THE LUCKY LOADMASTER

About the Book

The Lucky Loadmaster is an action packed book. It does not matter whether you are with the airmen in Vietnam, the first night of TET or just reading about the author’s hair raising childhood adventures. Sometimes growing up and learning defensive moves in a small middle North Carolina town can be interesting. For the first time, a book written that is about the honest daily occurrences and multiple battles of a real airman in Vietnam. These were battles like others, in which people died and others became heroes. Battles in which crews looked death in the face multiple times each day, flying into places without the security of arms or cover ,the stress of actual war. Tom Stalvey’s wishes to enlist and study at the great Air Force electronics schools at the time, did not come to pass, instead he was assigned to the very élite and extremely dangerous rolls of an enlisted aircrew member. The courses these young men completed were at the considered complete college courses equal to obtaining a degree in a matter of months. The duty aboard the Lockheed C-130 Hercules as a Weight and balance Technician or Loadmaster was and still is essential. He was destined to end up in Vietnam. after two and a half years of training and protocol Only a slight recess was given these airmen as these young men were handed the keys to three fourths of a C-130 aircraft. Most of them averaged 22 years of age. Trained at doing their jobs by the book they soon learned that doing so in Vietnam could cost time and lives. Great at modifying plans on the run, many were awarded our nation’s highest war time decorations. Laugh out loud as you follow a young boy into what must have been The start of The Lucky Loadmaster’s ironic heavenly inspired protection and cry for the pain of his broken body!

About the Author

Thomas (Tom) F. Stalvey, CAPS, CAM, HCCP a retired Property Management Vice President, specialized in asset management for over thirty years. During his career Tom was employed by several of the nation’s largest property management companies. Tom and his wife were named “Manager of the Year” nationally by Clark Financial Corporation. Tom retired from his position as a Vice President of SunTrust Bank in Atlanta during 2010. An outstanding athlete, Tom wrestled in high school and started competitive weight lifting at 15 years of age winning many southeastern championships. In 1998 The Natural Athlete Strength Association named Tom number three in the nation. As planned before retirement, Tom is continuing his love affair with cars, restoring Chevrolets from the ‘60s. In October of 1966 Tom and his crew from Sewart AFB Tennessee set a new world record drop weight from a C-130E of 35,000 pounds after a near crash two days prior with 30,000 pounds. Flying as a C-130B Loadmaster, during the Vietnam war, the author received The Distinguished Flying Cross, six Air Metals, two Presidential Unit Citation’s, and The Vietnam Gallantry Cross with “V” for valor in combat. Wandering for many years after the Vietnam War Tom renewed his faith in Christ and was blessed with two healthy children and a more positive lifestyle.