After 28 years of service with three branches of the military, the crew chief of aircraft 92-3021, the 'Un-Touch-A-Bull' retires Published Dec. 15, 2006 By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Master Sgt. Kenneth E. Calhoun, crew chief for aircraft 92-3021, also known as "Un-Touch-A-Bull," has worn three different uniforms during his 28-year military career. The one he wore during his Dec. 2 retirement ceremony here was Air Force blue with a chest full of military decorations honoring his various military accomplishments over the years. Sergeant Calhoun was born in the small town of Tarentum, Pa. in January 1947. His father was a truck driver and coal miner. As Sergeant Calhoun grew up he knew he wanted to be in the military and decided to join the Marine Corps in October 1965 after graduating from high school. Upon graduating from boot camp in February 1966, he was off to Monterey, Calif. to attend a foreign language skill course to learn Vietnamese. After a few months of training, and with a basic knowledge of the language, he was ready for action. He received an assignment to Vietnam in March 1967 for a 22-month tour of duty with the Marine Wing Support Group 17, at Da Nang Air Base, working with the Civil Action/Industrial Relations unit. His unit helped local Vietnamese people learn different methods of farming and ways to rebuild their communities for better lives. With his assignment in the dangerous country of Vietnam complete, he returned to the U.S. as an active duty Inspector/Instructor at the Marine Corps Reserve unit at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pa. in December 1968. In February 1970 he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and decided to spend some time in the civilian world. In 1984 Sergeant Calhoun donned the U.S. Army uniform when he joined the Army Reserve unit in Farrell, Pa. as a fuel truck driver. This only lasted for a short period of time as he decided to wear the Air Force blue in June 1985 when he joined the 910th as a traditional reservist in the ISO dock here. He became an Air Reserve Technician in August 1987 working with the C-130B model aircraft and moved to the flightline section with the arrival of the C-130H models. In 1993 Sergeant Calhoun was named the primary crew chief for aircraft 92-3021. The aircraft got its nickname, the "Un-Touch-A-Bull" January 9, 1997 when it was blessed by a high official of the Sioux Indian Nation in a ritual ceremony at Nashville, Tenn. After the ceremony, the aircraft departed on a mission to deliver 30,200 pounds of donated food to feed the Sioux Indians in South Dakota. The Indian official left Indian charms on board the aircraft to signify good luck whenever the aircraft flies. Sergeant Calhoun was also one of the first members of the 910th Honor Guard paying respect to veterans at funerals and representing the unit at many community relations functions. He is one of many veterans on the Youngstown flightline who keep the fleet of C-130s of the 910th the best flying condition of any in AFRC. Master Sgt. Michael J. Klodt is another as well as a co-worker and close personal friend of Sergeant Calhoun. "Ken was my first assistant crew chief and my wife Karen and I have known him the better part of 20 years," said Sergeant Klodt. "She refers to Ken as a 'man's man'--a veteran with valor in all that he is and all that he does. Ken is a voraciously honest and outspoken man. If he wanted to tell you something that was on his mind, he would. It might not have made you happy, but later he'd shake your hand and tell you that he needed to let you know how he felt--to explain his thinking." Many people know that a crew chief spends a great deal of time on the job--both at home station and deployed to various locations throughout the world. "It's tough for me to retire," he said. "I've spent more time with these guys here and all over the world than I have with my own family. It's going to take some adjusting to get used to not being here," he reflected. However, Sergeant Calhoun knows everyone has their time to support the mission. "There are a lot of good quality people that join the unit because they love their country. They have dedication you don't see outside of the military a lot of times. Ten years from now I'd like to come back and see them where I'm at," he said. For now, Ken has plans to spend more time with his wife Donna and help is son Trevor build a house. He and Donna also have a place in Canada where they can relax and go fishing too. Since Ken has been a member of the 910th family for so long, he knows he'll certainly be welcome back anytime he wants, even if it's just to have a seat in the "Un-Touch-A-Bull."