Service Details
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Branch
Air Force
Years of Service
1962-1983
Decorations
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (4 OLCs), Air Force Commendation Medal (OLC), Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal (9 Bronze Stars), Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Pledge Class
1957
Their Story
Arnold J. Candray was born on September 18, 1938, San Francisco, CA. Entered service in 1962, retiring as lieutenant colonel in 1983. Rated navigator and radar navigator -bombardier. Military locations, stations: (ATC) James Connally AFB, TX: (SAC) Sheppard AFB, TX; (SAC) Pease AFB, NH: (SAC) Maxwell AFB, AL; (SAC) Mather AFB: (PACAF) Taichung AB, Taiwan: HQ SOUTHCOM Quarry Heights, PN: (SAC) Fairchild AFB, WA.
Memorable experiences: SAC navigator KC-135 and radar bombardier B-52, worldwide and SEA missions. C-130 mission commander FP-JMC, final POW release, Hanoi March 1973. Flew last USAF C-130 missions into Phnom Pehn, Saigon and Hanoi, USSouthCom Joint Staff - implementation of Canal Zone Treaties, Joint DOD/DOS Inspection Team for U.S. Embassies, Latin America. Formulated positions for U.S. congressional military hardware and training line appropriations for the Latin American region.
Awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with four OLCs, Air Force Commendation Medal with OLC, Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and 3 OLCs, Combat Readiness Medal, National defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with seven Bronze Stars, Vietnam Service Medal with nine Bronze Stars, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Worked for Eisenhower People to People Foundation - organizer/facilitator for first US/Soviet Mayors Conference, Washington, D.C. First former U.S. military officer invited to visit top-secret Zhukovsky Cosmonaut Training Complex. (Presented signed photos by Cosmonaut pilot of only flight of Soviet Buran Space Shuttle) Visited over 30 cities of USSR/CIS for educational, cultural, commercial, programs. Spent 5 years in Eastern Europe and Baltic states for the above program. Is currently president of Forum Developments International, an international academic and consulting firm in Danville, CA. (he sold this company in 2022) Married in 1963 to Coleen Ann Irey. He has three children and two grandchildren.
(Information courtesy of the Strategic Air Command Memorial Album)