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Show Page 6 December HILL TOP TIMES 20, 1974 Inflation, the energy crisis and nationwide unemployment, some might find it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit this year. If that is the case with you, perhaps you might find General Robbie Risner, who spent a few Christmases as a POW helpful. He recalls in his book, Passing of the Night, that on his first Hanoi Christmas, he said to himself, "My reason for being here must be awfully important to be worth all of this." OFFER YOU HIS WORDS as my 1974 Seasons Greetings to you - recognizing they are not the standard holiday message - but feeling that perhaps these are not "standard holiday" times. I send you his words because I am convinced that this is an outstanding time of year or perspective, to evaluate the worth of the "all of this," the problems of our society and ourselves, against how important our reasons are for being here in the service of our country. When we do that, we find we have returned to the standard holiday thoughts "peace on earth, good will toward men." These are our real reasons - the source of our importance. I The Holiday Season is traditionally a "family" time for reunion and spiritual renewal. -a For some of you stationed overseas, all the "family" aspects of this Holiday Season may not be possible. However, your sacrifices, not only during Christmas but throughout the year, have done much to preserve the spirit and true meaning of this festive occasion. MOREOVER, holiday perspective and evaluation shows us that despite its being another difficult year of matching limited resources to do an ever increasingly difficult mission that we did it. We provided Peace on Earth, permitted good will toward men. The same perspective and evaluation should tell us that we have an even more difficult year ahead, but give us the confidence that we will succeed again, for the alternative is unacceptable. During my visits this year to our bases in the United States, in Europe, and throughout the Pacific, I have been deeply impressed with the spirit and professionalism of our men and women. I feel confident that we will remain equal to the challenges that will unfold during the coming New Year. - . Mrs. McLucas and I send warm, personal greetings to you and your family during this Holiday Season. - I THAT CONFIDENCE appears In just the few short months I have been directly associated with you, I have been convinced you are Americans, civilian and military, whose Christmas gift to your nation is a year round excellence of dedicated well-founde- hope that this Christmas, wherever you may be, will be memorable and rewarding. Through your dedication and skill, the world is closer to the reality of Peace on earth, good will to men." -- John L. - -- Maj. service. Your past year's performance has shown me and the world that you can meet the challenge and thus have earned the right to celebrate the happy holidays you helped guarantee for all. McLucas, Secretary of the Air Force - During the months since becoming Chief of Staff, I have had the opportunity to visit with many Air Force men and women, and I have been very impressed with what I have seen. The professionalism and dedication of members of the Air Force family, active and reserve, military and civilian, is well recognized throughout our great country. I am confident that each passing year will bring us greater reason to be proud of the United States Air Force and our service to our nation. AS W E CLOSE OUT A YEAR, we should likewise ap- possible. We should never cease to be grateful for that. We should be grateful too that we have meaningful work throughout the world. Each of our spirits should be bolstered in this holy season by the realization that our reason for being here is awfully important, definitely worth it all. The best from our house to yours. - Gen. William V. McBride, AFLC commander to do. -- Christmas is a special time of the year that focuses on the theme of willingness to give rather than receive. This concept should be of particular significance to us. who are in the service of our country, both military and civilian, as it is the wellspring from which our con- with us today. Consequently, many Air Force men and women the world over must again make the sacrifice of family separation that so many others have made in the past. tributions flow. If everyone would apply this spirit of giving to others in their own personal lives without expecting something in return, then "Peace on Earth" could very well be the great gift. BUT MY special thoughts and prayers go today to the families who constantly bear the burdenof loneliness and uncertainty, the loved ones of the brave airmen who are still missing in action. thanks for your dedicated service to the Air Force and the nation, and Mrs. Jones joins me in wishing you a very pleasant holiday season followed by a year of happiness and fulfillment. Gen. David C. Jones. Chief of Staff TO ALL of you my Quote "I believe that the strength of our national defense posture is our best insurance for maintaining a lasting peace. The peace that we know today did not come as a gift. It has been earned by the courage and sacrifice of your Armed Forces." Gen. George S. