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Show Page HILL TOP TIMES 10 6. 1979 July Air Force first lady visits Mrs Allen talks of AF life, expresses concerns By Betty Jones The first lady of the Air Force is a blonde, d grandmother with a ready laugh, the charm to win friends easily and a natural blue-eye- tr i' f U i 1 I ': t t most of the enlisted men are working; therefore, the time that they have extra is so limited, they don't want to spend it away from home. They're going to spend it with their dignity one would expect to find in the wife of Gen. Lew Allen, Jr., chief of staff. Mrs. Allen greeted enlisted women of Hill AFB last Friday while on base with her husbands." The subject of the money crunch turned the interview to Mrs. Allen's support of charitable activities. Teresa Village husband for an overnight stay. The shaded patio of Thornton Recreation Center was the setting for the informal meeting, the first stop on the first lady's agenda. THE CENTER STAFF arranged an attractive table featuring a bowl of varicolored summer flowers, cookies in pastel colors and, as a deterrent against the onslaught of dry desert winds and weather, cooling pink punch. CMSgt. Jerry L. Riordon, senior enlisted advisor to the Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, was on hand to welcome Mrs. Allen and to introduce her to the enlisted women. Despite her busy schedule and the late arrival on station of her plane, Mrs. Allen demonstrated her talent for and enjoyment in meeting people. She generously consented to an interview. spic-and-sp- an - f i - y "I like to encourage people to support Teresa Village and Air Force Village, in that f -- , order," she said. "Of course, I think local charities probably must come first because the Air Force people need that good relationship with the community, just as they would support their communities if they weren't in the Air Force," she continued. "BUT TERESA VILLAGE really needs help," Mrs. Allen said, identifying the program as one most important to her. "I think it's a wonderful place. I love it there. I find the people there are really happy. "You have to realize that all of our men who died prior to and including Korea left what they thought was an adequate income for their wives. You must realize, too, what that dollar is worth today. Then you can understand that those widows just do not have the money they need to get by ."They really do need to move into Teresa Village," Mrs. Allen said with feeling. "And they're getting more and more of the and including officers' wives, too, pre-KorKorea. They are in dire circumstances. You wouldn't think they are, but when that dollar just isn't worth what it used to be, and they're left with only insurance. . . it's a shame. Teresa Village is worthy of everyone's support." ON ARRIVAL Friday afternoon at Hill AFB, Mrs. Allen was greeted at planeside and then accompanied by Mrs. Murphy, wife of Maj. Gen. John J. Murphy, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, and by Mrs. Rohr, wife of Brig. Gea Davis C. Rohr, commander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW). Her visit with enlisted women at Thornton Recreation Center was followed by an Officers' Wives' Club tea in her honor at the home of Col. and Mrs. Michael Moore. Colonel Moore is commander of Hill AFB. Mrs. Allen's Saturday morning activities included a visit with NCO wives. She departed with her husband following his completion Saturday morning of an 6 orientation flight provided by the 388th TFW. 100-degr- Spouse, no. Wife, yes. She made it clear she has no argument with the term, "Air Force wife." She readily dismissed any connotation of marriage to an institution, countering a question with another question and a winning smile, "What's the alternative? 'Spouse'? T d rather be called wife'." CONSIDERING current trends, she said, "Granted, if I had it to do over now, I might include a career in my life, like so many young women today. I can certainly see the difference in young women today and young women of my day. . . I can see it in my own children. 