Airman 2nd Class David Tickel of Ohio enlisted  with
the U.S. Air Force on February 28, 1952 at the end of
the Korean Conflict. He received his basic training at
Sampson Air Force Base on Lake Geneva in Geneva,
NY. He was transferred to Lowery AFB in Denver, CO
for one year of basic electronics and airborne Radar
training. He was then assigned to the 95th
Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Andrews AFB in
Washington, DC to work as a Radar mechanic on
F-86D Saberjets. The 95th Fighter-Interceptor was
part of the Air Defense Command, whose purpose it
was to protect the United States from enemy air
attacks.

Airman Tickel was a member of his squadron
basketball team playing the center position.
His team won the base championship three
consecutive years.