Air Force veteran to be honored Friday
Name: David Eberhardt Service branch: Air Force The January 2023 Humboldt Hero is Staff Sgt. David Eberhardt.
Eberhardt graduated from Eureka High School in June 1968, as the Vietnam War and the draft were front-page news. Four of his close high school friends talked about joining the military and planned to follow their family members’ legacy of serving in the Marine Corps and the Army. Eberhardt’s uncle Al had always been his hero, having served as a bomber pilot in World War II who flew 65 missions. Eberhardt had always been fascinated with planes and had known since he was young that he would one day like to join the United States Air Force.
He enlisted into the US Air Force on Feb. 5, 1969, and after completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he then studied jet mechanics at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois.
Eberhardt’s next assignment was to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, as a flight line mechanic. He removed and installed jet engines in fighters like F-100 Super Sabers, F4 Phantoms, A-7D Corsair, and the T-38 Talon. At only 20 years old, he had the exciting privilege of getting to sit in the cockpits of fighter aircraft and test run up the engines. He also certified for a Riders Permit, which allowed him to hitch a ride in the jet aircraft on weekends with reserve pilots. It was a thrill for a kid from Eureka who loved airplanes.
Eberhardt’s squadron was ordered to go to Phan Rang Airbase in the Republic of Vietnam. When the Army C-123 plane touched down there, he and his gear were pushed out of the side door of the plane without it stopping, and he watched it take off. Through the sound of explosions and machine gun fire, someone yelled at him to get in a bunker because the base was currently under attack.
Eberhardt was assigned to the 35th Combat Support Squadron and then to the Technical Training Center at Clark Air Force Base, Republic of the Philippines. There he learned to work on five different jet engines, training to work 12 hours a day for 6 days a week. That was good because once he returned to Phan Rang and was promoted to sergeant, he worked with his crew members removing and installing jet engines in planes and helicopters 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, with Sundays off.
Vietnam became a blur but there were also stark images that Eberhardt saw working with rescue that he can never forget.
He was ordered from Vietnam back to the 6515 Field Maintenance Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in California, which was the Air Force flight test center. All the newest aircraft were there. Eberhardt was assigned to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, the largest aircraft in the world, and he loved working on the new experimental aircraft. He also appreciated being out of Vietnam and not having to witness what was going on in the country during the war.
IF YOU GO
What: Monthly Humboldt Heroes celebration.
When: Noon today
Where: 537 7th St., Eureka. Social distancing and masks recommended.
On completion of his regular Air Force tour of duty, Eberhardt joined the active Air Force Reserves for a 2-year tour of duty. As a staff sergeant working on KC-135 transport aircraft, he drove one weekend every month to Travis Air Force Base in Vacaville until he was honorably discharged on February 1975.
As for Eberhardt’s four high Sschool friends, they weren’t so lucky. They are interred at our two local cemeteries on Broadway in Eureka. He thinks of them every day and asks himself “why?” What a shame so many had to die for nothing. Nobody wins a war. But as the saying goes, “All gave some, some gave all.”
Nominate a “Humboldt Hero”: “Humboldt Heroes” normally honors local veterans on the last Friday of the month. If you’d like to nominate a local veteran for recognition, or help sponsor the ongoing program, contact State Farm insurance agent Scott Hammond at 707-4442504.