927th Air Refueling Wing in the fight

Vol. 40, No. 19
Friday, May 13, 2011
927th Air Refueling Wing in the fight - pages 3, 4, 13, 16, 17
Photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
Senior Airman Robert Dougherty, a reservist with the 927th Air Refueling Wing, sits with his wife Jessie and two boys, Logan, 4, and Zack, 3, before deploying to the East Asia Theater of Operations recently. Airman Dougherty and other reservists tasked with the deployment left their families and jobs in the Tampa community to serve their country overseas.
COMMANDER’s CORNER
Condolence and thanks; Team MacDill standouts for the week
by Col. Lenny Richoux
6th Air Mobility Wing commander
I want to extend sincere condolence to the
families and friends of the two fallen heroes
we honored last week, Marine Corps Lance
Cpl. Ronald Freeman and Air Force Maj.
Raymond Estelle II.
Thanks to all of the servicemembers who
rendered honor to them and to the personnel
who did the footwork to support the dignified
transfers.
This month we will hold a commemorative
ceremony for Memorial Day. As we prepare for
this time of reflection, we collectively honor
the military members who made the ultimate
sacrifice. We will remember these two service
members and so many others who’ve paid that
price.
May is also Military Spouse Appreciation
Month—thank you all who were involved
in making last Friday’s Airmen and Family
Readiness Center’s Open House a success.
Last Sunday, I hope you had a chance to
recognize or were fittingly recognized for the
importance mothers all over have in family
life and as pillars of stability. I did, and I continue to show gratitude for my mother and to
the mother of my children, my wife, Michele.
Although the month of May was proclaimed
the month we show appreciation for military
spouses, anytime you reflect on the support
you’ve received is a good time to say, “Thank
you.” We should be in the habit of appreciating
those around us we consider family.
For this week’s “shout outs” I want to thank
the members of the 6th Security Forces
Squadron for organizing base participation
in last week’s 2011 National Police Week Fallen Police Officer Memorial 5K Run in honor of
all fallen military and civilian officers.
The 91st Air Refueling Squadron pilots and
the boom operator who assisted by supporting
the “Leadership Hillsborough” tour deserve
recognition for their effort in sustaining MacDill AFB community relations ties. Recently
Capt. Justin Capper, Capt. Michael Avalos and Airman 1st Class Shaun Conners
showcased the KC-135 Stratotanker by explaining the flying mission. The Airmen and
civic leaders enjoyed the day and enhanced
close bonds between MacDill AFB and the
Hillsborough community.
I also want to thank, 2nd Lt. Alessandra
Horban, 2nd Lt. Jamie Brunette, 2nd Lt.
Megan Meenan, 2nd Lt. Scott Heinlein,
1st Lt. Jessica Wruck, 1st Lt. James Scott,
1st Lt. Rachael Mooney, Chaplain (Capt.)
Meoshia Sanders, Capt. Troy Novak, and
Capt. Paula Clark, members of the base’s
Company Grade Officers Council who did
a phenomenal job hosting the CGO Profes-
Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz
Col. Lenny Richoux, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, presents Ms. Herta Pila with a plaque
honoring her as the guest speaker for the Holocaust days of remembrance at MacDill Air
Force Base chapel. Ms. Herta Pila is a Holocaust survivor who now lives with her family
in Florida.
sional Development Conference in Tampa this
month.
6th Medical Group’s Senior Airman Tawny Uemura-Oquendo public health member
and PIMR administrator created a security
clearance tracking system and database update scheme that increased IMR rate for the
base substantially.
I am proud to serve with you in the finest
Air Mobility Wing on the face of the planet!
COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE
The Action Line provides a two-way communication between the 6th Air
Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. A 24-hour recording
service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) or e-mail [email protected]
MacDill Thunderbolt
Publisher: Denise Palmer
Editor: Nick Stubbs
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Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101.
NEWS/FEATURES
Your T-bolt Today
Commentary
There’s a lot going on in the world, isn’t there?
News/Features: page 4
by Col. David Pavey
927th Air Refueling Wing commander
Fallen hero comes home
Regardless of what exactly triggered your
decision to serve this nation, I can’t help but
believe that fundamentally you wished to
make your nation better; stronger. What we
call ‘our nation’ is ultimately our extended
and immediate families, families within families. We strive for them; ensuring our nation
does not “perish from this earth,” as Abraham
Lincoln stated nearly 150 years ago.
You are members of that extended family,
making up the best Air Force on the earth.
You have faced many challenges recently,
and it doesn’t look as if they are going to stop
MacDill Community: page 28
As we roll through another spectacular
Tampa Bay area spring, there’s barely time to
acknowledge the passing season. It would be
coy to say there were some “unsettling things”
going on in the world. Anyone who pays any
attention to recent world events should note
current events are replete with example of
wars, natural disasters, and governments
toppling. Change seems constant, and much
of it’s not good. Still, regardless of all this,
the things that make our lives relevant don’t
change.
Events, movies, more...
National Terrorism Advisory Stystem up and running
1099
1086
NORTHBOUND
TRAFFIC DETOUR PLAN
DALE MABRY HWY
News/Features: page 10
DALE MABRY GATE
513
Grab-it Device.
