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Show ODDM0B i s,t:cials COLLECTION! Vol. 38 No. 48 Friday, November 30, 1984 UTAH OGDEN, Retirement ceremony today Met Bott By Freida Sickinger OO-AL- C Public Affairs Office Col. Joseph H. Battaglia, a man who has been described as "ten feet tall" and "a leader who has made his mark time and time again," will be honored by members of the ..Hill AFB staff and community as he leaves his Air Force duties. A veteran of 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force and former commander of the 2849th Air Base Group, Colonel Battaglia will retire from active duty today at 2:30 p.m. in Bldg. 590, the 419th Tactical " Fighter Wing hangar. The ceremony will be conducted by Maj. - . Gen. Charles McCausland, commander, . Ogden Air Logistics Center. As commander of Hill AFB from June 13, 1980 until Nov. 16, 1984, Colonel Batorganization taglia led the military-civiliain all activities regarding transportation, security, civil engineering, administration, religiousr morale, welfare and recreation and all other base support services that "made Hill AFB safe and enjoyable for all military and civilian personnel working ! and living here. . leader-Colonel to Battaglia's Attesting ship qualities during his tour here are the many awards won by organizations within the air base group. One of his most unprecedented success-- r es was the high rating that was received from an Air Force Logistics Command Management Effectiveness Team in 1983. nreeir "I've never known a man as concerned about the quality of life of all personnel, be they military, civilian, dependents or retirees," said Maj. Gen. Charles McCausland, commander, Ogden Air Logistics Center. "He's done much to improve our life style. "It's readily apparent as you drive around the base and see the new construe-- . tion and improvements made under the Spruce Log Program," he continued. "In the short time that I've been here, I know of the respect and esteem that the enlisted force hold for him. He is their friend as well as their commander. "He is proud of the Air Force and-haenhanced our image with his dealings with community officials. He never tires of telling the Air Force or Hill AFB stories to any group of people. He has truly earned his title of 'Mayor of Hill AFB,' " the general said. In addition - to Colonel Battaglia's achievements here, his wife, Ruth, has also played an important supporting role. She has furthered her education as a student at Weber State College and taken an active part in volunteering and staffing at the Women's Crisis Center at the Ogden Young Women's Christian Association. She earned thejWoman of the Year Award in Community Service for the Military at the first annual YWCA Women of the s -- n . Year banquet The rating was the highest and first to be, given to an AFLC air base group in recorded history. The rating culminated in the 2849th Air Base Group receiving the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The inspectors examined every area of the support being provided by the air base group and on the rating charts it was noted that "none were found lacking." Other awards received were: . p The General Thomas D. White Environmental Award The Secretary of Defense Environmental Program Quality Award Gen. Robert D. Curtin Award for the best Civil Engineering Squadron in the Air Force .v Best Security Police Squadron in the ' Air Force Best Vehicle and Operations and Maintenance Branches in Air Force Logis. last spring. "...a man who has been described as 'ten feet tall' and a leader who has made his mark time and time again it : J- . '. " tics Command auditor at Wilkins Air Force Depot, Air Force Logistics Command Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Award for best Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs Best Disaster Preparedness Program in Air Force Logistics Command and Tactical Air Command Best Mobility Program in Tactical Air Calif. " In September 1 960, he was upgraded to the KC-13- 5 aircraft and assigned to the 922nd Air Refueling Squadron, Wright-Patterso- n AFB, Ohio, serving as an instructor navigator and wing standardization evaluator. While on this assignment he earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Dayton. The Hill Top Times is an unofficial newspaper published every Friday under exclusive written agreement with the Hill AFB commander in the interest of personnel of Hill AFB of Air Force Logistics Command. It Is published by MorMedia Sales, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Air Force. .Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers In August 1966, he was assigned to the 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 5 aircraft Offutt AFB, Neb. as an RC-13- , , navigator until August 1968. he received of In September that year, an Air Force Institute of Technology sponsored E ducation with Industry assignment with Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif. In August 1969, he was assigned to Vietnam, where he flew 145 combat missions in the EC-4- 7 aircraft with the 362nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron from Pleiku and Da Nang ABs. He served as chief, standardization evaluation navigator for the squadron. Returning to the U.S. in August 1970, Colonel Battaglia was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterso- n AFB, as a production officer in the Deputy Chief of Staff for Maintenance and as Executive Officer in that organization. In August 1974, he was assigned as vice commander and chief, Industrial Directorate, Military Aircraft Storage and Disn AFB, position Center, Ariz. In September 1977, he became commander of that center. On June 13, 1980, he became commander of the 2849th Air Base Group. Colonel Battaglia is a master navigator with more than 5,000 flying hours. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He is married to the former Ruth A. Tol-li- s of Perth Amboy, N.J. and they are parents of six children: Gail, Karen, Lisa, Joe, Mary and Beth. Following his retirement, Colonel and Mrs. Battaglia will relocate to Sacramen- - Davis-Montha- . In December 1956, he entered navigator training at Ellington AFB, Texas, and was then assigned as a KC-9- 7 navigator under Strategic Air Command with the 320th Air Refueling Squadron, March AFB. ' base-group.- Shel- by, Ohio. Command Best Airfield Management Program Not one to assume greatness, Colonel Battaglia has repeatedly given credit for any accomplishments or successes realized to "the men and women of the air However, without his leadership and dedication, many would have been Colonel Battaglia was born in Jersey City, N.J. and graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. in June 1954, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration. He received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and entered the Air Force in October 1954. His first military assignment was as an Col. Joseph H. Battaglia to, Calif, where he will be employed. herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression of the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements, including supplements and inserts, in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Air Force of products or services advertised. Vv vXvXv.v |