CW4 Johnnie R. Sandidge earned his Army aviator wings in February 1956.

He then received a transition into the CH-21 Shawnee helicopter and about a year later received his designation as a rated instructor pilot in the aircraft.

Sandidge served in that capacity, as well as being a standardization pilot, with units of the Sixth Army in California and the Eighth Army in Korea.

In September 1962, he arrived at Fort Hood, Texas, as the aircraft direct support maintenance officer for the 1st Armored Division, supervising 150 mechanics and providing support for the division's 103 aircraft.

From June 1966 to August 1967, Sandidge served in Vietnam as the section leader of the 1st Cavalry Division's aircraft direct support maintenance section.

When he returned to the states, Sandidge joined the 64th Artillery Group of the Army Air Defense Command in Dallas, Texas, and conducted depot maintenance training for an engine and power train platoon.

After a year there, Sandidge was assigned to the Corpus Christi floating maintenance depot anchored off the coast of Vietnam.

When he completed that tour, he attended the warrant officer advance course at Fort Rucker, Ala., and was then sent to Fort Hood as aircraft DS maintenance officer for a 1st Cavalry Division squadron.

Sandidge retired from active duty in February 1977 at Fort Hood.