Bonnie McEwan 

I am by two of our (furry German Shepherd children) Schatzie on my right and Petra on my left.

AIRMAN BASIC

TO MAJOR

BONNIE MARIE McEwan

(Military Service 1971 – 1997) 

As a child growing up in rural Iowa, Bon always enjoyed learning about other cultures.  Her father, a career soldier, sent her updates from around the world, including Vietnam.  Following her WWI Grandpa and WWII/Vietnam Dad, Airman Basic McEwan completed Lackland’s Basic Training in 1971.  Expanding her horizons and earning rank (Airman to Staff Sergeant) McEwan served as personnel and psychiatric ward/clinic specialists at McGuire (NJ), Malmstrom (MT), and Travis (CA).  At McGuire, she spent many Big Apple weekends meeting people from very diverse backgrounds.  But, she needed to get “Back to Nature;” thus in 1973 off to Big Sky, Great Falls, Montana.  Reservist McEwan worked on her BA at San Francisco State University, while putting in her Weekend Warrior Duty at Travis’s famous F (psychiatric) Ward.  Next, she obtained her California Secondary Social Science Teaching Credential with a German minor at Sacramento State University.  Simultaneously, “Cadet” McEwan participated in the University of California, Berkeley’s ROTC Program, an interesting place to earn an officer’s commission!  

After being hit and luckily surviving Hurricane Fred (Frederick) at Keesler AFB, MS, Bonnie, in 1979, crossed the ‘Big-Pond’ back to her German roots: Ramstein and Wiesbaden.  At Headquarters United States Air Force in Europe (HQ USAFE), she was the first Second Lieutenant to ever be assigned to DCS Personnel providing support to over 74,000 military in Europe.  At Lindsey, First Lieutenant McEwan ran the largest European casualty program including working the wounded from President Sadot’s assassination, plus the Marine Beirut Tragedy after-mass.  During free time, she enjoyed traveling, meeting Europeans, going to operas, and picking grapes (Weintrauben für die Octoberfests), while listening to the silence.  

Back to the states (Wright-Patterson) he 1985, Captain McEwan began her Masters Degree in Social Service from Antioch International University at Yellow Springs, Ohio, (another slightly conservative school!) while working for Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command (HQ AFLC).  Another significant event is she married Peter Papay of Győr, Hungary, who escaped to the US after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.  

PCS’ing in 1988 to England AFB, LA, as CBPO Chief, Major McEwan had lots of adventures including her deployment to Operation DESERT STORM as theater Director of Personnel.  In her limited free time, she studied Arabic, made Arab friends, rode an Arabian horse and integrated into the culture by visiting both the Women’s and then the Men’s Living Rooms! She’s come to the conclusion people are all the same deep-down at the Bottom Line.  Coming back home, McEwan learned Congress selected England for a “short-fused” base-closure—she quickly got to work as the Mission Support Commander helping to make it happen.  

Moving on in 1992, Commander McEwan provided Support to Headquarters Air Combat Command’s (HQ ACC ) largest air combat training network at HQ Electronic Combat Range Group at Barksdale AFB, LA.  Her last jobs in the Air Force were at the Mighty Eighth as Chief, Support to the Air Force Forces and the Air Support Squadron.  As Bonnie leaves the Air Force, she is looking forward to spending more time in Backyardsville with Peter, their German Shepherd children, plus bird, animal, and people friends too.  One thing for certain as her saga continues, she is absolutely proud to have served her nation (in many capacities for over 22 years) in the United States Air Force!