It was an honorto serve

To whom it may concern:

My name is Frank Mistretta III, and I have a story to tell.

It all started back in July 1976, when my parents moved from Long Island, New York, to Nesquehoning. In September 1976, I attended Panther Valley High School for one year and then graduated with the class of 1977.

I joined the United States Air Force in March 1979 and worked in the armament career field loading weapons on F-4s, F-15s, F-16s, F-104s, F-111s and A-10 aircrafts. After serving eight years on active duty, I departed the active duty Air Force and moved back to Nesquehoning in 1986.

There I began working at Kovatch Corp. as an electrician on the P-18 firetrucks. In 1989, I accepted full-time employment with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard at Harrisburg's International Airport, Middletown, where I worked as a federal technician and crew chief on the EC-130J Hercules aircraft for the 193rd Special Operations Wing.

It was an honor to serve and protect our country in wars from Desert Shield/Desert Storm to Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom.

My service to my country, my state and the United States Air Force spans 35 years from March 15, 1979, to May 23, 2014. I now look forward to spending my retirement years with my children (Jennifer, Frank IV, Nikolas, Madison and Shaelyn) from the Harrisburg area and with mother (Jean) and brothers (Joseph and Anthony) of Nesquehoning and brother (Pastor Michael) of Summit Hill and sister (Cathy) of Saint Helena Island, South Carolina.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Master Sergeant Frank Mistretta III

Enola