News

84-year-old going strong thanks to wingmen, luck

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  When James "Tony" Spletstoser started working at Robins he was at an age when many people are either retiring or strongly thinking about it.

Today, more than 30 years later and at the age of 84, he's still hard at work as a 402nd Electronics Maintenance Group mechanic.

He's the second oldest person currently working at Robins, according to the Directorate of Personnel. Spletstoser says he has no intention of retiring any time soon and would like to work here at least "several more years."

"This is my family," he said when asked why he stays at it. "I have some of the closest friends you could possibly have here. They care about me and take care of me."

He isn't exaggerating about that, either. He almost certainly would be dead right now had it not been for his coworkers being good wingmen.

About a year and half ago he started feeling a sensation of tightness in his chest. He wasn't having pain, so he didn't think a lot about it, but his coworkers badgered him into getting checked out.

So, his son drove him to the Carl Vinson Veterans Administration Medical Center in Dublin one day for a checkup. He was just lying on a table having sensors attached when he suffered a heart attack. He flat-lined four times.

Medical personnel there hadn't given him anything or done anything that would have prompted the attack. It was just pure luck that it happened while he was at the hospital.

"It was like divine intervention," he said. "I was in the right place at the right time."

With bypass surgery and good hospital care, he recovered and was able to return to work - although he said he is still healing.

It's also not the only time he has defied death lately.

A long-time pilot, from J3 Cubs to a F4U Corsair, Spletstoser lives in Dodge County where he now flies his ultra-light aircraft.

When he flew his plane July 4 the engine started to lose power, and sputtered, just after takeoff. He hasn't determined just why, but something had gone wrong with the fuel delivery system, and he crashed into a tree. He was hanging in the aircraft upside down with fuel pouring on him.

Emergency responders had trouble getting to him due to the location of the accident and the height he was off the ground.

Terrance Allen, the owner of a local tree service, used his equipment to get him down. Spletstoser was taken to a hospital for examination but was not injured. His plane, however, was destroyed.

"I'm going to get another one," he said.

Spletstoser's supervisor, Virginia Lamb, said he is one of her best workers and best trainers.

"It isn't just that he is a good worker," she said. "He has a heart of gold. He would do anything for you."