Hartsel Beckett

Mason Hartsel Beckett, Jr, hailing from Beckley in the southern part of "West-by-God-Virginia", is one of the 11 classmates who joined us in the Summer of 1964 from West Virginia. Hartsel spent his first two years in 5th Squadron before moving to 17th Squadron for the next two years.

Keeping on the good side of the Dean was often a challenge since cars and guitars often occupied his time.Hartsel's car at graduation was a Red '67 GTO, as his love of cars, especially Pontiacs, was an early interest.

Hartsel and Sharon were married in Manitou Springs on graduation night just one hour after he was best man for classmate Bob Pulver’s wedding in the Cadet Chapel—busy day. After graduation leave, he was off to Craig AFB, AL, for pilot training. Three weeks before graduation, son, Brett, the ONLY Craig 70-02 baby, was born. After B-52 training, he and family moved to K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI, in 1970, where Hartsel was a B-52 co-pilot, aircraft

commander, and instructor/evaluator pilot in the 644th Bombardment Squadron. During his three years at K.I. Sawyer, Hartsel deployed to U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, where he was a co-pilot on B-52 Arc Light missions during the Vietnam War. Curt, their second son, was born nine months after he redeployed.
In 1973, Hartsel separated from the Air Force hoping to begin a long airline-pilot career with Delta Airlines. Unfortunately, the fuel crisis of ’73 changed all that. While waiting for Delta, Hartsel worked as a service advisor for a Pontiac Dealership (what else?) in Atlanta, GA. Realizing the fuel crisis was not a short-term event, the Becketts moved to Colorado Springs where he was Vice President of Manitou Builders Inc., working for over four years as a framer for Sharon’s father. Their third son, Trent, was born in Colorado Springs. (Trent passed away in 2007).

In 1979, Hartsel learned of an AF voluntary recall program from classmate Manny Bettencourt. After much paperwork and long discussions with Sharon, he returned to active duty. For the next three years, he was a B-52 aircraft commander/instructor pilot/flight examiner and the 28th Bomb Wing Executive Officer at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. While at Ellsworth, in 1981, he was notified he had been selected for promotion to major in the primary zone. (This occurred at the seven-years-of-total-service point.) Evidently, the Military Personnel Center (MPC) had an error in his captain date-of-rank. A letter from MPC stated, “All board actions concerning you are of no effect.” This letter was received AFTER the base-wide promotion party.
Hartsel and family relocated to March AFB, California, in 1982, where he served as the Deputy Chief of Training Plans at 15th AF, and

was later selected to be the Aide-de-camp to the 15th Air Force Commander until 1985. Following Air Command and Staff College and Troy State University graduations in 1986, Hartsel was assigned to Headquarters USAF on the Strategic Operations and Training Staff, coordinating ops and training issues regarding the B-1B integration into the inventory. He also served as Executive Officer to the Assistant DCS Plans and Operations. In 1989, it was

back to Ellsworth AFB in the dual-hat role of Director of Operations for the newly activated 99th Strategic Weapons Wing and Commander of the 25th Strategic Training Squadron.
            In 1991, he moved back to Washington, DC, to attend the National War College, followed by an assignment to the On-Site Inspection Agency in the START/INF (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties/Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces) division. He was later selected to be the Director of Personnel for the Agency. Hartsel's last Air Force assignment, in 1996, was to Whiteman AFB, Missouri, serving as Director of Staff for the 509th Bomb Wing. Hartsel retired as a Colonel with 23 years active duty in 1988, having been involved in the three existing AF bomber programs.
           Hartsel moved to Colorado Springs where his passion for cars helped him secure the position of manager at Great American Auto Service for the next two years. Subsequently, he worked as a Senior Analyst for SY Technology, then Sparta Inc., until he “retired-retired” in 2008. The oldest son, Brett (Andrea), lives in the Denver area, as does his daughter, Brittany. Curt (Lisa) lives in the Atlanta area, as do Mason and Gemma.
            Hartsel now enjoys being involved in his church, working on his two classic cars, restoring firearms, playing rock ‘n roll music, traveling with Sharon, and socializing with his classmates in Colorado Springs.