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graduating class

1956 P Bainbridge Ga

In the 1960s the air force deactivated the ADC squadrons and Sanborn applied for a years training back in Industry with Lockheed Missiles Space Division in Sunnyvale California. He oversaw the first photographic capsule return from space.

He met the commander at Vandenberg AFB who got Sanborn assigned to helping launch many highly classified photo recon satellites.

When it was time to move on, Sanborn noticed an ad in the L A Times for volunteers for a two year assignment in the Bahamas as base commander and as it turned out he was the only volunteer and it turned out to be a wonderful assignment.

Then it was on to Viet Nam flying the OV-CO as a forward air controller (FAC) It was during this tour of duty that Colonel Sanborn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on a mission to destroy a pipeline in face of an inordinate amount of AAA fire. 

Sanborn returned from Viet Nam and reflects on how that war was managed in a way that prevented sound operational actions because Sec Mac Namarra with Johnsons approval held to the theory that our increased military presence would make the Viet nam quit fighting and had rules in effect which prevented attacking targets which made sense . This was all classified  and when Goldwater got them de classified it astounded congress.

From beautiful NKP it was back to school to get a graduate degree in operational research. From there to cape Canaveral to launch more highly classified satellites with technology that was absolutely astounding.

From there it was to war college where he met many great officers. He made a presentation to group which included General Hank Stelling who hired him to go to the Pentagon as his deputy for Space Launch Control and Sanborn was responsible for defending the budgets for all launch vehicles including, Titan, Atlas and Delta and for all ground control stations for the military use of Space Shuttles . Quote Sanborn "He had an impossible Job for three years "

Then he went to work for his wife Sally demonstrating and selling Karaoke Systems. They did a lot of singing in red neck bars and did several shows at Caesars Palace and other casinos.