Area of Work
Road construction details
Road Closed.
GATE DETOUR
INTERSECTION DETOUR
Cones Between
Opposing Traffic
NORTH BOUNDARY BLVD
News/Features: page 16
Rev. Date: 2 Mar 2011
British cadets drop in on 927th
See COMMENTARY, Page 12
Special to the Thunderbolt
Job Opening at DCC
The Davis Conference Center has two openings for a staff sergeant – technical sergeant.
Any AFSC (5- or 7-skill level) may apply for the
positions with a report date of June 1. Duties
include tasks required for the daily operations
of the DCC:
• Support to event planning activities, including meeting set up, rearranging conference
rooms, and posting informational signs
• Responsible for identifying and reporting
maintenance issues
• Responsible for working with Conference
Coordinator to execute daily schedule
• Communicate directly with management
staff on conference center projects
Because of its technical nature and the investment in training required, applicants are
expected to remain in this position for one year.
Qualifications:
• Possess excellent customer service skills
• Able to communicate with staff and guests
in a professional manner
• Ability to make sound decisions and multitask
• Detail oriented
• Professional demeanor and appearance
How to apply:
Contact Mr. Kevin Thompson, DCC Director, at 828-6601 or e-mail: Kevin.thompson-02@
macdill.af.mil. Individuals must obtain their
organizational commander’s approved release.
On April 20, Secretary Janet Napolitano visited New York City to announce the implementation of the Department of Homeland Security’s new National Terrorism Advisory System
(NTAS) to replace the color-coded threat advisory system and underscore the critical role
of all Americans in keeping our country safe.
The Secretary announced the NTAS on Jan.
27, during her “State of America’s Homeland
Security” address beginning the 90-day transition period with state and local governments,
law enforcement, private and non-profit sector
partners, airports, and other transportation
hubs.
The following NTAS web pages, http://www.
dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm, http://www.
dhs.gov/alerts, and http://www.dhs.gov/alerts
provide information about the new system, including:
NTAS
National Terrorism Advisory System
www.DHS.gov/alerts
u A Public Guide for Citizens
u A template for NTAS alert
u A link to the press release announcing
the launch of NTAS
u A link to a blog posting on NTAS
u Examples of the new NTAS posters that
will appear in airports and other public
venues to replace the color-coded images
As Secretary Napolitano says in her video
message to all employees, “Everyone has a role
One of several new airport poster designs used
in conjunction with the NTAS.
to play in our shared security, and the new
NTAS system will provide Americans with the
information they need to play their role. At
DHS, we are proud of the work we do to secure
America, and we are proud to work with the
American people to secure our communities.”
NEWS/FEATURES
Solemn return
Airman and family members pay
proper respects to U.S. Air Force
Major Raymond G. Estelle II as his
remains arrive on the flightline
at MacDill Air Force Base May 6.
Major Estelle, 40, died April 27, at
the Kabul International Airport,
Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
from gunfire. He was assigned to
Langley Air Force Base, Va.
Photo by Airman Basic David Tracy
The roots go deep: An interview with one of the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron’s first commanders
by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
927th Air Refueling Wing
This is the second of a three-part series on
Louisville, Ky. native Col. Eugene Kinnaird,
former commander of the 63rd Troop Carrier
Squadron. Today the unit is the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron, stationed at MacDill Air Force
Base, Fla.
For Colonel Kinnaird, flying didn’t just provide him with a livelihood; it also linked him to
love. Were it not for his enjoyment of acrobatic
flying, he may never have caught the attention
of a young university student. More than 70
years later, she sits by his side on the couch in
their home and tells her part of the story.
“I was in a Spanish class at the University
of Kentucky when a plane came flying in between the buildings,” Jean Kinnaird said. The
professor, Dr. Hernandez, shouted ‘There’s my
friend Kinnaird!’”
When Colonel Kinnaird returned to the
airfield at Fort Knox, he was met by his commander.
“He was none too pleased with me,” Colonel
Kinnaird said.
Colonel Kinnaird asked how the commander
knew it was him and not one of the other pilots
flying that day. The commander said that the
plane’s number, written on the wing, was reported.
“I asked if they got it from the bottom of my
wing,” Colonel Kinnaird said. He chuckled as
he answered himself.
“They said no, they got the number from the
top of my wing!”
While’ barnstorming’ was more common in
that era, the military did not turn a blind eye.
For his aerial acrobatics, he was ordered to live
in a pup tent on the runway beside his airplane
for a week. Fortunately, Colonel Kinnaird’s
mission at the University of Kentucky was a
success - he and Jean have been married for
70 years. Although there were fewer divorces
in the 1940s than there are today, they were
not unheard of. When some friends of the Kinnairds’ were going through a divorce, the young
couple made a pact with each other:
“Dad importuned Mom that they agree to
never let anything come between them that
would threaten their union. They will celebrate
71 years this August!” said Thomas Kinnaird,
one of Kinnaird’s sons.
According to another of Colonel Kinnaird’s
sons, the young pilot made her his first priority
then and every year throughout their marriage
- his faithfulness to her stands as a testament
to their union’s success today.
