Meet SFC Floyd N. Petri, Jr., Ret US Army — 2018 Veteran
Floyd Petri graduated from Lufkin High School in June of 1961 and went straight down to the Air Force Recruiter and signed up. Mr. Petri arrived at Lackland AFB in July of 1961 for basic training. The best part of basic training for Mr. Petri was watching the Yankees dropping like flies in the 110 degree heat at San Antonio, Texas and Floyd just kept marching on with no problems.
Mr. Petri graduated from basic training and was sent to Lowery AFB in Denver, Colorado to Weapons and Nuclear Weapons school. Floyd graduated and was assigned to Strategic Air Command and his first assignment was Dyess AFB in Abiline, Texas where he loaded Hydrogen Bombs on B-47s. He was then transferred to Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana which was physically located at Bossier City where Floyd loaded Hydrogen Bombs on B-52s. While there, he went through the Cuban Missile Crisis and loaded every B-52 that was there. The B-52s took off and were told that if any of them returned, they would load every one that returned if we were still alive. Also while there, they were sent on a Top Secret Mission to load 750 lb conventional bombs for the first "Arc Light" mission to bomb the Ho Chi Mein Trail in Laos.
Mr. Petri left the Air Force in July of 1965 because his rank was frozen and he was only a Sergeant. Mr. Petri joined the Nacogdoches Police Department and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Watch Commander, Bomb Squad Commander and SWAT Commander. In July of 1977, Floyd left and went to Tyler County and become a Deputy Sheriff where he patrolled the entire county by himself.
In 1979, Mr. Petri was asked to become the Chief of Police of Kountze, Texas. He built a police station, bought patrol cars, installed lights and radios, hired men and trained them. He removed the stigma of Kountze's prior labeling of being a speed trap. Mr. Petri made an arrest for the first and only case of prostitution in Hardin County and arrestee was fined $1 by the court.
In 1980, he drove to Beaumont, Texas and tried to re-enlist in the Air Force and was told that he was too old. Mr. Petri tried the Army and was told that he was too old. Floyd tried the Navy and was told that he was too old. Mr. Petri tried the Texas Air National Guard and finally ended up as an Air Policeman at Ellington AFB. A few months after enlisting, he transferred to Air Base Ground Defense and was recalled to active duty Title 10. He ended up as a Strike Response Team Leader (SRT). During this time, he guarded two Presidents of the United States when they came to Houston - Daddy Bush and Ronald Reagan.
Mr. Petri also was a Counter Sniper for President Reagan. After just over four years the Texas Army National Guard came to him and asked that he transfer to the Army and run a new unit being created at Austin, Texas. It would be a CID Criminal Investigation Unit and he would be the only Active Duty Title 10 Special Agent assigned to the Texas Army National Guard. Mr. Petri requested that he get an immediate promotion to SSGT and go in the Army Supply Room in Air Force uniform and come out in an Army uniform the same day without a break in service.
The Major trying to recruit him said it could not be done. Floyd told him to talk to his commanding officer. A couple weeks later, the Major came back and told him he got it all. Upon receiving this news, Floyd joined the Army. Floyd attended all their CID schools and also the Reserve Advanced NCO academy and also the active army Advanced NCO academy back to back which had never been done before. Mr. Petri held both active Army Special Agent Credentials and Texas State Adjutant General Special Agent Credentials which were also firsts. Mr. Petri's boss was a Two Star General and a member of the Drug Task Force.
After having three heart attacks, a collapsed angiography and emergency open heart surgery which failed to return him to good health, in 1995 Mr. Petri was medically retired from active duty in the Army. Floyd transferred from the Army retirement system to the VA retirement system and is a 100% Disabled Veteran.
In January 2016, his Retinious Pigmentosa started making him blind faster than the diabetes. On April 1, 2016 he received his Certificate of 100% Legal Blindness from the VA.
For most of the 10 and a half years Mr. Petri was in the Army, he was in civilian coat and tie with pistol and credentials. Upon retirement he was presented with his original badge and credentials to hang on the wall. Mr. Petri's Air Force pictures are in BDUs or Class B depending on whether or not he was guarding the President. He has no photographs of his time under SAC in the Air Force because cameras were not allowed around nuclear weapons or while on Top Secret Missions.
SFC Floyd N. Petri, Jr., Ret US Army
~~~~~~~ ### ~~~~~~~
Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors
