Findland Air Force Station

Ray Sisko. My TI back at Sampson Air Force Base (1954) was Jack Sisko, any relation? Sampson was located in Geneva, N.Y.( Sampson Air Base was a US Navy base until after the 2nd WW)

I was stationed at Finland AFS from 8/58 - 5/59 then attended SAGE school at Richards-Gebauer AFB and was returned to Duluth Air Defense Sector at the SAGE facility. Really enjoyed my stay at Finland. Great duty and beautiful country. I was in Barracks 1-lower. Wasn't totally prepared for the winters up there but still had a good time outdoors all year. I do remember Robert Fortmuller and an AP by the name of Simmons out of N. Carolina.
Good times, good memories.

I came to the 756th RADRON, Finland AFS, directly from Lackland in January 1962 right in the middle of a fierce winter storm. Brought up in Massachusetts, I thought I was used to the cold----I was sadly mistaken.
Having attended an electronics school prior to enlistment, I was able to bypass Keesler and entered directly into OJT. As I recall, the base commander was Maj. George Donnelly; my immediate supervisor was TSGT. John Wick and my rommate was Jerry Masilionis. I left in April 1963 when I PCS'd to Karamursel, Turkey.
My AFSC was Ground Communications Equipment Repairman and I worked on ground-to-air transmitters, air-to-ground receivers and high power datalinks. I don't remember the building numbers but transmitters were east of the FPS-26 radome near the ham radio shack and receivers were on the west side of the station.
As a new A3C guess who got to shovel sand into the spreader on the back of the base dump truck at 3 or 4 in the morning so that the day shift could climb Airbase Rd. Thanks to the insulation of the fox-fur lined parka, thermal coveralls and bunny boots I was kept moderately warm at -50F wind chill temperatures.
I have fond memories of a few base facilities which helped make my 15 months there more tolerable. First, Gallahad Gardens that always had pretty good chow including the occasional venison roasts, steaks and burgers during hunting season. Next, the curling rink where I learned about this strange game while becomming somewhat competent at all playing positions. I enjoyed every minute of play while remaining well oiled on Fitger's 3-point beer. Then there was the NCO club. This was a convenient place to blow off steam and make some great friendships. One of the best things was that as long as you were of legal drinking age it didn't matter if you were E-2, E-3 or E-4 you were welcomed to join in.
While at Finland AFS I enjoyed participating in local community activities along Lake Superior's north shore from Grand Marais down to Duluth. Along with some buddies we formed a drill team and marched in a few parades; provided escorts for a homecomming queen and her court; stood honor guard; and competed in local and away bonspiels. Not having traveled more that a few hundred miles from home while growing up, I was happy to be exposed to cultural differences I had only heard about. I was lucky to have been welcomed into the home of one family of Norwegian heritage. Through them I was introduced to Country and Western music, learned to enjoy smelt fries and to eat lutefisk (but only after lots of glogg).
I had other duty stations during my AF career but none that I enjoyed so much.

I was just looking for info on what is going on at this site as I was driving up to show my daughter - It has huge gates across it now - before the base housing area and it says Eagle Ministries Corp with many no trespassing signs. There was a number to call a guard so we turned around, seemed odd.

My father is john denmark. We lived there in 1969-70. Dad passed away in 2005.

I remember my father playing in softball tourneys up there in the mid 70's. I also remember the names of some good friends who all of a sudden moved one day. Chris, Susan, Cindy, and JT. They would be 41 years old now. I don't remember the last names. However I do remember Cindy laviolette. Anyone know these people?

Dean,
I saw this post and had to rpley when I saw the Nagy name. I was friends with Steve mike and Danny and with the trots as well I kept up with the Nags as we ended up in FL ttogether

Dean Wiese wrote:

My dad ,Dennis Wiese,was there from 77-79 we lived in the new housing first house on the left. Those few years were the best and being kids we made lots of friends. I have no contact with any which is sad......Trott,Nagy,Blum,Ingel s
We have been there a few times to take a look.
It would be so nice if they put some life back in that old hill.That place is a one of a kind to me.
Dean Wiese
Baudette MN

Looking back on childhood is a funny thing. As with many of these posts I was curious as to what happened to the old base. So I took a look on Google found the base and this blog. Looks as if the houses on the lower loop are still there. My family lived there in 78-80 give or take. We were in the house at the end of the loop facing the woods. My father was Maj. Hughes and was the commanding officer tasked with closing down the facility. I still remember seeing my childhood friends packed up and moving away. We were one of the last families to leave the base. Great childhood memories playing in the snow and tramping through the forestry roads to Egge Lake. Had some friends who lived in a cabin back in the woods and had a dog sled team. When my kids complain about going to school I still pull out the stories of sitting on the snowplow banks looking down at the school bus when it pulled up and then following the plow to school for an hour while changing into dry shoes.