Kolb Frank - Vietnam Veteran Interview

Vietnam Veteran, Frank Kolb, was interviewed on August 4, 2021, in Clinton, Oklahoma. Senior Master Sergeant Kolb served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years as a cryptography specialist handling classified messages. SMSgt Kolb traveled the world on classified missions, including Vietnam, Iraq for Desert Storm, China, Taiwan, Alaska, Bergstrom AFB, and Shaw AFB. ‪@MakingHistoryProject‬
Summary:
Frank Cobb, born on August 23, 1942, in Sumter, South Carolina, grew up in a family with a sister, parents, and a grandmother. His father worked as an aeronautical engineer on C-52 planes, and his mother was an office manager. Frank himself was mischievous as a child, enjoyed sports, and had a knack for technology, even building his own computer from a Radio Shack kit.
Frank's military career began as a choice between joining the forces or facing unspecified consequences from a judge. He chose the Air Force, believing it offered a better chance of survival during the Vietnam War era. He underwent basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and specialized in cryptography, learning to both encrypt and decrypt messages.
During his service, Frank was stationed in various locations, including Sweden and Vietnam. His time in Sweden was short-lived and not as he expected, primarily because it lacked the allure he had anticipated. In Vietnam, he served in a non-cryptographic role, participating in patrols rather than his trained specialty.
Post-Vietnam, Frank continued his military career with assignments that took him to Germany, China, and Taiwan, among other locations. He worked on intercepting and deciphering messages, a task that involved significant responsibility and secrecy. Despite the challenges, including navigating through his service with rheumatoid arthritis, Frank found fulfillment in his duties and the opportunities to apply his skills in programming and technology.
After 24 years of service, Frank retired from the military. Reflecting on his career, he expressed a mix of satisfaction and regret, noting the limitations placed on his personal life due to the nature of his work. Despite these challenges, he advised future generations to follow orders, do their best, and manage anger constructively, emphasizing the overall positive and enriching experience of military life.