By Bob Staranowicz, Correspondent

"I wanted to be a pilot, so I enlisted in the Air Force after high school at the age of 17."

Colonel Greg Marston has served his country for over 30 years since that day he enlisted in 1974, including four years at the Air Force Academy. After graduating from the Academy in 1978, he was commissioned as an officer.

"After the Academy, I went to undergraduate pilot training at Williams Air Force base in Arizona."

Greg's first assignment was piloting a C-141 out of McGuire Air Force base in New Jersey.
After stints in Korea and Arizona, the Colonel continued his Air Force career as an instructor pilot and deputy commander for the 602nd Tactical Air Support Wing, training all A-37 pilots for the USAF and some foreign nations. The A-37 is nicknamed "The Dragonfly" and has served the United States Air Force, Republic of Viet Nam Air Force, US Air Force Guard and Reserve units and several Air Forces of Central and South America.

Greg joined the Pennsylvania Air Guard in March of 1985 as an OA-37 pilot. The OA-37 Dragonfly was an armed observation aircraft developed during the Vietnam War. The OA-37 replaced the O-2A in the early 1980s. It continued to be used with Air Guard and Reserve units as observation platforms until the 1980s.

Greg then moved on to the A-10. The "Warthog" is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. It is a twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.

The A-10 provides close air combat support for friendly land forces and acts as a forward air controller (FAC) to coordinate and direct friendly air forces in support of land forces. The A-10 also supports search and rescue and Special Forces operations. "I really miss flying the A-10, I loved it. I flew it for 18 years, firing the 30 mm cannon, it was an unbelievable experience."

"It was just a great feeling to support our Army and Marine ground troops. These soldiers always told us how much they loved our close air support and what the A-10 pilots did for them." The A-10's 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun was capable of firing almost 4,000 rounds a minute and could overpower an assortment of ground targets including tanks.

The Colonel gained combat experience in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, with over 90 A-10 combat missions. His most difficult assignment was when he volunteered to command at Bagram Air Base. In 2002, Bagram was the only completely blacked out and covert-lighted airfield and base in the world. One of the most heart-warming experiences in that country was when he initiated an "Adopt-A-Village" program. A medical clinic was established in the mud-walled village of Bachshakhil and Air Force doctors and nurses distributed clothing, cookware, school supplies, bulk food and toys to the residents. On one visit, Greg was summoned by the warlord to a meeting.

"It quickly occurred to me that I was being led into a trap," Greg recalls. His feelings were proven unfounded since the warlord proceeded to tell him how much he appreciated what the Americans were doing for them.

Among many problems at Bagram, Greg was concerned most about the inadequate Soviet-built runway and called it "easily, the worst in the world. It was extremely dangerous for our A-10s and the cargo aircraft using it, but it was the only runway we had. I was given the opportunity to brief the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff (the top general in the US Military) and the number two General in the Air Force," the Colonel recalls. There had been three major aircraft accidents in a five-month period on the runway when he was there. In an effort to fix these problems, Greg presented a five-year rebuilding and reconstruction plan for Bagram to Lt General McNeill (Commander of the entire Afghanistan war effort). The ambitious plan included the repair of the runway, a new tower and taxiway, new ramps, hangars and security berms. The General approved the plan on the spot and the $100 million project was started the next day.

"There was no turning back, especially after I had Thai Army Engineers cut a 2000 foot by 90 foot section of the runway, as the General looked on. We used the other half of the runway to keep our air support going." The re-building of Bagram, the largest US base in the country, continues today. When Greg left Afghanistan, he was presented with a large slab of the old Soviet runway as a gift for his work to improve the base. He has since donated the slab to the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association.

The Colonel's most recent assignment before his retirement was the Director of Operations for the Pennsylvania National Guard in Fort Indiantown, Pennsylvania. At his retirement ceremony, Greg told his friends and family in attendance, "I've had the best jobs in the world: Flying an A-10, being the 103rd Fighter Squadron Commander and the 111th Fighter Wing Commander" (PAANG, Willow Grove, PA). He thanked his audience for their tireless support and shared his last piece of advice as he closed his speech: "History favors the bold."

Now retired, Greg is a resident of Doylestown, where he lives with his wife Teresa. They have three children, a daughter, Jennifer who is a Senior Nursing Student at Temple University, as well as a daughter, Catherine, who is a Junior at Central Bucks West High School and a varsity lacrosse team member. The Marstons also have a son, Lance, who is a Sergeant in the Marine Corps and has served one tour in Iraq in Marine Reconnaissance (Special Forces).

Greg is also a life-time member of the Doylestown Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 175.