With no immediate use for military pilots
like Colonel Kinnaird prior to World War II, he
exited the military and worked as an airline
pilot for American Airlines, flying DC-2s. The
job was going well, and he had high seniority in
the new company. One day, he received a telegram from the president.
See ROOTS, Page 16
HEALTH
New TRICARE program covers
young adults under 26
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) is now open for
enrollment with coverage beginning May 1, 2011.
Uniformed services dependents under 26, unmarried, and not eligible
for their own employer-sponsored health care coverage may be qualified
to purchase TYA, which offers TRICARE Standard coverage for monthly
premiums of $186.
A premium-based TRICARE Prime benefit will be available later this
year.
Dependent eligibility for TRICARE previously ended at age 21, or age
23 for full-time college students. Similar to provisions in the 2010 Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act, TYA extends the opportunity for young
adults to continue TRICARE health care coverage, as long as their sponsor
is still eligible for TRICARE.
Complete information and application forms are available at www.tricare.mil/tya. TRICARE officials encourage beneficiaries to explore all possible health care plan options and costs when choosing a plan that best
meets their needs.
Those considering TYA should determine if they are eligible before completing and sending in an application. The application and payment of
three months of premiums can be dropped off at a TRICARE Service Center or sent by mail or faxed directly to the appropriate regional health care
contractor.
Beneficiaries can find out where to send their form and payment by filling out the simple profile at www.tricare.mil to get information tailored to
their specific location. Once the initial payment is made, monthly premiums must be paid in advance through automated electronic payment.
When the application is processed, TRICARE coverage will begin the
first day of the following month. However, since TYA was “fast-tracked” to
begin enrollment as soon as systems changes, forms, premiums and other
rules governing the program were approved and in place, TRICARE ManSee TRICARE, Page 12
1099
DALE MABRY GATE
Maintenance of the Outbound Vehicle Grab System at Dale Mabry Gate is
scheduled for May 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
North bound traffic on North Boundary
Road will be diverted to one southbound
lane during the maintenance. There will
be one lane of travel in either direction.
Please exercise caution through this area
during this time.
1086
NORTHBOUND
TRAFFIC DETOUR PLAN
DALE MABRY HWY
Dale Mabry Gate
maintenance, closure
513
Grab-it Device.
Area of Work
Road Closed.
GATE DETOUR
INTERSECTION DETOUR
Cones Between
Opposing Traffic
NORTH BOUNDARY BLVD
Rev. Date: 2 Mar 2011
927th reservist takes charge of Ali Base unit
by Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
ALI AIR BASE, Iraq — A Reservist deployed
from Florida took command of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group from a Guardsman deployed
from Minnesota during a change of command
ceremony April 16.
Col. Theodore Mathews Jr., a veteran KC-135
Stratotanker pilot with more than 4,000 flight
hours, took command of the group from Col. Jim
Johnson who served as the commander since
October 2010.
“I am truly honored and humbled by the
opportunity to lead our Airmen in executing
the final phase of operations in Iraq,” Colonel
Mathews said shortly after taking command.
“My goal [during this transition] is to successfully and safely accomplish the Operation New
Dawn mission while mentoring the Iraqi Air
Force.”
As the Air Force’s senior commander at Ali
Air Base, Colonel Mathews is in charge of more
than 250 Total Force Airmen in two squadrons
Photo by Staff Sgt. Ben Harper
More than 75 servicemembers and civilians attended the 407th Air Expeditionary Group’s
change of command ceremony April 16.
and six flights. Previously, Colonel Mathews
served as the 927th Air Refueling Wing vice
commander at MacDill Air Force Base.
“It’s important that Airmen here remain vigilant and confident as we meet all challenges
both big and small throughout the final phases
of transition,” Colonel Mathews said. “I have the
utmost confidence and pride in all of you and
know your performance will be nothing less
than excellent.”
During his six months as 407th AEG commander, Colonel Johnson led the effort to reduce
the unit’s footprint at Iraq’s most significant
southern airfield by nearly 40 percent. He also
provided leadership and guidance to hundreds
of Airmen who supported more than 19,000
combat missions, transported more than 40,000
passengers and delivered more than 4,000 tons
of cargo.
After handing over the group’s guidon to Col.
Michael Jordan, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing
vice commander who presided over the ceremony, Colonel Johnson will return to his Minnesota
Air National Guard unit, the 133rd Airlift Wing,
in St. Paul, Minn., where he serves as the vice
wing commander.
TRICARE
From Page 6
agement Activity will allow eligible applicants to be covered for the full
month of May as long as enrollment forms and payment are received (not
postmarked) by the regional contractor prior to May 31, 2011.
Those eligible for TYA who have been saving receipts since Jan. 1, 2011,
in anticipation of the new program, can also pay all premiums back to
January to purchase coverage retroactively.
After getting a welcome letter and enrollment card, dependents and
their sponsor are encouraged to visit uniformed services identification
(ID) card issuing facility to obtain a dependent ID card. The card will assist in identifying the dependent as eligible for health care, prescriptions
and access to military installations. Nearby ID card facilities can be found
through a link at www.tricare.mil/tya.
