Check in on Chuck

OBITUARY

Chuck Heubusch was born on December 25, 1942 to Louise and Al Heubusch. He graduated from School 61 and Bennett High School, and attended the University of Buffalo on an ROTC scholarship. As a senior, Chuck Heubusch was elected the National Commander of the Arnold Air Society. He graduated from UB in 1964 and was awarded a regular commission in the US Air Force.

After graduating from Security Police training in San Antonio TX 2nd Lt. Heubusch was assigned at the Commander of the SP unit at Richards-Gebaur AFB MO.

As a 1st Lieutenant, Chuck Heubusch was recruited by Lt.Col. Bill Wise to join Operation Safeside with the 1041st Combat Security Police Squadron (Test), a created to test the concept of "Active Defense." As a result, he was in the first Air Force class to graduate from the Army Ranger School at Ft. Benning, GA, and earn a Ranger Tab.

Lt. Heubusch served in Vietnam with the 1041st at Phu Cat ABRVN, after which he became the military advisor on the movie made about the CSP experience in Vietnam.

Chuck married Mary-Ann Lucchino on June 29, 1968

After graduating from Squadron Officer’s School in 1968, he was assigned as one of the training cadre of the 82nd CSP at Schoefield Barracks, Hawaii, Fairchild AFB WA, and Ft. Campbell, KY.

While at Ft. Campbell, Chuck and Mary-Ann welcomed their daughter, Krista Marie, into the world on May 11, 1969.

With the demise of the CSP, he was transferred to Air Force Communications Command at Hamilton AFB, CA and Richards-Gebaur AFB MO.

Chuck and Mary-Ann's son, Steven Antony, was born on August 22nd, 1971 while Chuck was stationed at Richards-Gebaur AFB.

In 1974, Capt. Chuck Heubusch completed Army Intelligence School at Ft. Huachuca NM and was sent as a Squadron Commander to Thailand. While there he was named the Ground Combat Commander in the rescue of the SS Mayaquez. Mechanical failures caused the two of his four helicopters, killing 18 of his men. As a result, he and his men were precluded from participating in the mission. The Mayaguez Incident is regarded as the last engagement of the Vietnam War and the names of Chuck's men are listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC.

After completing Air Command and Staff School in Montgomery Alabama, in 1976, Capt. Chuck Heubusch became a member of the Air Staff at the Pentagon in Washington DC. As an Action Officer he was responsible for convincing the Air Staff to fund Air Base Ground Defense units.

Promotion to Lt. Col., led to the assignment as Security Police Squadron Commander at RAF Bentwaters in England. In an innovative approach to security forces training, he invited US Army Special Forces teams to Bentwaters/Woodbridge Air Forces Bases to conduct training for all squadron personnel. For the first time periodic exercises were held with local English Territorial Army units to maintain the high skill levels of base defense and to integrate the base defense plan with the English Territorial Army scheme.

In 1984 Lt.Col. Heubusch was assigned to RAF Mildenhall as Chief of Security Police for the United Kingdom where he was promoted to Full Colonel. As the 3rd AF Chief SP he was key in insuring the security and survivability of the Ground Launch Cruse Missile Systems (CLCMS). In addition, Col. Heubusch was instrumental in developing the anti-terrorist procedures to protect the USAF bases in the UK, and to strengthen the joint security planning and defensive agreements between the USAF, the UK Ministry of Defense and the Royal Air Force Regiment. While at RAF Mildenhall, Col. Heubusch completed Air War College through Seminar.

In 1987 Col. Heubusch was transferred to Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany to be the Chief of Operations for Security Police for United States Air Forces Europe and then Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Security Police. He was responsible for the security of all bases and operating locations within the theatre of operations. In this position he developed procedures for the security of nuclear assets in eight countries. In addition, Col. Heubusch planned and directed the first full scale air base defense exercise, Creek Warrior, in conjunction with annual Reforger exercise and German homeland defense exercise Landes Vertidigung 88. He integrated German Reserve Forces into the US air base defense scheme for the first time. He also led the effort to increase the funding for anti-terrorist defense facilities and equipment, and strengthened the joint anti-terrorist intelligence effort between the Security Police, Office of Special Investigations, Air Force Intelligence, and other US military services intelligence units, and host country intelligence organizations through the Joint Anti-Terrorist Working Group. While in this position at USAFE, Col. Heubusch became a senior AF member to the Senior Level Weapons Protection Group (SLWPG) working on the NATO initiative affecting nuclear posture. His involvement as the USAFE representative to the Department of Defense Senior Level Weapons Protection Group chaired by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy led to his being assigned to the that key staff.

In 1990 Col. Heubusch served as the Senior Nuclear Weapons Security and Survivability Advisor and as the Executive Secretary to the NATO Senior Weapons Protection Group for the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy. He personally fostered significant improvements in US and Allied cooperation in resolving nuclear weapon security issues, and advised the NATO Nuclear Planning Group on key nuclear weapon security programs. Col. Heubusch also provided assistance on nuclear weapon matters with major emphasis on the security and survivability of the deployed nuclear stockpile.

Col. Chuck Heubusch retired from the US Air Force in August 1991.

Chuck's medals and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, national Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with One Silver Cluster, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Upon retirement, Col. Heubusch, became a Policy Analyst for the Columbia Services Group, Inc. He analyzed changes in National Security Classification policy for the US Department of Energy, Office of Declassification. He developed policy for implementation of the new directives, conducted process improvement reviews to optimize the efficiency of the procedures within the Office of Declassification.

In 1996, Col. Heubusch became a Program Coordinator for the Wackenhut Services, Inc. He was responsible for security training serving on policy boards for the Dept. of Energy National Training Center and its Office of Safeguards and Security.

Chuck passed away on August 26, 2006.