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Show Page 3 a Fighter Country Chief bids farewell to Air Force family After many jobs, friends, memories and 30 of service, BrentTurner retires years By A I C Aimee G rob en Editor, Fighter Country A young man with dark eyes and a fresh face sat in his world history class listening to his teacher talk about the Vietnam War. A shiver of patriotism shot through his spine and it was then that he decided to join the United States Air Force so he could unite with thousands of other airmen fighting in a foreign country. Thirty ..,. later, years CMSgt. Brent Turner says P it to farewell his family the Vi ill r HHnri.lMB CMSgt. BrentTurner Air Force. "As I look back on my life in the Air Force I have a few regrets, but I can't really remember them because they've been covered by the things I'm so proud of," said Turner, who before his May 1 9 retirement was the weapons manager of the 388th Operations Group. After joining the Air Force in 1965 as a weapons mechanic, Turner had his hopes set on going to Vietnam but the closest he could get was Germany. After his tour in Germany he was still gung-h- o about fighting m Vietnam but instead was sent to Korat, Thailand, where he served in the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. v i V. "At that time there were a lot of mixed feelings among Americans sent to ? t t - : i fight in the war. Toward the end, many started to question why they were even there. But, while we were there we did our part and remained patriotic," said the chief. That same commitment to loyalty has won Turner the respect of those 5N who him for and those him. above work Whether he was at a highlight or an obstacle in his career, he held fast to one philosophy. "My father told me a long time ago that when you do something, Photo courtesy of CMSgt Brant Turner whether you like it or not, do it the best Turner stikes a pose in front of a Corvette when he was a young airman. you can. That has worked for me." He didn't always have aspirations "I sort of took the ball and ran. It Being the ranking chief on Hill has to become a chief, but once he decided, both him lot of research and discussion. I earned harmless and took a there was no stopping him. "After I made respect master sergeant I decided I would be the prodding from his peers. "He's forgot- just took the opportunities I was given ten more than most people will learn in a and used them the best I knew how," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. That didn't work out so I settled for lifetime, " said CMSgt. Tom Neilson, the chief. He has made a lot of friends along superintendent of Wing Plans and Exerchief." it "That all and man has he's the seen cises. way who think a lot of him. "That Even in hard times the chief mantaught his people right." guy has had just about every job there is. aged to do his best. One of the most difone We are really losing one heck of a guy Turner At the was youngpoint, ficult challenges came after he was seon Spangdalm AB, Germany; and the civilian world better stay on their lected for senior master sergeant. "I was est chief a senior master sergeant select, but had to top it off, he was also the senior en- toes because Brent Turner is coming," listed advisor. "I had to lead all the other said CMSgt. Michael Pattarozzi. the about five master sergeants working under me. That was difficult. Itjusttooka chiefs. It was a challenging time for me. wing's senior enlisted advisor. The loss will be felt on both sides. lot of tactfulness; sometimes I just had to I really had to prove myself to them, and chiefs are hard as to "It's you probably know, just like a part of your family going put my foot down and let them know I away. It will be a big loss," said the chief. impress." was the boss," said Turner. Briefly May Graduates of the NCO Academy TSgt Keith Stoughton - 388th OSS - 388th LSS TSgt. James Green - 34th FS TSgt. Steven Little TSgt Bobby Long TSgt Scott Gibson TSgt. Larry Parish --729th ACS - 84th RADES 421st FS Singles Barbecue The base chapel singles will be sponsoring their first singles barbecue 1 Tuesday June 6, 5:30 p.m., Building 5 8 Pavilion. All ckrm dwellers are welcome and encouraged to attend. Changes-of-Comman- d Lt Col. Steven Barach will pass the leadership of the Operations Support Squadron to Lt Col. Jeffrey Gordon May 30, 1 p.m. in Hangar 37. The Operations Group change-of-comma- nd 3 1, will be held May Hangar 37, at 9:30 a.m. Col. Michael Kocmer will be relinquishing command to Lt. Col. Timothy Murphy. All wing members are invited to both ccrernorues. For a wing diagram reflecting the 2. sec Page changes, chain-of-ccrnma- f 1 1 Flight commander steps up to lead maintenance squadron "... ByAIC Aimee Groben Editor, Fighter Country Passing the guide-o- n signified the end of one era and the beginning of another for the 388th Maintenance Squadron. Maj. Ted Eaton took control of the Maintenance Squadron in a ceremony 15. May Eaton was selected for lieutenant colonel at the last promotion board. He took over from Lt Col. Steve Schumacher who is headed for Air Combat Command headquarters to become chief of the Logistics Acquistions Branch. As he relinquished command he encouraged Eaton with these words, "You've got the best squadron in the Air Force, keep up the winning attitude." After serving as commander of the 3 8 8th 's Training Management flight for the last eleven months Eaton looks forward to the challenge set before him. "Men and women of the 388th, I am proud to be your commander. I can honcstlv sav if it weren't for vou I change-of-comma- nd wouldn't be standing here todav," he said. Eaton is a graduate of the University of .Alabama, Administrative Officer's School and Staff College; he received his commision through Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas. He has served in many positions ranging from maintenence operations officer, 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Homestead AFB, Fla., to chief of the Aircraft Maintenance Division at Headquarters Alaskan Air Command. More recently, he was the chief of maintenance at the 90th Fighter Squadron Alaskan Air Command, before he was assigned to his most recent position as commander of the training flight Since he didn't have far to move, the commandcris already familiar with the folks in the wing and the way they carry out its mission. He plans on carrying on the legacy of the squadron by being the best in the Air Force. "I can promise ou one thing; wherever we are called and whenever we are called to deploy we will continue to go," he said. Maple Flag continued from Page United Kingdom and the United States. U.S. forces total over 650 of the approximately ,500 people here. k This exercise is broken down into three pluses to allow each pilot to experience eight to 10 missions flying with other countries, said Oram. "We need to train in large, multinational forces because that's the way the future wars will be fought" During each of the two daily massive bunches, about 90 aircraft take off within an hour. Each jet makes the 1 5 minute trek to the range w here it battles the "en1 two-wee- -- emy." The enemy consists of 1 8 aircraft fighting as an 100-miopposing force above the 3 range. The access the to easy range and the electronically-simulate- d missile attacks and other threats make the train- 0-b- y- le 1 ing realistic. "It's really nice to have such easy access to the range," said Oram. "Because of the rural area, there 's no commercial aircraft to work around. We're here all by ourselves." For the entire two hours of the mission, the skies over the Cold Lake are filled with aircraft cither coming and going. Within minutes after the last jet takes off, the first one returns and prepares to land. Just because the planes land and the control tower announces, "recovery complete," docs not mean the work is done. The pilots review the mission to see what can be learned while the maintainor start preparing the aircraft for the next mission. |