The signing of the National Defense Authorization Act in January 2011,
brought TRICARE in line with the provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and enabled the extension of excellent TRICARE coverage to this new group. The TRICARE Management Activity
appreciates all government partners who helped make this benefit available so quickly.
To get e-alerts on TYA and other TRICARE news, sign up at www.tricare.mil/subscriptions.
commentary
From Page 3
anytime soon. This nation, this Air Force, works because you and your
families make it work. Thank each other. Appreciate each other.
It just so happens that Mother’s Day was last week. While you were
thanking your family, I hope you took the time to make this a special
occasion to thank mom. Moms are pretty much the reason human civilization has survived all these years. If you, (like myself) don’t have
your own mom to thank, thank someone else’s mom - they’re special.
By the way, I THANK YOU for your excellent service and sacrifice.
roots
From Page 4
“I got a message saying, ‘You are ordered to
report to Patterson Field at your earliest convenience, no later than 24 hours from now,’” Colonel Kinnaird said with a laugh. He did as he
was ordered, and joined the ranks of the more
than 16 million servicemembers in the United
States who fought in World War II.
Colonel Kinnaird and Jean learned quickly
that they would rarely call one place home for
long while he was serving his country.
It was at this point in 1942 that Colonel Kinnaird was assigned to the newly formed 63rd
Troop Carrier Squadron, a unit he would soon
come to command. Started as a unit comprised
solely of a private, it was quickly assigned pilots and support personnel. Decades later, the
unit would be renamed the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron (ARS). Although the 63rd ARS
now calls MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. home, it
originated in Kentucky. Like many units during this time, it was quickly moved to where it
could be of the best use in training its people
for upcoming battles.
For Colonel Kinnaird and his men, this was
Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg stands as a testament
to the pre-war buildup of troops. In the early
1940s, the base went from hosting about 5,000
personnel to more than 60,000. The 63rd Troop
Carrier Squadron was among those shuttled
there to practice reconnaissance and paratrooper deployment missions.
“I flew gliders at Fort Bragg, and there was
a thunderstorm that killed everyone on board
an aircraft (carrying paratroopers),” Colonel
Kinnaird said, sadness filling his voice. In one
of the hardest duties of his life, he served as
the notification official for the servicemembers’
newly-widowed wives in the area.
Colonel Kinnaird slows his speech and looks
around the room, meeting the eyes of everyone
there. He recalls going house to house on the
base, and how the women all knew him from
the unit and were happy to see him until he
gave them the news.
“If you think you’ve had a hard deal, I’ll
match that against any deal you’ve ever had
- to tell a young married woman that her husband has been killed.”
After a few more moves, Colonel Kinnaird
was informed he would see duty in the Pacific. He kissed his wife and 2 year-old daughter
goodbye, and put on a pendant that he would
wear throughout his time in the war. Getting
there, however, would require a 16-hour flight
to Hawaii - not an easy task in the early 1940s,
and especially not in a C-47.
“A C-47 held 800 gallons of fuel, only half of
what it would take to get to Honolulu!” Colonel
Kinnaird exclaimed. “They had to put an 800
gallon tank of fuel in the fuselage.”
The gross operating weight for a C-47 was
25,000 pounds. This was the maximum weight
the plane could hold and remain operable and
maneuverable, not taking into account the very
real possibility of encountering Japanese forces
along the way.
“Before we left ‘Frisco,’ my plane was weighed
in at 31,000 pounds!” Colonel Kinnaird said.
On the takeoff, he said that to this day, “I don’t
know whether I ran out of runway, or whether
the plane just kept going.”
In addition to being overweight by 6,000
pounds, the six men onboard had to share a
five-man life raft. Colonel Kinnaird hoped he
had enough fuel for the remaining 16 hours of
flight to Hawaii.
After refitting in Hawaii, Colonel Kinnaird
and his squadron flew to New Caledonia. Although they maintained strict radio silence
and censors monitored their outgoing mail,
they were still met with a surprise when they
landed on an island that took up just over 6,000
square miles.
“We thought we were super-secret with our
codes until we listened to Tokyo Rose on the radio,” Colonel Kinnaird said. “When we landed,
she said ‘Welcome to the Islands, all you guys
from the 63rd’!”
The 63rd’s tour of duty in the Pacific would
be full of surprises - like many of the Allied
forces during World War II, it would be how
much they could accomplish with so little. “We
were part of a transport with the Marines, Air
Corps and Navy. We all came together to complete the mission,” Colonel Kinnaird said.
Although he was very young for a squadron
commander by today’s standards - Colonel Kinnaird was 25 years old and a captain when he
landed on New Caledonia - there were other
squadron commanders who were lieutenants,
some younger than him. When not flying missions, the young men did what young men are
known for doing - finding ways to make trouble.
Although not the high-quality spirits they
were used to, for being on an island somewhere
in the South Pacific, they made do. When asked
how such a concoction tasted, Colonel Kinnaird’s memory served him well:
“It tasted wonderful.”
According to Colonel Kinnaird, when his unit
See ROOTS, Page 22
Taking care of ‘the next
generation’: British Royal
AF Cadets visit MacDill
by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
927th Air Refueling Wing
MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. - In early 2003, tens of thousands of
American military forces were fighting fierce battles up the highways and backroads of southern Iraq.
