Veteran's invention used after retirement

Military service can vary in length. Some stay in for just a few years, while others continue serving for several years. One local veteran made contributions during his 20-year military career that were used long after his retirement.

Roy Truman Bishop lived in Daingerfield before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1954. Bishop attained the rank of Technical Sergeant during his 20 years of service. He served overseas in the Philippines, Korea, Panama, Peru, Columbia, and British Guiana. Bishop also served multiple stateside assignments, as well.

Five years of his time was spent photomapping, mostly in South America, spending approximately six months of each year. The last five years of his career, Bishop served in Air Training Command, teaching electronics.

During his time at Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts, Bishop went through what he called the hardest part of his career. He was in charge of training young men, many of whom he knew were scheduled to go straight to the war zone in Viet Nam. After hearing of the deaths of some of the men he taught, Bishop became very tough on his students. It was said he would “wash” a student out of his class if he felt they were playing and not taking the training seriously. What he was trying to teach them would one day save their own life, and he was not going to be responsible for sending an unprepared soldier to a war zone.

One of Bishop’s main contributions to the Air Force was his invention, the “Bench Trainer.” This communications equipment was still used in classrooms after Bishop’s retirement. According to Sergeant Carl Johnson at Sheppard AFB, where Bishop’s invention was demonstrated for Major General John McNabb in 1969, Bishop’s invention “will save the Air Force tens of thousands of dollars.”

Upon his retirement, Bishop continued to train soldiers, this time as part of the Federal Civil Service. He and his family returned to East Texas in 1997, but his contributions continued well after his retirement. Upon his death this past May, he was honored by the Air Force with a full Honor Guard at his funeral.

The contributions of Bishop and many others have improved the working of the United States Military, and deserves our honor on Veteran’s Day.