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I HAVE witnessed many personal sacrifices by those with whom I have worked and associated. To those dedicated men and women. I express my deep appreciation for maintaining the "spirit of Christmas" not just for a season but throughout every day of their lives. To each of you and your families, may your righteous desires and goals in life be fulfilled, especially during this time and season. I extend my best wishes for a most joyous and Merry Christmas to all and a happy and fruitful New Year. -- Col. Gen. Edmund A. Rafalko, Ogden ALC commander At this special time of the year, it seems appropriate that we should pause to consider how fortunate we are. We live and work in one of the choicest locations in this world's most beautiful country, a country whose abundance and opportunities have made all that we are preciate that we open a new opportunity to project the holiday ideals of Christmas throughout the next year, MOKE THAN any holiday in the year, Christmas is a time for families to be together. Unfortunately, the vision of true peace on earth which came with that first Christmas many years ago is still noi Christmas season, our enjoyment enhanced be by the realization that we have of it should 1974 presented. that tasks the done well a been It has good year and I congratulate each of you to our success. contribution on your r saw the completion of some seventy-fouNineteen such as the hospital, the new facilities new impressive control tower, the materiel processing facility and a number of others. Some outstanding management programs were also initiated in 1974. We developed a "new look" at NORS causes and corrections that USAF has now recommended for use on all weapon systems. Support to our customers suffered no degradation, even though we had to contend with some major inconveniences - problems such as runway closures, almost complete replacement of our mechanized conveyor system at the freight terminal and the testing of new systems. As usual, you were able to work around these conditions with little apparent turbulence. You have, in 1974, reaffirmed and enhanced the reputation you enjoy throughout the Air Force. You have also done an excellent job in a very vital program - energy conservation. This will continue to be a problem for a long time. Its seriousness is growing daily and we must be constantly mindful of the need to conserve in any way we can. One of the primary goals of curtailing operations at the base during the holidays is the conservation of energy. This will, of course, also result in cost savings. I urge each of you to support the holiday leave policy with a cooperative attitude reflecting the spirit of its intent. Mrs. Rafalko joins with me in wishing you and your families the merriest Christmas ever. We urge you. during this happy season, to be mindful of the source of all our blessings and hope that 1975 will bring an even greater abundance of joy and happiness to you. As we celebrate this Howard J. Andersen, Hill AFB commander The jobs we are doing here directly contribute to securing the continuance of these blessings that we and the nation enjoy. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, it seems fitting that we renew our commitment to the principles He taught and lived, many of which are embodied in the ideals that have made our nation great. Such a commitment should include the active support of these principles, not just a passive acceptance of them. My family joins me in the wish that you and your families will have a joyous Christmas and that the new year will bring you happiness and continued opportunity to achieve your life's goals. -- Brig. Gen. James I'. Mullins. Ogden ALC vice com- mander Key staff moves scheduled A new commander has been designated for the Sacramento Air Logistics Center (ALC), McClellan AFB, Calif. Maj. Gen. Herbert J. Gavin, now the deputy chief of staff (DCS), Maintenance, at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC), will report to Sacramento no later than March 1. He will succeed Maj Gen. George W. McLaughlin, who is scheduled to retire. Brig. Gen. William R. Coleman, assistant AFLC DCS, Maintenance, will move up to succeed General Gavin. .j.. Editorial policy Contributors This page is reserved each week for any Hill AFB employee who has something to to say. We welcome a reply i if t. . J any previously puDiisncu guest editorial or commentary on nearly any other subject worth writing about. Just type it out, triple spaced and send it to Hill Top Times OI. We reserve the right to edit and-o- r 203.10; All fo) refuse publication which material Q DD 0 of any in is questionable taste. Office of Information, Bldg. Room 108, Ext. 7321 1102, 0U Copy deadline, including photographs, is Monday before publication. If Monday is a holiday, the deadline is 10 a.m. Tuesday. 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