It was the more than forty-thousand British forces that remained
largely in the South, holding hard-earned positions and protecting Iraq’s valuable oilfields. This was not the first time Britain and
America’s military worked together, nor would it be the last. Most
recently, 15 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve cadets and seven
staff members visited the 927th Air Refueling Wing to learn about
the unit’s mission and the tasks both air forces share.
The day began for the group with a brief on the role the 927th
ARW plays at MacDill with its partner, the active-duty 6th Air Mobility Wing. Wing Commander Michelle Tinworth, a Royal Air Force
officer at Central Command, explained to the British cadets the important role Central Command plays in international military operations.
“America and the U.K. are known to work well together and the
visit enforces this,” said Flight Lieutenant John Wohlgemuth of the
RAF Volunteer Reserve. “The representatives from Central Command informed the cadets of the importance of working with other
countries and having face-to-face relations with them, to keep relations sweet as possible and conflicts to a minimum. These cadets
have seen first-hand the U.S. and U.K. working together to keep us
safe.”
In addition to meeting the RAF Wing Commander, the cadets also
received a brief from Lt. Col. Michel Escudie, the community relations officer at Central Command. It is Colonel Escudie’s job to work
with the dozens of nations represented at the command’s international coalition, making him a subject-matter-expert in coalition
military relations.
“These cadets are gaining a more strategic perspective on the
military’s role in world affairs,” Colonel Escudie said. “I think these
cadets, like many people at MacDill and in Tampa, don’t realize the
size and value of coalition forces here. They are professionals and
are a crucial part of our team.”
The cadets were then on their way for a tour of the maintenance
facility the 927th ARW uses to keep its fleet of KC-135 Tankers operational. At the facility, the cadets received a demonstration in how
the machinists can take a part no longer in production and reverseengineer it using a computer program. From there, the students
were able to see a water jet demonstration, where the same computer blueprints generated are used to guide a computerized metal
drill to fabricate the part.
“It was good to see the workshop fabrication facility and seeing
how spare parts were duplicated and made. It is something for the
mechanically-minded to think about as a possible career,” said Flight
Lt. Wohlgemuth.
See CADETS, Page 26
Photos by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
(Top) Staff Sgt. Michael Johnston, an aircraft metals technology machinist, briefs 15 visiting cadets
and seven staff members from the British Royal Air
Force Cadets program. Johnston, a native of Orlando, Fla., demonstrated the Air Force’s ability to
use computers to reverse engineer aircraft parts no
longer in production. The cadets and staff spent the
day on MacDill learning about the United States Air
Force Reserve. (Right) Sergeant Johnston, scans
the hand of British Air Cadet Aaron Thompkins,
of Enfield, Britain. Johnston demonstrated the Air
Force’s ability to scan a piece of equipment, or a
human hand, into a computer system so it could be
engineered and re-created.
Off we go!
Photos by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
Staff Sgt. Robert Quinn and his wife Erin said their goodbyes April 28 before Robert, an avionics technician with
the 927th Air Refueling Wing, deployed to the East Asia Theater of Operations. Robert is a reservist with the unit
and had to put his two businesses on hold while he serves his country.
Photos by Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
(Above) Senior Airman Robert Dougherty, a reservist with
the 927th Air Refueling Wing here, sits with his two boys; Logan, 4, and Zack, 3, before deploying to the East Asia Theater
of Operations. (Right) Sergeant Quinn and his wife Erin are
not ignoring each other moments before he deploys, rather,
they use their phones to set up the Skype connection that
will keep them connected during the months Robert is away.
2011 Earth Day inspires green events at MacDill
Courtesy photo
Volunteers squirmed their way through the dense mangroves along the southern shoreline of
MacDill, going the extra mile to gather trash collected among the trees.
Courtesy of MacDill Environmental
Inspired by Earth Day, folks across MacDill
Air Force Base set out to improve our community by engaging in a number of earth-friendly
projects during the waning days of April. Events
ranged from planting trees for Arbor Day, to
educating our youth on the benefits of native
plants, to a thorough cleanup of our magnificent
coastline. Summarized below, these events underscore the strong commitment of base members to protect and preserve the base’s natural
resources which, in return, provide invaluable
ecosystem services to benefit mankind.
To kick off a week-long celebration of the
planet Earth, MacDill celebrated Arbor Day in
grand style April 20. In honor of the special day,
15 students from Ms. Shelly Wresinski’s fourthgrade class participated in tree education and
awareness activities and planted five native
trees around the playground area at Tinker Elementary School. Col. Lenny Richoux, 6th Air
Mobility Wing commander, and Robert Hughes,
6th Civil Engineer Squadron Director, were on
hand to read the official Arbor Day Proclamation and talk to the students about trees on
base. MacDill’s commitment to maintaining a
healthy urban forest has consistently earned a
Tree City USA certification from the Arbor Day
Foundation and the Florida Division of Forestry
for the past 14 years.
