My name is Gary Cooper, I was born in Oconee County on January, 1947. I was raised mostly in the Ebenezer/Keowee Community. I went to high school at Keowee High School, and graduated in 1965. We had 28 members in our Senior Class. I remember getting accepted to Clemson and getting my draft notice in the same week. My acceptance was overridden by the draft. I joined the Air Force on the delayed enlistment program in the Summer of 1965, and called to active duty in May of 1966.

I had Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX. My Specialty was communications. My first duty assignment was Griffiss AFB, NY. where I was assigned to Ground Electronics Engineering Agency (GEEIA). An electronics communications research agency that developed electronic surveillance, and communication equipment. From there I was sent to CCK AFB Taiwan where I worked in Communications and Surveillance from 1967-1968. We supported Danang and Cam Ranh Bay.

We had daily contact with General Westmoreland giving him briefings through secure channels. My last duty assignment was with the 5th Bomb Wing, Headquarters SQ Minot AFB, ND, where I worked in Communications and in The Headquarters Administration Office. We had a Wing of B-52's that went back and forth to Guam and Southeast Asia. I was a Staff Sergeant that was put in the First Sergeant Slot, this made me the youngest First Sergeant in the USAF at that time. I was Honorably Discharged on March 10, 1970.

In civilian life after the USAF, I worked as a Procurement Manager at ABB, Saco Lowell, and Alcoa. I moved to Sunset Beach, North Carolina to retire. I went back to work in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at Grande Dunes as the Property Manager until retirement in 2010.