Glen O. Sims

Shortly after graduation, I married Roberta Sparks of Alpena, Arkansas (June 27, 1948). We attended Business College in Springfield, Missouri. Then I was a bookkeeper and a salesman until February 1952 (during the Korean War) when I received greetings from the draft board. That is when I became a draft dodger and enlisted in the Air Force.

After basic training, I went to Colorado Springs, Colorado for four years in Intelligence work. Our two oldest children (David and Sharon) joined us during that time. I thoroughly enjoyed the work and we fell in love with Colorado.

In 1956, we went to a German Air Base in southern Germany. That was when Germany was setting up their military after being given the independence after World War II. I assisted in training a cadre of German Airmen to take over the school.

In 1957, we were assigned to the Netherlands to work with the Dutch Air Force. This was my first assignment to a unit that flew airplanes, which made it interesting and enjoyable. Also our third child (Randall) was born in a Dutch hospital, which was a different experience in itself.

In early 1960, we went to Wichita Falls, Texas (tried for Colorado but missed slightly). I was an instructor in the Air Force Intelligence School until mid-1960.

July 1961, I was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. This was in the middle of the Cold War and the height of fallout shelters. They were setting up the Alternate National Military Command Center to run things when Washington D.C. was blown to bits. They set up the underground command post, the airborne command post and the command post-a-float. The personnel were alternated between the three. In fact, during the Cuban Crisis in 1962, I spent a month floating around in the Caribbean Sea. Work was interesting, but I was immediately ready to go somewhere—anywhere-- else. Our fourth and last child (Robert) was born there at Ft. Belvoir Army Post.

In 1963, we went back to Germany to a flying spook outfit. The work and the area were both definitely interesting and enjoyable.

In 1967, I was assigned as an instructor at the Air Force Intelligence School; Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. I was finally back in Colorado, but it didn’t last.

In 1970, I went to Vietnam as a prisoner of war interrogator. This was a special assignment out of headquarters in D.C. They promised that I would get a good assignment when I returned. I asked for anywhere west of the Mississippi River, and especially to keep me out of the D.C. area and off of the East Coast. They kept their promise in typical Washington fashion. I was assigned to Ft Lee Army Post at Petersburg, Virginia. I could not commit my family to living in that climate or area (they were still established in Colorado in a home we had previously bought), so I volunteered to go back to Vietnam with the same promise as before plus if possible to cut my tour short. They did cut four months off the tour, but sent us to Dayton, Ohio, which was somewhat better. Less than two years later I was alerted for an overseas assignment. I called assignments to see where it might be and was told either Karachie, Pakistan or Pretoria, South Africa. Two hours later I had my retirement papers in. I retired with 23 years and 23 days in and finally got to Colorado.

I went to work with the United States Postal Service in 1975 and retired in 2007 with 31 years and 6 months.

God has given me a wonderful, interesting and enjoyable life. I did lose Roberta in 2007, just short of 59 years of a very good marriage. She was given three to six months to live back in 1971 after being diagnosed with cancer. She got into a special program that kept her alive for 36 more years. During that time we got custody of and raised two foster daughters (Diona and Tiffiany).

I have had some health problems along the way. In 1984, I had a heart attack, but a roto rooter job took care of it. In 1995, I blew a heart valve. While they were replacing it, they offered bypasses for half price, so I took four of those. In 2005, I had lung cancer surgery. In 2009, lung cancer reappeared and tests showed they got it with radiation, so now it’s wait and see. With the lung surgery they took out a rib to get to it. Recently I saw the surgeon and asked him that since he had taken a rib, where was my new wife? He said some works are still in progress. Karen Bacca may not have legally been my wife, but she is my soul mate. I am sure Roberta would approve.

I am sure some of you have had a more interesting life than I, but for a po Arkansas hillbilly, I would not trade it or my family for anything. I have three children here in the Denver area and one foster daughter in Colorado Springs. One son is in Charleston, West Virginia and a foster daughter in the Army at Ft. Hood, Texas. Her husband is in Afghanistan. Also, here in the Denver area I have two grandsons, one granddaughter and seven great-grandchildren. I have a granddaughter in Utah and two other great grandchildren. I have another on the way.

One thing that has meant a lot to me was serving these last few years as a Deacon at Grace Baptist Church in Parker, Colorado. God has been very good to me.

The cancer is back and I am out of time, but I am “too blessed to be stressed.” I am ready to go. I have lived a good life. It is all in Christ’s hands now.

{Dad went to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at precisely 2100 on September 12th, 2011. All his family surrounded him, and as he breathed his last, we sang Amazing Grace. We will all miss him greatly.}