On Earth Day, April 22, more than 100 military and civilian volunteers participated in the
2011 Coastal Cleanup. Volunteers ranged in age
from 6 to 66, and represented a wide range of
organizations including all of the Groups from
the 6th Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Cub
Scouts, and U.S. Water Services. Everyone was
enthusiastic about doing their part to clean-up
our coastline. The large group was divided into
four teams, each tackling a separate section of
shoreline. Some sections were traversed easily,
while others involved climbing through mangroves, crossing tidal creeks and braving thousands of hungry mosquitoes. The shortest but
most treacherous route was dubbed the dreaded “Commando Section” and only the most adventurous participants dared to tackle this intimidating tangle of mangrove roots, vines, and
muddy marsh grass beds. In all, more than 2.5
miles of shoreline were scrubbed clean as volunteers collected more than 1,500 pounds of trash
and floating debris. The most common items
found were plastic and glass bottles, Styrofoam
cups, and lost articles of clothing. A whopping
500 pounds of pressure treated lumber was also
collected and taken to the base transfer station
for recycling. The most unique item found was
See EARTH DAY, Page 24
roots
From Page 14
was flying supplies onto the Pacific Islands and flying wounded troops
off of them, there was nothing they wouldn’t carry.
“If we could get the door shut (on the aircraft) we’d try to takeoff,”
Colonel Kinnaird said. He added that when he thought of all the battles
the troops were fighting on the islands his heart went out to them. The
same look crosses his face that must’ve been used to convince his crews
to fly on such dangerous missions in a dangerously overweight aircraft
as he says “You can’t turn those people down.”
While Colonel Kinnaird never participated in an aerial dogfight, he
did see his share of combat airfields. Military intelligence did its best to
let Colonel Kinnaird know which islands to avoid flying over, but sometimes that wasn’t enough.
“There’s 10,000 islands, and we never knew which ones the Japs were
on,” Colonel Kinnaird said. “When we flew into Munda, an island north
of Guadalcanal, we never shut the engines down. The Japanese had artillery that could come into the airport.”
Although he avoided being wounded during his time in the Pacific, not
all of his planes were so lucky. On a few occasions, he would land a plane
safely on a runway only to find bullet holes punched in the bottom of his
aircraft.
Combat supplies and wounded troops weren’t all Colonel Kinnaird
and his squadron delivered, however. Kinnaird remembers flying Bob
Hope to a USO show. Colonel Kinnaird remembers the female singer
that accompanied the star more than Bob Hope himself, however.
From the way Colonel Kinnaird speaks of Gen. Douglas MacArthur,
it would be easy for a person to think that they knew each other personally. That wouldn’t be the truth, but it is pretty close. While Colonel
Kinnaird and his men stayed in foxholes and huts, they were usually in
eyesight of the cottage that General MacArthur and his family lived in.
Colonel Kinnaird speaks about General Macarthur with the same tone
he would use when describing an old friend - always referring to him as
‘Dugout Doug.’
“There are a thousand pictures of Dugout Doug walking ashore in the
water,” Colonel Kinnaird said. He is quick to add “But you can bet your
house and lot there were ten thousand soldiers ahead of him waiting on
the beach!”
Although many troops who served on the islands never saw rest and
relaxation passes to nearby Australia and New Zealand, Colonel Kinnaird’s unique position as a pilot and a squadron commander allowed
him to see both.
“Six days of every 60 we went on R and R,” he recalls. “They just
couldn’t spare us any more than that.”
When in Australia, Auckland was a favorite stopover for Kinnaird and
his fellow officers. When asked what they did while on R&R from living
in huts and flying seven days a week, his answer is simply:
“We ate!”
On the way back to the war zone, Colonel Kinnaird would often carry
back things the troops couldn’t get on the island - fresh fruit and meat.
By the end of combat operations, the 63rd was part of a group that
earned six purple hearts and one Silver Star for their work in the war.
EARTH DAY
From Page 20
40 feet of 2-inch diameter marine
rope which the Boy Scouts kept
to reuse for future tug-o-war contests.
The participants worked hard
all morning to improve the health
and appearance of the base. Trash
can be a serious problem for boaters, fish, birds, and other wildlife in addition to diminishing
the aesthetic value of the base.
The MacDill Coastal Cleanup effort was just one of more than 35
cleanup sites around Hillsborough
County that were part of the 2011
Great American Cleanup event.
Thousands of tons of trash were
removed across our country as
groups participated in the Great
American Cleanup event, sponsored locally by Keep Hillsborough
County Beautiful and Tampa Bay
Beautification. Thanks to all those
who came out for this worthwhile
event.
Rounding out a week of earthfriendly activities, on April 27,
students at MacDill’s Youth Center participated in several environmentally themed activities
conducted by 6th CES support
contract staff. First, the children
designed logos and created slogans that they felt represented
important environmental themes
on base. Some of the slogans created by the youth included, “Green
Isn’t Mean, It’s Clean” and “Let
the Flowers Grow.” Mr. Eric Vichich also introduced the children
to several species of plants native
to Florida and led an interactive
discussion on their uses and benefits. The students were interested
to learn that planting native species saves water, reduces maintenance and the need for fertilizer
and pesticides, provides food and
shelter for wildlife and helps support the many pollinators that we
depend on for agriculture and food
production.
