Old Airman Returns to Niagara

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y- Reed M. Bodine (left) wearing his old uniform with Airman 2nd class rank on the old sage green cotton fatigues uniform of the late 1950s-early 1960s poses with Airman Nick Respondek, Knowledge Operations Management Specialist with the 914th Airlift Wing and the current Airman Battledress Uniform ABU. (U.S. Air Force Reserve photo by Master Sgt. Peter Borys)

Former Airman returns to Niagara

Published Sept. 22, 2010
By Peter Borys
914th Airlift WIng Public Affairs

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station -- Formally Airman 2nd Class Reed M. Bodine recently paid a courtesy call to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on his 51st anniversary of when he reported to the air base back in September of 1959. The former base electrician enlisted when he was 17 years old and worked here at the base until November of 1962. Back then, the Niagara Falls ARS was an active duty installation which flew fighter aircraft and also was home to a BOMARC missile launch Site.
Mr. Bodine a resident of Beach Lake, Pennsylvania currently works at the Tobyhanna Army Depot also in Pennsylvania and was in the area visiting when he decided to done on his old uniform and pay the base a visit. "Back then we wore sage green cotton fatigues" said Mr. Bodine. "This is the original shirt that I wore when I was stationed at Niagara Falls AFB, but my original pants wore out." He replaced them with olive drab cotton fatigues which were the replacement of the sage green uniform. The 69 year old was happy to share a few stories with some of the younger airmen and hopes to come back again for another visit.

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Old Airman Returns to Niagara