PERSONAL MEMORIES OF WHEELUS
MIKE NEMECEK
To the Shores of Tripoli
In the last days of April, 1969 after finishing technical school at Lowry AFB, Colorado, I received orders for my first USAF duty assignment. My newly received assignment was to 7272 Base Supply Squadron, Wheelus Air Base, Tripoli, Libya. My first reaction was somewhat of a shock and some fear of the unknown of my future assignment. I immediately made my way to the library on Lowry Air Force Base and read everything available on the subject of my next assignment to Wheelus. After spending some time studying everything I could find about Libya, I was anxious to begin this adventure.
Mike Nemecek in Downtown Tripoli
In mid-May, 1969 on a Sunday I found myself looking out over a vast area of desert sand and houses which also were sand colored as the plane made its final approach to land at Wheelus Air Base. After disembarking from the plane and retrieving my luggage I made my way out of the Base OPS building to find the area and streets totally void of people or activity. Luckily a Wheelus Airman drove by and offered to take me to the 7272 Supply Barracks.
I began my assignment the next day and processed in and began my duty. I was assigned to the MICAP/NORS office at Base Supply. I did not know in the beginning, this assignment was one of high visibility and desired in the Supply Squadron. I settled in and was very satisfied to be selected to work in this area of Supply. The Supply Barracks and working station was located away from the main area of the base and near Family housing. We did have a Movie Theater and the only bowling facility this side of the base, all other base facilities were located on the opposite side of the base.
Wheelus had approximately 20 miles of beach on the base, so most off duty activities were beach related. I belonged to the Diving Club and received my diving certification at Wheelus. Also belonged to the Rod and Gun club which was located on the beach. The waters of the Mediterranean Sea are some of the most beautiful one could ever hope to see. I will forever remember these waters as the most impressive ever. In addition, outside of the Base there was history of some of the most perfect ruins of Roman cities as well as Greek and others who had once made Libya their home. Libya was the most fascinating assignment of my military time.
After several months of getting settled in and adjusting, I received notice from the Supply management that the Wheelus Personnel office had reassigned me to the 7272 Civil Engineer Squadron, located on the main side of the base. I was disappointed with this action, and the Supply management protested but Personnel prevailed and so I packed up and made my move to the Civil Engineer Squadron. I would remain in this position for the duration of my time at Wheelus. The positive side is that the Civil Engineer Squadron was on the main side of the base where most of the Base Facilities were located. Another advantage was that the Barracks was located close to the beach, a three minute walk. And so life at Wheelus continued and each day I spent there, I became more attached to Libya. The Culture, History, people and the opportunity to live in such a country was a great opportunity which I will be forever grateful for.
All good things must come to an end, so it has been said. On Monday, September 1, 1969, a holiday and a no-fly day for the base, I was awakened by the sound of many aircraft engines. As my barracks was located across the street from the flight line, I proceeded to the 3rd story landing of my barracks and observed all the base planes lining up on the runway to take off. Went back to my room and turned on my radio to learn that the Government of King Idris had been overthrown and A group of Libyan Army Officers with 27 year old Mummar Gadaffi in charge. And so began the closure of Wheelus Air Base.
I spent the next several months doing the paperwork to turn into Base Supply all the items stored in their warehouses for Base Civil Engineer projects. The US Government and the new Libyan Government negotiated for the US to hand over the base in December, 1970. However, with a lot of work and dedication, Wheelus Air Base was turned over to the new Libyan base on 11 June 1970.
I was next to the last group of personnel to depart Libya. It was a sad day, but a relief that the Wheelus personnel had performed with honor to accomplish such a monumental task of Base Closure and did so without incident. I will forever be grateful to have served not only in the USAF, but to do so in such a great country as Libya. I continue to hope that the Libyan people will find peace and freedom they so deserve. Finally, I thank the Libyan people for my opportunity to share and live in Libya for a short time. VIVA Libya!