After an engaging slideshow, the
students were good and ready for
some hands-on experience with
native plants. The following day,
the students planted native plant
material in a student-maintained
landscape bed at the Center. Individuals visiting the Youth Cen-
ter can now get up close and personal with red-tipped cocoplum,
coonties, muhly grass, bluestem
palmettos, dotted horsemint, blanketflower, and beautyberry. The
students also planted scarlet milkweed which, while not native, is an
important food source and larval
plant for the monarch butterfly.
The students also learned about
landscape design, transplanting
and plant care. Students and employees at the Youth Center enjoy
the new plants so much they plan
to insert some of these species into
their home landscapes. MacDill’s
Environmental Flight engages the
base’s youth population to develop
a conservation ethic in the next
generation of Airmen and ensure
sustainability for our community,
our Air Force and our nation.
All of these events highlight
the importance of individual participation in caring for our natural
environment. Sometimes environmental problems are perceived to
be global issues that are beyond
the control of the individual. The
volunteers that participated in the
Courtesy photo
A volunteer hauls off debris found
among the mangroves along the
MacDill shoreline.
2011 Earth Week events proved
that one person can make a difference, and a motivated, socially
conscientious group can make an
even bigger difference!
CADETS
From Page 16
Another RAF staff member, Flight Sgt. Daz
Wilkinson said “I myself found it very interesting how engineering (Airmen) manufactured
parts for their aircraft, as coming from The Royal Air Force, we had to manufacture components
to keep equipment working as well.”
One of the youngest cadets was 16 years old,
and was also impressed with the machinist shop.
“You have quite a few nice toys to play with,”
said Cadet Aaron Tompkins.
No 927th ARW tour would be complete without an up-close view of the workhorse of the Air
Force, the KC-135 Stratotanker Jet. Pilots, crew
members and maintenance mechanics were on
hand to greet the cadets and answer any questions they had about the aircraft, built before
any of the cadets were born.
The crew of the KC-135 was extremely good
at explaining their jobs and roles, said Flight Lt.
Wohlgemuth.
When the cadets finished their tour of the
aircraft, they departed the ramp for the control tower to see the air traffic simulator and
walk around the actual air traffic control room.
One of the cadet’s flight sergeants said the control tower was the most educational part of the
tour.
“I’d say the best bit was the visit to the tower. Just looking at the technology they had was
amazing,” said Cadet Flight Sgt. Daniel Stride.
“The tower simulator was also very good. Being able to simulate any eventuality must be so
beneficial to the members of the Air Force.”
The tour concluded with a stop at the base’s
Marina and beach so the British cadets and
staff could enjoy something they don’t see much
in Britain - warm water and hot, sandy shores.
As the visit drew to a close, the staff commented
on the value of bringing young cadets on tours
of foreign military installations.
“The cadets gained a valuable insight into
the day to day running of an airbase, not just
that aircraft fly there, but also what goes on
behind the scenes to keep those aircraft flying,”
said Flight Sgt. Wilkinson. He added, “It is important for cadets and staff to mix with foreign
militaries, because if they do join one of our services they may have to work with military personnel from different countries, with different
backgrounds and customs.”
The group’s leader, Flight Lt. Wohlgemuth,
thought the tour had an impact that will stick
with cadets throughout their military careers.
“These cadets are our future: ‘The Next Generation’ is our slogan,” he said. “Some cadets
had never been abroad, most had seen the RAF
at work whilst visiting bases in the U.K., but
to be invited to a U.S. Air Force base and to be
shown around, how exciting is that for them?
All the cadets were very impressed.”
Retiree Activities Office - A message from the director
by Col. Billy Graham (USAF Ret.)
Friends,
We have lost two longtime members recently. Ms. Letha Edwards passed away
April 1 and Senior Master Sgt. Lloyd “Lindy”
Lindemuth (USAF Ret.) passed away April
22. Ms. Edwards, widow of a retiree, was
a senior counselor from 2003 until her recent passing. Lindy served as a volunteer
senior counselor and deputy for administration at the MacDill RAO since 2004. Many
of you might have been in frequent contact
with Letha and Lindy since they had spent
numerous hours manning the RAO kiosk at
the Exchange Food Court. We are grateful to
these volunteer counselors for their service
and dedication and will surely miss them.
We wish to extend our sincere condolences to
their families.
The 2011 Air Force Retiree Council meeting (I am a member) has been canceled due
to lack of funding. Field issues will be han-
dled by e-mail. We hope to meet next year.
Retiree Appreciation Day is scheduled for
Sept. 24. This event will be held in conjunction with the Army and Air Force Exchange
“Still Serving” sales event. The RAD event
will feature many free services to retirees in
addition to special discounts and promotions
offered by AAFES. More details will be provided as we approach this date.
As a continuing, year-round service, the
Retiree Activities Office (located next to the
commissary) will prepare and electronically
file your taxes – at no cost to you! This service is available to military retirees, widows/
widowers, and active duty members in all
branches of service. Contact the RAO tax office at 813-828-0248 to set up your appointments.
The MacDill RAO is currently in need of
counselors. Come join our volunteer staff. We
are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m., except on holidays. The telephone
number is 813-828-4555.
MACDILL COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Friday
Arts & Crafts Center – Crafters
Corner
FREE Open Scrapbooking from
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Teens welcome!
