Claude T. Buddy Lawless, an experienced Air Force mechanic with a rare Navy start to his military career received an honor, Thursday, by Regency Hospice of Northwest Florida. The volunteer coordinator for Regency Hospice, Debra Owens, joined Gary Propst , Regency volunteer, and John Griffin, hospital corpsman working with Regency in honoring Lawless with a pin, an American flag flown over the capitol, and a certificate from Congressman Jeff Miller.
Lawless said he joined the Navy back in 1955 on a “kiddie cruise,” meaning he signed up at 17 years old and was out at 21. After 10 years of poor luck in the civilian workforce, Lawless said he returned to the military, this time with the Air Force. Lawless said he worked with P3’s, the A, B, and C models, the A6, C118, S3, A4, SA3, and the S2F aircraft. “I did most of my piloting in the P3,” he said. “I worked up to flight testing,” he said, “and became a plane captain. My responsibilities were prepping craft for test flights. When they were ready, I was on the plane as the in-flight tech observer.”
Lawless said he retired in 1992 with 37 years of federal service for the department of defense, leaving with the rank of branch head. “I’ve got a good retirement now. I’m just happy,” he said.
Lawless recalled a memory of his first time in the air. “It was very exciting, for an old boy from Oklahoma.” A more harrowing experience he recalled was serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis. “We were on full alert,” he said. Lawless said his job was to photograph then analyze the pictures of Russian cargo ships headed toward Cuba. “It was a big relief to see those ships turn around. The U.S. scared them off. JFK was going to let missiles into Cuba,” Lawless said.
After the Air Force, Lawless said he worked at the Naval Aviation Depot in Alameda, California. At the depot, Lawless said he worked with all parts of the aircraft from engines, to electrical, fuel, and sheet metal. Lawless said he flew hundreds of test operations, mainly in the P3s. “I made sure they did the job,” he said. Lawless misses flying and, he said, the camaraderie. “That was one of the best crews the aviation depot had ever seen,” he said.
Back in his time in the barracks, Lawless said he learned how to play guitar and spent many a lonely night jamming with other members in his band. He said he started playing in Spain, learning country and western music. “I imitated a lot. I had the books, but I learned by watching other guys play,” he said. Lawless said by the time his band was performing, they sometimes played backup for the likes of Roy Acuff, Hank Thompson, and Minnie Pearl. “It was a real big thrill. We always had our picture in the newspaper,” he said.
During the ceremony in his home, Propst read the certificate honoring Lawless’ service before Griffin read the letter from Miller and presented him with his own American flag and proper military salute. Lawless said, “Cool. It means a lot to me.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Regency Hospice honors veteran