This site is paid for
and owned by the Society of Mary (Marianists), a
nonprofit tax exempted Roman Catholic religious organization. It is run by one
of its members, Bro. John Schlund, SM. The collection found on this site was
collected by Bro. John over a period of years. The collection will eventually
be archived, displayed and stored at the University
of Dayton and St. Mary’s University
in San Antonio, Texas. It was felt by Bro. John that the two locations were
ideal as both cities have strong ties with the US Air Force and both
universities are owned and operated by the Society of Mary. All questions about
this site, or the items therein, should be directed towards Bro. John at usafflagranks@aol.com
A LITTLE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE COLLECTOR
Hello,
My name is Bro. John.
I would like to tell you a little about myself and this site. I am a Religious
Brother within the Society of Mary or Marianists. I started collecting military
items when I was eleven years old. With the help of my father my interest
circulated around World War II. My father served in World War II and he gave me
some US insignia and German souvenirs he brought back from the war. I started
to ask my relatives and friends of my father who had also served and my
collection started to grow. Nothing fantastic but to a young boy of eleven it
was most fascinating.
At the time, to my
knowledge, there were no organized clubs so my interest in military collecting
was personal. These were the days prior to computers, the internet and mass
communication. There were few outlets for my military collecting interest as my
friends, including myself, were also interested caving (spelunking),
mountaineering, SCUBA diving, the outdoors, collecting everything from stamps
to rocks, and all the other adventures life had to offer. I have to admit; my
interest in collecting militaria ebbed-and-tied in my younger days based on the
interest of the day.
Upon graduating from
high school in 1970, I was confronted with a major decision. The Vietnam War
was in full swing and I had a lottery number of thirty-two. It was the only
lottery in my life that I came close to winning, at least so far. I decided to
join the US Air Force and 31 January 1971 was my reporting date to Lackland Air
Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for BMT Basic Military Training. The good old
“Sun-Spot” of the air force as it was so fondly called.
I was first trained
in AGE or Aerospace Ground Equipment and found myself taking care of five ton
air conditioning systems, generators and hydraulic test stands for B-52s. I was
told my abilities in AGE were excellent. I also felt I was good in AGE but my
desires laid elsewhere. I really wanted a career change. I had a strong desire
to work in the medical field and not AGE. Eventually, I crossed trained and
became a Medical Service Specialist. I found working with people much more
enjoyable and life-giving as compared to working on machines. However, there
was one constant. No matter what I did for the air force and no matter what
base I was stationed, I always found myself going into the local BX and buying
all the US Air Force wings and insignia that I could afford. Needless to say,
my friends thought I was crazy.
Eventually, I was
deactivated and attached to the Air National Guard Base near my home town of
St. Louis, Missouri. It just so happen to be the same National Guard Base that
my father was stationed, and still serving, since WWII. I guess it became a
family affair. While I was attached to the National Guard Base, I had the
pleasure to meet the base historian. Through his influence, and that of my
uncle, they helped me focus my collection. At the time, my uncle was a full
bird colonel at Scott’s Air Force Base across the Mississippi River in
Belleville, Illinois. My love for the US Air Force influenced my military
collecting. I now became focused on the US Air Force, and more specifically,
items owned by generals.
I continued as a
Medical Service Specialist for the National Guard. While I was attached to the
National Guard, I attended college, became a Respiratory Therapy Tech,
Emergency Medical Tech, and eventually went into hospital management. While on
a two week tour of duty I was awarded the National Guard Commendation Medal for
my leadership in establishing a Respiratory Therapy Department at Nellis Air
Force Base in Nevada. By the time I finished my career with the US Air Force
and Air National Guard I had qualifications as an Operating Room Specialist,
Aeromedical Specialist, and Aircrew Life Support Specialist.
I am sure, by this
point, there were military collecting organizations established in the St.
Louis Metro and surrounding areas. However, my career was on the fast track and
I didn’t have much time to look around. The year 1977 was pivotal. It was the
first time I made an effort to participate in a military collecting
organization. My father heard about the OVMS (Ohio Valley Military Society)
from one of his friends and mentioned they were going to have some sort of show
and sale at the Drawbridge Inn located in Covington, Kentucky. I went to the
show and was duly impressed. I never knew there were so many military
collectors. I joined the OVMS for a couple of years but once again my
collecting was placed on hold with another career change.
My desire to help
people got the best of me. In 1979, I resigned my hospital position, left the
Air National Guard and joined a Roman Catholic religious Order known as the
Marianists. The novitiate (their boot camp) was located in Dayton, Ohio. I
found Dayton to be quit unique as I lived five minutes away from the National
USAF Museum. I was in Dayton for one year and then was sent to San Antonio,
Texas for continued college work at St. Mary’s University. I found myself back
at home in the area of the old “Sun-Spot” of the air force. In a way, I felt I
was back in the military. The Order I joined owned and operated universities in
both Dayton (University of Dayton) and San Antonio (St. Mary’s University), two
air force cities, and they were helping to educate future officers of the US
Air Force.
Since I joined the
Marianists, I have had one of the most active careers anyone could have
imagined. I graduated with a triple major in history, sociology and education
and completed my masters’ degree in history/archaeology as a Distinguished
Graduate. I am a member of Phi Alpha Theta and Delta Epsilon Sigma which are
National Honor Society organizations. I taught in high schools and colleges and
have been involved with archaeology field work. I maintained my medical
credentials, worked as a staff respiratory therapy tech and became directly
involved with medical research. Presently, I help manage one of the retirement
centers owned by the Marianists for its members.
As a Marianist, I
continued to collect US Air Force military items and a good portion of my
collection has been listed on this web site. The collection listed represents
an accumulation of a number of years. In addition, I am presently doing
research on US Air Force officer uniforms and will continue to post
information. During my career, I sporadically attended OVMS functions when I
had the time. Seven years ago, I once again joined the Ohio Valley Military
Society. To make up for lost time, I have just recently become a life member.
In my younger days I
did not have the resources available today for collecting miltaria. Those were
the days where one could still obtain a nice German parade tunic or cap for
$55.00 each. With computers and the internet there is an information explosion
for the military collector and prices on collectible military items have
soared. It is my desire this web site will further assist the new and old in
their collecting endeavors. Good luck and good collecting!
BRO. JOHN SCHLUND, SM
usafflagranks@aol.com