Veteran Spotlight: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Samuel Currence

BOURNE, Mass. — Samuel Currence served his country in the Air Force with distinction, professionalism and unparalleled humility from 1962 to 1985, retiring as a technical sergeant. 

 

He grew up in Mount Holly, N.C., and did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. 

 

"I wasn't drafted, I volunteered for military service," he said. "Oh man, basic was a lot of physical exercise and getting used to rifles and firearms (though never firing a gun previously, he would go on to receive

Expert Marksmanship Badges). I was a pretty good shot." 

 

Currence would stay at Lackland for Air Police Tech School and his first assignment would take him to Otis AFB in Bourne. 

 

"I worked days, mids and swings. I also had the honor of guarding Air Force One and President Kennedy when he would land at the base," he recalled. His second assignment would take him to Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. The base was used by the Air Force during the Vietnam War. 

 

"I wasn't aware that I was guarding Agent Orange. They told me I was guarding a lot of stuff I didn't know about and got

cancer as a result (he is a three-time survivor)," he said. "When I was stationed at [Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base] (he

would be stationed there twice) I would guard the perimeter of the base at night, after they sprayed the vegetation during the day."

 

He also shared this memory. "I got to guard Bob Hope when he came to entertain us. Oh, was he funny, he had some good-looking ladies in the show that were decent looking," he laughed. "Hope was a really good man, he appreciated the

military and told us we were doing a good job.

 

"He bragged about the beautiful ladies he had with him and said, 'you can look but you can't touch.' He was something."

 

Was he ever afraid? "No, not really. I was ready to be an American soldier," he replied. "At night was a bit scary because you couldn't see much but I looked at it as just doing my duty ... it was just my duty."

 

When asked about certain instances and assignments, Tech. Sgt. Currence held steadfast to his code of honor. 

 

"The way I was conditioned, you couldn't divulge any incidents or scenarios that happened," he said. "It was the way I was

trained — with a tremendous amount of discipline." 

 

When asked about a mentor he offered this: "All my supervisors were good, I always looked up to them." 

 

His thoughts on leadership: "I had to lead by example, I always tried to do the right thing, tried to be fair, tried to do my job with the utmost professionalism. Never, ever did I do it for recognition. I didn't need it, what I did, I never did it to be recognized."

 

His most gratifying experience in his 22 years of service? "Getting ready to get out — I was ready to go," he remembered. 

 

As a Vietnam combat veteran, I asked him his thoughts on the protestors. 

 

"They didn't really know what was going on and they had a right to protest," he said. "Didn't bother me that we didn't receive any recognition at the time. I look at the troops coming home now and the way they're received and I have a little different opinion."

 

Currence's service would take him all over the world: Shaw AFB in Sumter, S.C.; Bitburg AB in Germany; Kirtland AB in Albuquerque twice; Korat AB twice; Hanscom AB in Bedford; the Panama Canal Zone, and to England. 

 

How does he feel as a veteran? "I feel very good, accomplished," he said. "I volunteered for service and did my job to the best of my ability. I'm proud of just that fact, I don't need recognition." 

 

His wife, Hazel, said this of her husband of 60 years. "Samuel was always a great husband and father, he always made

sure the children knew his responsibility to his job, the military and his job as a father," she recalled. 

 

Currence has two sons, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. With tremendous pride, he declined to mention his numerous medals and ribbons, again, deflecting any attention to himself.

 

Tech. Sgt. Samuel Currence, thank you for your service to our great country and welcome home.