Bayshore Club
Membership Breakfast from
6:30-9 a.m.
Seascapes
“Margaritaville” Membership
Dinner from 5:30-9 p.m. Members
Free! Reservations required call
840-2120.
Saturday
Child & Youth 6th Annual Conference
At the Youth Center starting at
8a.m. Reservations required call
828-2244.
Sunday
MacDill Lanes
King/Queen of the Hill at 2 p.m.
$25 entry fee.
Monday-Sunday
Bay Palms Golf Complex
Bingo Bonanza available everyday from 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. $1 a
card. Instant payout!
Virtual jump!
U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathan Copley, the Joint Communications Support Element parachute pack noncommissioned officer in charge, assists Capt. Raymond Funke, the 56th Medical Information Systems flight commander, with parachute simulation training during the Air Force Company Grade
Officer Professional Development Conference tour of the joint parachute facility at MacDill Air Force
Base May 3. The conference theme was, “Culture-Competence-Leadership.”
CHAPEL SCHEDULE
Tuesday
Airman & Family Readiness Center
Spouse-2-Spouse from 9:30-11
a.m. Open conversation about issues relating to deployments and
an opportunity to meet new friends.
Tuesday & Thursday
Bay Palms Golf Complex
FREE Active Duty Clinic from
12-1 p.m.
Wednesday
Short Fitness & Sports Center
Cardio Challenge from 11 a.m.noon. Sign up by the May 17.
Photo by Senior Airman Linzi Joseph
Protestant services
Sunday - 9 a.m. – Praise Worship Service
Noon – Gospel Service
Islamic services
Friday - 1:30 p.m. - Prayer Service
Catholic services
Saturday - 4:30 p.m. - Confession
5:30 p.m. - Mass
Sunday - 10:30 a.m. - Mass
Monday to Thursday: 12:10 p.m. - Mass
For all other faith inquiries or to view upcoming event information, call the Chapel at
828-3621 or visit the Web site at www.macdill.af.mil/macdillchapel
AT THE MOVIES
$4 for adults / $2 for children 828-2780
Friday - 7 p.m.
Saturday - 3 p.m.
Saturday - 7 p.m.
Limitless (PG-13)
Hop (PG)
Diary of a Whimpy Kid:
Rodrick Rules (PG-13)
Commentary
Dare to care
by Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr.
Air Mobility Command Commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Air Mobility
Command recently called up hundreds of Guard,
Reserve and active duty Airmen to support Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector.
We gave these Airmen between 4 and 36 hours
notice to get on an aircraft and forward deploy.
These amazing Airmen answered the call to protect freedom and innocent lives. But, the consequence of our expeditionary force is that we often leave families and loved ones behind and ask
them to pick up the pieces.
Right now a spouse of a deployed Airman is at
home alone and having a very rough day. Maybe
the children are sick, or the car broke down, or
a water pipe broke and flooded the basement.
While our bases have established a robust support network, it’s often hard for Airmen and families to know when to ask for help. At those times,
help needs to be delivered...sometimes right to
the front door.
One base with particularly harsh winters recently found a unique way to deliver help -- the
Airmen and spouse support network shovels
driveways for those Airmen who are deployed.
While shoveling the driveway, they also take the
opportunity to knock on the door and check up on
the Airmen’s families.
On one day a spouse was out shoveling a driveway and knocked on the door just to check in. He
found a mom with three sick children almost at
her wit’s end. He made a simple offer to pick up
groceries for her because he dared to care. That
offer of help, delivered when it was needed, made
a world of difference in one family’s life.
Although this great initiative can’t be implemented at every base, this example highlights
that we as Airmen and spouses should not wait
by the phone for those in need to call. We must
get a little bit nosy, find out what our Airmen and
families need and be there to deliver it.
Now, it takes a lot of courage for these Airmen
and spouses to reach out because our society has
changed over the years. When I grew up and new
families moved in, neighbors used to greet them
with plates of cookies. Today, many of us never
even meet our neighbors much less welcome interference from a nosy neighbor. The way we communicate with one another has changed too.
Thanks to technology, we can text and email
constantly, but we’ve also become more isolated
making it harder to actually physically reach out
to one another. Yet, as leaders we cannot follow
this societal trend. We must encourage and develop strong, connected Air Force communities, and
we must “dare to care.” I would offer Comprehensive Airman Fitness is just that simple - it’s about
reaching out to deliver a helping hand.
There’s a second story I want to share with
you. Just a few months ago, one of our Airmen
was going through significant personal difficulties. He began talking to the chaplain, and that
helped, but everyone in his office realized he was
still troubled. Then, one day he suddenly left work
and didn’t come back.
The Airmen who worked with him knew this
was out of character and something wasn’t right.
When he didn’t answer his phone, Airmen drove
to his house to look for him. When they arrived,
they quickly realized that although the garage
door was closed, a vehicle was running inside.
The group forced the garage door open and
found him passed out in his running car. Later,
medical professionals would tell them, he was only minutes away from being non-revivable. Recognizing when someone needs help and delivering
it -- even when you need to break down a garage
door to reach them - that is Comprehensive Airmen Fitness!