Real Hero Report | February 2019 | 29
Vietnam Vet Retires
After 60 Years of
Combined Military
and Federal Service
If this veteran’s career could be described in two words, they
Master Sgt. (Ret), retired from Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB)
years of federal service.
He has spent the last 37 years serving in many capacities
at Dobbins ARB, from aircraft maintenance to logistics, and
achieving the highest Air Force enlisted rank.
Squadron director of operations, as he presented him with a
Godfrey entered U.S. Army Basic Training in April 1969 at
Fort Benning, Georgia. After attending infantry school in Fort
Pope, Louisiana, and signal school in Fort Gordon, Georgia, he
completed a tour in Vietnam and returned to Fort Gordon in 1971.
He met and married his wife Ernestine in 1972. After leaving
Godfrey began to miss the camaraderie of the military, and
joined the Air Force Reserve in 1981. He was assigned to the
Airman gave him the opportunity to serve while continuing to
work his full time job.
where he met up with a friend from his Masonic Lodge who later
would become his supervisor and mentor, Ron Durant, a retired
Air Force Senior Master Sgt. and civil servant.
In 1989, Godfrey was selected for a full-time Air Reserve
management. He worked his way up to senior planner.
In 1993, he attended the NCO Academy at Robins ARB in
Warner Robins, Georgia. He was honored by his class peers and
won the Commandant Leadership Award. In 1996, he attended
Senior NCO Academy at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama, where
Godfrey often would be requested by name to provide logistics
support for events such as POTUS visits, the 1996 Olympics,
Air Force Reserve Command recruiting conferences, and Atlanta
Chapter Tuskegee Airmen conferences.
In addition to his primary duties, he served as the lead planner
for many Dobbins Family Day events, and chairman of the Corn
n’ Sausage Roast, an annual event which raises money for the
Dobbins Emergency Assistance Fund.
Operations Flight superintendent and was promoted to Chief
years of military service. For the last 10 years, he has served as
was one of the last Vietnam combat veterans working at Dobbins
ARB.
Today, he participates in a number of charitable events in
Block Party/Cruise-in Car Show on Historic Main Street
Downtown. He’s the current president of Acworth Allatoona
Charities, Inc., which awards college scholarships to high school
seniors in South Bartow, East Paulding, North Cobb, and West
Cherokee counties.
Godfrey’s cars have been featured in Muscle Car, Motor Trend
Team Dobbins honors him for many years of faithful service.
during a retirement ceremony and luncheon Dec. 18, 2018. (U.S. Air
Force photo by James Branch)