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Show July 18, 1996 Page 3A Fighter Country Briefly i Suggestion Awards Members of the 388th Fighter Wing received $5,650 in cash awards for suggestions approved in April through June. Individual awards in clude: 388th Maintenance Squadron: MSgt Dennis K. Bell $75, MSgt Robin A. Brock S25, MSgt Owen R. Powell $25, MSgt Kim L. Wagner $75, MSgt Ronald J. Williams $350, TSgt Thomas Brzezinski $25, TSgt Stephen M. Couture $200, TSgt Kevin R. Firestone $ 125, TSgt Ronald W. Hoffmann $100, SSgt. Linda Caauwe $150, SrA. Roger J. Bosse $350, SrA. Michael J. Bricco $50, SrA Travis W. Limbaugh $50, SrA. Richard J. Montag $75, SrA. Edward C. Shaffer $150, SrA. Timothy N. Smith $350, SrA. David C. Trexler $50, SrA. Eric V. Wertz $350, A1C John E. Koday $125, A1C Eric J. Macchiaverna $175, A1C Shanna D. Pouncy $125. 388th Logistics Support Squadron: MSgt. Earl Minshew $100, MSgt Steven W. Walters $762, TSgt James D. Barnes $100, TSgt James M. Juntunen $350, Gordon R. Bingham $50. 388th Operation Support Squadron: Katherine J R. Wayment $13. 388th Fighter Wing: TSgt Mark N. Johnson $13. 34th Fighter Squadron: Capt John CHeyne $762. 421st Fighter Squadron: SSgt Wiliam J. Dubois Jr. $250. 729th Air Control Squadron: SSgt Keith E. Jones $60. For more information on the suggestion program, contact Tom Gates, 388th suggestion program manager, at Deployed addresses 34th Fighter Squadron Any Servicemember 4044th OG34th Fighter Squadron APO AE 09894 729th Air Control Squadron (Kuwait) Any Servicemember 4414th ACS (P) Camp Doha APO AE 09889-990- 0 729th Air Control Squadron (Peru) Any Servicemember Unit 0736 DetS APO AA 34001 NCO Academy The following 388th Fighter Wine technical sereeants graduated from the NCO Academy, Kirtland AFB.N.M.. Juh11: 4th Fighter Squadron: Douglas S. Leeman and Robert M. Sixes 388th Logistics Support Squad roa: Richard E, Hommell 388th Maintence Squadron: Brian K.Kehoe 388th Fiehter Wine: Mark A Howes 729th Air Control Squadron: Scott J. Hunter 34th FS: Michael A Kenny General Running finishes up an F-- 16 Photo by SSgL flight on the 388th Ramp. A. Rinfa flew the at Hill, he remembered When the 12th Air Force Vietnam. Today, Maj. Gen. Nels Running ... his days flying combat missions over vice-comman- F-- 16 der Recalls 30 years of changes By SSgt J.C Woodring .A. Editor, Fighter Country First Lt Nels Running set foot on Thailand in March 1966 joining the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing for his first operational assignment Thirty years, six promotions and more than 3,800 flying hours later, Major General Running, 12th Air Force vice commander, had a chance to fly with the wing's 4th Fighter Squadron making him "feel like a lieutenant again. It was awesome," he said. Since the general's last operational flight in June 1986 at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, he's only had a chance to drop six at LukeAFB, Ariz., earlier this year. Ten years bombs once after that Korean flight, from the cockpit ofaTightin' Fuujin" 6, much to his delight, he attacked the Utah Test and Training Range with twice that amount Ever since pilot training in 1964, Running knew he was "a committed lifer" just for the run he was having. "There was no one going to take that away from me," said the in an Force Air Academy graduate. "Every flight I've everhad aircraft has been good, just some are better than others." Since being appointed brigadier general in 1988, Running has found the Air Force isn't as fun as it used to be. "Life in general isn't 'fun' when you make general," he said. "The reason they select you as a general officer is because they think you have potential to solve problems." When Running was selected for his first star. Gen. Larry D. no good Welch, Air Force Chief of Staff; advised him, "There is news. From now on you're going to solve problems." Life was simpler for Running as a lieutenant in the 388th's 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, where he flew combat missions over Vietnam. in the "My assignment with the 388th was my best assignment then better was the because Not any none. flying bar AirForce what I did with the 4th, but it was combat and that is what it's all about," said the general "It was a natural progression. You went through pilot trainwent to fight in ing. You went through fighter training. Then, you the combat in a Cadillac of a jet is figuratively referred to as the "Thud," but RunThe ed calls it that "with pride-Etchhe only says ning in his mind is the thrill of flying coupled with the pain of loss. "It was a very intense time. In less than five months, I flew 1 10 combat missions with the 388th, and a whole lot of my squadron mates didn't come home," said Running. The typical day in Korat began with a 3:30 a.m. briefing and a n take off... destination Vietnam. A long three to or grieve. later, the missions would return to celebrate 05 six-hou- rs pre-daw- "nwv mwH tn lact farmer F.vervone would cheer if YOU brought everyone back and mourn if you didn't," said Running. "Then, everyone would gather in the club. There was a lot of hard drinking, camaraderie and singing songs." The hooches they lived in were two people to a room and Runmonths. ning shared his with four different pilots in less than five Running's first roommate was shot down two weeks after he arrived to Korat Four weeks later, it was his squadron commander. Then, the other roommates. "After my fourth roommate was shot down, I thought the bunk was jinxed, so I requested a maintenance officer. No more pilot roommates," he said. Since Vietnam, the Air Force and the nation it serves have rirainatirally changed, according to Rimnine. "Where goes the nation, there goes the Air Force," he said. "I think the Air Force has a leg up on most of the other services in terms of vision ind applying technology in a smart way." when it came to weapons delivery, is For instance, "the said Running. "Asa a. very basic aircraft compared to the not the machine comwind for to calculate had yourself; pilot, you sIca you weren't or fast or shallow, were vou If steep foryou. puting hit to your targets." going In contrast, the system is rather complex with a constantly computed impact point or "death dot" "You can be steep, shallow, fast, slow, high or low and your bombs are still going to go onto the target And it's going to do it religiously." eliminates large amounts of aircraft The accuracy of the F-needed for a job, according to Running. "With a low probability of kiH, we had to send lots of four-shi-p where toflights each stacked in larger missions to attack targets, could that put the send to a were ship we single single ship, day if bombs on the target," he said. career than Changes have made the servkx a increcniiTcthivc Today's when Running was a flight (rrniniandrr as a first lictnra officers need to aggressively manage their careers to get ahead, according to Running. ; "I was afforded opportunities that a lot of today's lieutenants arenX" he said. "The young troops of today are so much aheadofwherelwaa when I was a lieutenant What they have to do bUsten and learn from those who went ahead of them to pick up on the experience part of it," he said. Servicemen and women of all ranks have risen to the chalF-1- F-1-6's 16 lenge in Running's eyes. "I'm really impressed with the young people in the Air Force folks in all today," said Running. "I get exposed to a whole lot of different fields in 12th Air Force. I'm impressed by their competency and their attitudes." |