'Today, I'm making myself be satisfied," she continued. "The, very sad thing I see among some of my peers is that they decide they've missed out on everything in life because they weren't career women. They let themselves become miserable. "And who do they blame?" she asked. She provided the answer to her own question, "Their husbands." Realist . Mrs. Allen's sense of reality was demonstrated in her comments on retirement of Air Force career men and the void some feel they encounter. "There are classes for these men designed to help them make the transition. But, I think, if the men can go back to work again, that's the best thing." SHE PUNCTUATED her statement with laughter and a paraphrase, "After all, you don't marry them for lunch. . . for better or for worse, maybe, but not for lunch! I can't imagine having Lew at home 24 hours a day." The Aliens spend their limited leisure time together attending plays and enjoying the outdoors. Family vacations are a highlight. "We're looking forward to a week at the beach when all the children are coming home," she said. "We do enjoy Washington," Mrs. Allen said of her husband's current assignment. "I was born in Washington," she explained. "It was my mother's home also. My father was in the military so, of course, I didn't live there exclusively, but Washington is 'home.' .We live on Fort Meyer now and have a panorama of all of Washington. It's just beautiful!" Spacious home THINKING OF their years of service in many locations as they raised a family, she commented, "We have more space now on our first floor than we had in our entire house in Albuquerque when all five children were at home. ' 'Who's there now? she asked with a smile. She again supplied the answer, "Nobody. . . 4 Barbara Allen, wife of Gen. Lew Allen, Jr., Air Force chief of staff, greets enlisted women of Hill AFB during her visit here. The Informal meeting was the first among activities scheduled In her honor last weekend. CMSgt. Jerry L. Riordon, senior enlisted advisor to the Ogden Air Logistics Center commander. Introduced the first lady of the Air Force to the enlisted women gathered on the patio of Thornton Recreation Center. (US. Air Force Photo by Susan Hawn) I except an old dog." Mrs. Allen then spoke of their younger son. "Jimmy's home for the summer. He left his stereo at school, so his records are stacked around the living room where we do a lot of entertaining. . . and he sprawls on the floor . . . and it's wonderful. I enjoy it," she added with a mother's satisfaction. Mrs. Allen was asked to name distinctive characteristics of Air Force family life. "NEVER HAVING BEEN a 'civilian,' " she answered, "I don't really know any other way of life, but I think the young Air Force couple may have more of a sense of belonging, more of a feeling of family. They, perhaps, feel more involved with each other." She warmed to the subject "I think it's important that they get to know each other so that they can understand each other's needs and wants. . . so that they can help each other. ea Mrs. Allen expressed full and concern about the financial compassionate problems young Air Force people are facing, a reflection of the money crunch felt in all of society. She included in her concern enlisted families, young officers' families and single Air Force people. The plight of servicemen's wives, especially, commands her attention. "THE WIVES SO OFTEN have to go outside the home for employment now. I can certainly understand that. It's so expensive, for example, in the Washington area, that the girls may not want to leave their homes and children, but they have to. . . to help support the family," she said. Of by wives in traditional Air Force activities, she said, "The wives of F-1- on Wives learn more "I think one of the things I wish the young Air Force wife would do would be to learn more about the Air Force. . . and her husband's job. "You know," she said, "I was among some general officers' wives who recently were 'people's program' at the given a two-da- y Pentagon. It was super! We'd never been given the opportunity to learn so much about the Air Force. "I KEPT THINKING. . . if the young officers' wives, the young enlisted wives, the young people, could have the same thing, they could really understand what's going on. . . "It's a new program. I hope on Saturday when Daddies can babysit so mornings there won't be an extra babysitting expense we can offer this to young wives," she said. "Everything is covered: the Air Force mission, the challenges, the problems and what the Air Force is doing to try to deal with the problems. You know," she emphasized, "the ones who get involved and learn about and also the things that might be wrong learn what is being done they are not the ones who do the complaining. They can realize that the problems are recognized and are being worked." , - ' ' i j v- - i- - - if p ' ; ' I wm. t r rmmmmmn 11 J JIZ Seated on the patio at Thornton Recreation Center, Mrs. Lew Allen, Jr centers Mrs. John J. Murphy (I), wife of the Ogden Air Logistics Center commander; Mrs. Davis C. Rohr, wife of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing commander; and enlisted women are briefed on planning for and utilization of single airmen dormitories. Col. Michael W. Moore, Hill AFB commander, seated left, joined the women and the chief. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Susan Hawn) |