William Van der Ven

Bill is originally from California, a small vacation/surfing town on the coast called Santa Cruz. He joined the Air Force in 1968. After basic training at Lackland AFB, he received his technical training as a still photographer at Lowry AFB, in Denver, Colorado. Upon graduation, his first duty station was with the 15th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron at March AFB, California. He spent 2.5 years enjoying the sun, sand and easy working conditions of a SAC base; "that's a joke, son" (with apologies to Leghorn). Upon attending all the mandatory survival schools, Bill landed at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base. During his tour, 1971-1972, Bill flew backseat as an aerial reconnaissance, photographer, documented the AC-130 gunship operations and the many CIVIC ACTION Programs run by the joint USAF/Thai Government; he completed his tour as the photographer for the base paper: The Phantom Flyer. Upon leaving the Air Force, he received his teaching degree, re-joined the army reserves where he finished his military career in Military Intelligence and Psychological Operations. He and his wife of over twenty years, Louise Ann, an army veteran, and a former career employee with the Social Security Administration have two sons: Eric the oldest is a veteran of ENDURING FREEDOM, the initial invasion of Iraq and is now a career Defense Civil Servant. The second son Peter is career Army with multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea. Bill and Louise are now retired and living in the Memphis Area of Tennessee. In addition to Eric and Peter, they have five grandchildren. In addition to being the author of his memoir at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base titled In My Viewfinder, Kindle Edition, Bill has written a five volume set of guidebooks on canoeing and kayaking the Central Sierra, titled Up The Lake With A Paddle, Fine Edge Publishing.