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When Erick Dixon joined the U.S. Air Force, he was driven by patriotism.

"It may sound like a corny answer," Dixon said, "but I felt like I wanted to give something back to my country."

Not only did the Air Force provide an outlet for giving back to America, but it also turned into a career for Dixon, who retired this month after more than 20 years of service to his country.

Dixon graduated from Moffat County High School in 1984. He lettered in football, wrestling, track and choir.

He joined the Air Force in 1986 and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

Dixon attended technical training at Lowry Air Force Base east of Denver, and graduated with honors from the 462nd weapons technical training unit.

His first assignment was with the 614th aircraft maintenance unit, Lucky Devils, at Torrejon Air Base in Spain. He worked as a weapons load team member on the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Dixon transferred to the 34th aircraft maintenance unit, Rude Rams, at Hill Air Force base near Ogden, Utah, in 1989.

In July 1989, he met Tracy McKinley on a blind date, and they were married seven months later.

Dixon was deployed with the 421st aircraft maintenance unit, Black Widows, to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990.

After his tour stationed in the United Arab Emirates, Dixon was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Upper Heyford in England, transferring to the Fighting 55th Fighter Squadron when the 77th was de-activated.

Erick and Tracy had their daughter Kimberly in 1992 and son, Michael, in 1994, who stayed in England with their mother while Erick went to Aviano Air Force Base in Italy for operation Deny Flight, and to Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort.

In January 1996, the family returned to the United States with an assignment at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho working on the B 1B Lancer bomber.

Erick later served at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for Operation Enduring Freedom, and he and Tracy had another daughter, Jessica, in 1997.

"You realize you are part of something big," Erick said about Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. "You've got to do your job because people are depending on you."

Erick and his family are currently residing in Roy, Utah, where Erick is planning to get an education in outdoor recreation at Weber State.