EULOGY FOR Lt. Colonel William H. Wise Commander, 1041st Security Police Squadron (T) GIVEN BY: CMSgt Robert C. Frink, USAF (ret) Sergeant Major, 1041st Security Police Squadron (T) I have been asked to present a eulogy for Lt.Col. Bill Wise and I confess that I don't know where to begin. I met him, if you can call it that, via telephone in about July 1966. He called me to ask me to join him in his efforts to form a special organization that would be created for the purpose of testing new defensive tactics for protecting US air bases in hostile environments. I would have volunteered immediately except for the fact that he said that I would be required to attend the Army Ranger School. I was 44 years old at the time and, although in fairly good physical shape, I was in no condition to attend, much less, complete that rigorous course. I respectfully declined the offer. Within two weeks I received another call from the Col who then said that I would not be required to attend the Ranger School and that I would fill the manning document space entitled SgtMaj. After his long explanation about the program, code-named SAFESIDE, I decided to volunteer and two weeks later I was TDY to Washington, DC. He, Sqdn Ldr Jim Downie of the RAAF and I were the oldest men in the entire organization. Col. Wise was just four months older than me. He was a "mustang", a rather endearing term, to define an officer who had prior enlisted status. He was a young Army buck Sgt in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and made the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach and one of only a little over 200 men who successfully climbed the cliffs at Pte du Hoc to overcome the German defenders. His experience then, and his career as an officer, made him the ideal choice to lead the SAFESIDE program and the 1041st Security Police Squadron (Test). All during my TDY time in Washington, during the training phase at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and our operations in Vietnam he would have me accompany him practically everywhere. It was an honor to be so well trusted as well as to be in on many of the meetings, conferences and just plain bull-sessions. Col. Wise wanted me to be as knowledgable as he was on the program and for that I owe him a great deal. I remember once accompanying him to a conference at the Pentagon where the discussion concerned what role the Air Force should play in protecting their air bases from armed assaults as was happening in Vietnam. Lt. Gen Martin and Lt Col Wise voiced the joint opinion that the US Air Force should have the capability of filling that kind of void. An Army Lt. Gen voiced the audacious position that it was the Army's responsibility to provide that defense but that they were unable to do it because they were too "busy" fighting the war. Not too long ago when Col. Jerry Bullock was interviewing me he asked me what adjective would I choose to best describe Col. Wise...I did not have to think about it...I had answered the question before...the word is "tenacious"! There are many other words that fit him just as well but this one sticks with me. He always had a positive attitude, he was resolute and unflinching in his goal to achieve total success with the SAFESIDE program. There were many times when I have seen him with a telephone in one hand and the other hand still trying to type a letter . I saw this in Washington, at Schofield Barracks and at Phu Cat. Since he wrote so many letters I believe this was about the same time that people at Air Force criticized him for being contentious. On two different occasions while we were at Phu Cat he would find me and say "Let's go", "we're going on a Recon patrol." And off we would go, he would take the point and he had me take the "tail-end charlie" position. It would always be an eight man patrol...one was during daylight and one after dark. On some occasions he could be seen with an un-lit cigar stub in his mouth. He would never set himself apart from the men...many occasions would find him out in the rain in Hawaii letting the men see him suffering the same miseries that they were suffering. Training did not ever stop because of inclement weather. He always echoed the cadres remonstrations to "drive on". To show another side of the Col I would like to relate a little true story that occurred while we were at Schofield Barracks. He purchased two bolts of camouflage material and had a local tailor make him two formal design tuxedos. He never divulged to me ever having worn them until I learned from a reliable source that he had, in fact, worn one at a formal Dining In of the RAF Regiment in England while he was an exchange officer. Long after he retired he told me that when he showed up at the Dining In there was boisterous jolly applause from all assembled. I have often wondered if there might be some pictures of that occasion somewhere among the veterans of that evening. I am reminded of another little known fact about the Colonel and the RAF Regt. First of all the RAF Regt is to the Royal Air Force what the 820th Security Forces Group is to the US Air Force. For many years the US Air Force has sent an exchange officer (Security Police type only) to the Regt for a one year tour of duty. In the early 70's it became Col Wise' turn to go. When his one year tour was almost complete the command staff at the Regt petitioned the USAF to grant Col Wise a second, consecutive, one year tour with the Regt. That request was granted and Col Wise became the first, and only, Air Force officer to serve two tours. Certainly a tribute to his professional abilities and to his social skills at winning over our British cousins. Despite all the difficulties, travails, disappointments etc. that Col Wise experienced during Operation Safeside I never once saw him angry. Not one time. As a matter of fact there were times that I was angry for him. He received some shabby treatment but he just let it glide off like butter on a hot waffle. Thank you for giving me the opportunity say a few words about a man whose friendship eclipses any others known to me. My entire military career ended on a note, and in an organization, the likes of which shall not pass this way again. Especially the men of the 1041st SPS (T) to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for allowing me to be counted as being one of you. Robert C. Frink CMSgt, USAF (ret)