185th Tac. Ftr. Gp. Congratulations on a fine job.” The celebration didn’t stop at the airport, however. Before the end of the month the residents of Sioux City held a main street parade for all their returning veterans. After the homecoming After returning to the U.S. some 185th unit members continued to serve with the Iowa Air Guard unit, working full time or as drill status unit members. Others, like De Groot, decided not to reenlist after the deployment, instead choosing a much quitter life on his farm. A U.S. Air Force F-100C Super Sabre, tail number 54-1986 being depicted as F-100F tail 56-3954 on display at the Eglin Air Force Base Armament Museum on October 24, 2023. The aircraft was last assigned to the 174th Fighter Squadron of the 185th Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard before being retired. Tail 986 was flown as part of the 37th Tactical Fighter Group at Phu Cat air base during the 174th’s year-long deployment to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, crewed by Sgt. John De Groot of Sioux Center, Iowa. U.S. Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot Photo Details / Download Hi-Res In an interesting tale of longevity, the F-100 De Groot once crewed has also been living a quiet life in Florida. As aircraft are removed from the inventory, older planes are sometimes mothballed and held in reserve as new aircraft come online. Eventually old fighters are often launched one last time and used for target practice. A few aircraft, like De Groot’s F-100 are saved for display as museum pieces. Iowa Air National Guard Col. Don Forney 185th Fighter Group Commander (far left) with Col. Warren Nelson (far right) stand with other 185th FG members as last F-100C Super Saber tail 986 prepares to depart Sioux City for Eglin Air Force Base Museum on May 19, 1974. Tail 54-986 on display at Eglin was painted to depict F-100C 54-1954 as flown by Sioux City, Iowa native and Medal of Honor recipient, Colonel George Bud Day. The 185th continued to fly newer F-100 models until its conversion to A-7 Corsair in July 1977. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res De Groot’s aircraft, 54-1986 continued service in the Iowa Air Guard until the mid-1970s. In May of 1974 a few photos were taken of the old Super Sabre just as it was about to depart for Eglin Air Force Base. The event warranted documenting as the aircraft became the unit’s last remaining F-100 “C” model to be retired. After being permanently grounded, tail “986” found a good retirement home in the Florida panhandle where it has been in good hands at the Air Force Armament Museum outside Eglin AFB. A plaque in front of a U.S. Air Force F-100C Super Sabre at the Eglin Air Force Base Armament Museum on October 24, 2023, explains that the model and tail number depicted on the aircraft is not the “HUNS” real identity. The real tail number 54-1986 was last assigned to the 174th Fighter Squadron of the 185th Fighter Group, Iowa Air National Guard. The 174th flew tail number 986 as part of the 37th Tactical Fighter Group at Phu Cat air base during the Air National Guard unit’s year-long deployment to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. U.S. Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Like a true 1950’s comic book superhero De Groot’s F-100 is disguised, painted with a different tail number that hides its “true identity.” The plaque in front of the aircraft explains that when 54-1986 was moved to the museum, Eglin curators elected to cover over the “HA” tail number of the 174th FS in favor of a double “S” tail number of the Misty Fast FACs. The display paint scheme was created in honor of the historic Misty Squadron who were also originally part of the 37th Fighter Wing, based at Phu Cat. Misty pilots flew especially risky missions in Vietnam with two seat “F” model versions of the F-100. In a fitting conclusion to De Groot’s story with his F-100, the display at Eglin is also embossed with the name of Misty Commander and fellow Northwest Iowa Native, George Day. The subtle blue rectangle below the aircraft canopy simply reads “Maj. Bud Day Misty 1”. F-100 Misty pilot and Sioux City, Iowa native Maj. Bud Day’s name painted on the side of a U.S. Air Force F-100C Super Sabre, at the Eglin Air Force Base Armament Museum on October 24, 2023. The aircraft tail number 54-1986 was last assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Fighter Group in Day’s hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. Tail 986 was flown as part of the 37th Tactical Fighter Group at Phu Cat air base during the Iowa Air National Guard unit’s year-long deployment to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. U.S. Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot Photo Details / Download Hi-Res