Military background

[truthandsoul]

There's a new/ongoing (which Kev has hijacked) on the AE boards (about being a 'Nam vet), but as I'm the new pest, I'll ask/start it here...

There's seems to be an assumption that GSK was 1) in the military and further that 2) he was in the Air Force.

To my knowledge, the links to the AF is the proximity of some AF bases to some of GSK's as well as the decal that was observed on a suspicious vehicle (am I missing something else -- perhaps just his general ability to handle a situation?).

I don't disagree with the assumption. It seems a common thread that some of the violent criminals from the 70s/80s had a military background and saw some combat.

For the AF, in CAlifornia, there are Active Duty bases at:

Travis AFB -- near Fairfield, CA, 1 hour SW of Sacramento
Beale AFB -- 1 hour N or Sacramento
Onizuka AFB -- 2 hours S of Sacramento
Vandenberg AFB -- near Lompoc, CA, 1 hour NW of Goleta
Los Angeles AFB -- El Segundo, CA 1 hour SE of Ventura

For the National Guard, there's bases at:

Moffett Field -- 2 hours S of Sac
Fresno ANGB -- 1 hour NW of Visalia
Channel Islands -- 30 mins S of Ventura

There's also a Reserve base in Riverside (March ARB), which is 40 mins NE of Irvine

So as I'm writing this, I see bases in the vicinity of EAR/ONS sites, however, if he was in the military and the VR, is it possible/common for someone to go from National Guard duty to Active duty? Likewise, if he was habitating near the Reserve base in Riverside, to be close to Orange County -- well, this seems unlikely that he would just be on Reserve and living near a base, while other bases are clearly in the area of Ventura and Goleta, and not too far from Irvine/Orange County.

Indeed, it would be more difficult geographically to pin GSK to the Marines via their CA bases. However, the Marine Aviation Training Support Group 23 in Lemoore, CA is less than an hour W of Visalia, CA. There were stations in Tustin & Mission Viejo ("El Toro") (now closed), veryclose to Irvine, CA. Indeed, Gerald Parker -- the "Bedroom Basher" was a Marine and stationed at El Toro during his attacks in OC.

A lack of a convenient Marine bases in the Sacto area has me worried about making a connection of the GSK to the Marines (rather than AFB).

[portofleith]

You can't rule out the Marines or Naval aviators due to the consolidation of navigator training to Mather for all service branches on July 1, 1976 to Mather- including Coast Guard.

[truthandsoul]

PoL, indeed! I inadvertently left out Mather in my list! Thank you!

Ok, so its possible he was Marines, and working at Mather AFB under that consolidation (that's kinda of a question, but seems like you're indicating it as a possibility

[guessting]

I think it is important to remember there is only one victim who saw the bull tattoo. EAR's arms were covered most often. It was a child victim and it was on her second interview and I suspect that maybe she was asked "did he have any tattoo's? I have no proof of that. I have read the account and I just feel someone else would of seen that darn tattoo. I am not discounting her accounting. I just have this strong feeling there was no tattoo.

[geko]

G, do you know the age of the child ?

[truthandsoul]

I think the girl was 13, but I'll let someone with more definitive notes verify.

I don't know about list of servicemen with injuries. That's more than likely something private, I would think.


Well, I was about ready to go with the Marines, but thinking about his general appearance, wasn't he a little scraggily looking to be in the military? Note, I'm trying to make the connection across all his suspected geographic locations, but this doesn't mean that he couldn't have initially been military...

Are there non-combat related duties on a Marine or AF Base that would allow one NOT to keep standard military appearance (I'm talking about his longish hair, for example)? And get intra-state transfers?
I'm thinking like a mechanic, or something along those lines...

[ausgirl]

Not to be argumentative - but if the girl was 5 or 6, I can see her being easily confused, maybe being 'too' helpful.. but 13? It's when the child-mind begins to mature a bit; some kids that age are cannier than adults I know.. but of course it depends on the relative maturity of the girl herself. Kids that age -can- be quite suggestible, especially when stressed. But many aren't so, too.

On topic now! I came across a military tattoo a while back that made me sit up - it was a bulldog with horns, for "devil dog", which is of course a nickname for marines. The tattoo looked a bit like a bull (in particular, that beer brand bull), with the chunky body and horns. Just a passing thought.

[greg26011979]

I often wondered if not involved with the military or navy himself was there an indirect link such as his father, any siblings or a step father.

[geko]

I'm considering it was a parent in the Military or if it was him, it was a very short period, possibly between Dec'75 to June '76.

[greg26011979]

Or had he just watched enough movies and TV of military personnel, and was again acting out his "fantasy" incorporating these elements.