| Sources |
- [S25] Smith Mortuary Company, www.smithmortuary.com, 20 Aug 2008.
Charles M. Drinnen obituary
- [S142] Newspaper Article, Big Springs Herald (TX), 7 Nov 1966.
Roy E. Drinnens End Eight Years At Webb
By JO BRIGHT
The difficult part may "be getting used to being called "Mr." instead of "Sarg" but otherwise, Roy E. Drinnen already feels '"at ease" in his new role as civilian after 20 years and 16 days in service — the last eight being spent at Webb Air Force Base.
S. Sgt, Drinnen's last day of service has been completed at the base, and he and Mrs. Drinnen and their son, Roy Jr. will be making their new home in Houston. So far, they do not know in what area they will live but it will no doubt be near Ellington Air Force Base where he will be an aircraft inspector for Dynalectron Corporation, under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
"My work will involve all types of planes," said Drinnen, "from T-SS's and T-33's to cargo types. The work is actually
a quality control system."
At Webb, S. Sgt. Drinnen was attached to the 3160th Organizational Maintenance Squadron in the Transient Maintenance Section as NCO (1C) supervisor. As such, he and his group were responsible for the service, maintenance and "paper work" that go into keeping the planes in operation. He was required to be familiar with over 100 type "aircraft and learned his trade well from several aircraft advance schools and on-the-job training. He has over 25 mechanic's diplomas to his credit.
"I don't ever remember having a plane I couldn't handle." mused Sgt. Drinnen, "but I'll never forget many that I had
a lot of trouble with before we understood each other!"
Sgt. Drinnen was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and first joined the Air Force in 1946. After two years, he tried civilian ife and found it was no longer to his liking. When he re-enlisted, somehow he ended up in the Army and remained with that branch for nine years. In April, 1557, he changed to the Air Force and took his first aircraft school training at Chanute Field in Illinois.
The Drinnens met while he was serving at Fort Gulick in the Canal Zone. She is the former Miss Delia Theresa Alguero of Panama City and received some of her schooling in England where her brother was in the diplomatic service. They were married Oct. 21, 1950, and were transferred back to the United States in 1954.
He has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the family has worshipped at the base chapel. Roy Jr., 6, was a student at the immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School.
Mrs. Drinnen was a charter member of the local International Wives Club and also of St. Anne's Guild at the base. For seven years, she served as a Gray Lady at the Webb hospital.
There were tears in Mrs. Drinnen's eyes.
"Please say 'thank you' to Big Spring for us," she said softly. '"It has been good to us."
- [S1] U. S. Social Security Death Index, 412-34-7284.
Issued in Tennessee, residing in Houston, Harris County, Texas
- [S129] The Official Marriage Records of Sevier County Tennessee 1914-1944, Volume II, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (Copyright 2008), ISBN 1-890150-00-4.
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