50-year pin awarded to Hill AFB civil service employee Published May 10, 2013 By Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- "Awesome job," said Maj. Gen. H. Brent Baker Sr., Ogden Air Logistics commander, as he gave Donald Douglas a congratulatory handshake. "Keep up the good work." Douglas recently received his 50-year pin and certificate, honoring him for 21 years of military service and 29 years of federal civilian employment. "That's amazing when you stop and think about it," said Baker, as he remarked on Douglas' record. "You have an individual who served in the Air Force for 20-some odd years and has been off doing civil service ever since." Mary Douglas attached the diamond-centered service pin to her husband's collar, and in a few quiet words Douglas offered up a brief homage on his family's heritage of service to the nation. His dad served in World War II in Europe. Three of his brothers served in the armed forces. His two sons served in the Air Force and his son-in-law was injured in Iraq by an Improvised Explosive Device while serving with the Army. "I guess I will accept it if it means that much," he said, after explaining why he decided to finally accept a 50 year pin after 55 years of service. Douglas entered the Air Force himself, in July 1954, retiring in 1975. He was stationed in Michigan, Vermont, Germany, England and Japan. He attended Ballistic Missile Early Warning Squadron School while in the Air Force. His Air Force service brought him to Hill AFB from 1973 to 1975 where he served in the 4754th Radar Evaluation Squadron. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service from 1979 to 1982, attending Weber State and Stevens Henager colleges. He came to Hill Air Force Base in 1982 to work for the Defense Commissary Agency and then in 1985 he moved to the Defense Logistics Agency as a materials expeditor. In 1994, he was reassigned to the Air Force, continuing his work as a materials expeditor, and is currently working for the 532nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron. Mary Douglas said that they both really enjoyed working for the government. She noted that during his years of military service that the family supported him when he would go on assignments away from home, and that for a majority of that time she had stayed home. She agreed that the whole family serves when they have a member in the armed forces. Douglas said he looks back on his experience as a whole. He has really appreciated the opportunities he was given to travel to different parts of the world. He remembers all kinds of people, mostly good, some bad, and that especially here at Hill there were "a lot of good people, here." And he also remembers the opportunity he had to learn --"So much so, that it's hard to think about." While he may be a man of few words, he does have some advice to those thinking about becoming a federal worker: "Make the best of it. Jump at every opportunity that you're asked to because you only live once." "I'm proud of (my service), you're always proud to serve your country."