The love lives on Published Dec. 14, 2006 By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Senior Master Sgt. William A. Rooks Jr., well known as a pioneer of aerial spray maintenance, retired during a Dec. 2 ceremony here after an honorable 35-year career with the Air Force and Air Force Reserve. Sergeant Rooks was born in the southwestern Ohio town of Greenfield. His dad served in the Air Force during World War 11 as a radio operator on B-17s. Desiring to follow in his dad's footsteps, he joined the Air Force right after graduating from Greenfield-McClain High School in 1965. It was so long ago when he joined the Air Force, that the U.S. still had a permanent air base in France. His first active duty assignment after basic training and technical school was as a heavy equipment operator with the civil engineer squadron at Chaterroux Air Base, France in April 1966. "I enjoyed that assignment because of the travel opportunities I had throughout Europe and Southeast Asia including Vietnam and Thailand," said Sergeant Rooks. In the spring of 1967 Sergeant Rooks received his next assignment to Bittburg Air Base, Germany again as a heavy equipment operator. Then in April 1970 he returned to the U.S. and civilian life working for AT&T under a veterans retraining program as an apprentice lineman. In October 1976 Sergeant Rooks joined the Air Force Reserve as a loadmaster with the 906th Aerial Port Squadron at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio flying with C-123 aircraft. In June 1980, after four years as a loadmaster Sergeant Rooks made a decision that would drive the majority of his military career--to become an aerial spray operator on the C-123 aircraft being flown at Rickenbacker. In 1985 Sergeant Rooks became an Air Reserve Technician and the aerial spray business became his full-time focus in the military. In the spring of 1986 the 907th Tactical Airlift Group's aerial spray mission at Rickenbacker converted to the C-130A airframe because of better maintainability and the increased capabilities it could provide. Sergeant Rooks was an important part of that conversion. In April 1987, a joint test of the effectiveness of the new C-130A interim aerial spraying system was accomplished with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Avon Park Air Force Range Fla. In March 1988, the aerial spray mission converted to the C-130E airframe and utilized the new Modular Aerial Spray System (MASS.) This system was specifically built for C-130E and H aircraft models and is functional in a variety of configurations. In August 1991 Sergeant Rooks relocated to Youngstown Air Reserve Station to prepare for the arrival of the aerial spray mission here in January 1992. With the move from Rickenbacker ANGB to YARS, the spray mission converted from C-130E to C-130H aircraft as part of the functional transfer. The combination of the Modular Aerial Spray Systems with the newer, more capable H-model aircraft further enhanced the capabilities of the aerial spray mission. In March 1992 the experience Sergeant Rooks had with the aerial spray systems landed him the job of Aerial Spray Maintenance supervisor here--a job he held until November 2002 when he was detailed to the position of maintenance flight chief for the 757th Airlift Squadron in support of the heavy amount of flying hours after the Sept. 11 attacks. "Bill was not just a supervisor, he was an outstanding mentor and leader, but most importantly a friend you could count on. Whether it was work related or something at home, you could always count on Bill to be there and guide you through. He has a passion for his work, and genuine concern and interest in his people," said Senior Master Sgt. John T. Daniels, chief of aerial spray maintenance. In November 2003 Sergeant Rooks was hired into the position permanently and activated in December 2003 until November 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this time he deployed to Afghanistan and Qatar for four months at a time. "The way we meshed into the operation was a credit to the Reserve forces," he said. "Our aircraft were in better shape most of the time with a lower number of tactical flying hours on them and many times our crew chiefs would be older, more experienced Airmen than their active duty counterparts. We picked up a lot of missions and were very successful at what we were doing," he said. Looking back over the years and thinking about his life, the humble Sergeant Rooks had a very calm, fulfilled look in his eyes when he talked about what he says has been his salvation in life. "I met Korene here in 1992," he said with a smile. "She was the maintenance career advisor at the time." The two eventually got married in 1995 and both enjoy their lives together pursuing God. Sergeant Rooks enjoys doing missionary work with an organization called Buckner International which supports orphans around the world. As a mater of fact, he just completed a mission called "Shoes for Orphaned Souls" in November to the country of Latvia near the Baltic Sea. He was part of a group of 22 people who traveled there to deliver 8,000 pairs of shoes to children in orphanages. Now that he's retired, Sergeant Rooks plans to continue his missionary work as well as use his Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management to do freelance recruiting for corporations looking to fill specific positions with their companies. And of course, spend more time with the love of his life, his wife Korene. "I can't say enough about the acceptance I've had here. Everyone at Youngstown has provided great help and guidance for my family and I. It's been my extreme pleasure to work with everyone here. May God bless you all," he said.