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Show 2 Hilltop Timet 'NEWS March 15. 1991 Ctmp of deployment, but the meetings were bittersweet "I was glad to see he, but she was doing too good. The secret's out she doesn't need me," said Andra, with a short laugh. Nina disagrees. "Yes, I do. I need him for moral support, for everything I just need him in my life." "I found myself wishing I had something to do 24 hours a day, so that I didn't have time to wonder how they were or what they were doing," said Andra. "And I wished for a hot pas- by Donna Davis Hilltop Times staff writer SSgts. Andra and Nina Batie went to Saudi Arabia on separate assignments within one week of each other. Tears and worry are the norm, "just like for everyone else over there," said Andra. "You find out that everything comes down to family. "I cried when I found out she had been deployed. I walked and cried for at least an hour," said Andra, already deployed as a fuels system technician. "I cried when I got to visit her while we were there and my little girl was missing. And I cried when I had my arms around my whole family when she got home." Nina, of the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, said she cried too many times to count. At least eight people contributed to keeping the Baties on assignment. Nina's mother and father helped with everything Nina needed while they were gone. Her sister and brother-in-laserved as daughter Tekea's famiSomeone back home watched the ly. house, while friends wrote their checks for them. "Family again. We couldn't have done it without family and friends." Tekea is only three, but one of her words is "TDY." She enjoyed the "vacation" at first, but soon missed her mom. "She proved to be a good military kid. She's adaptable more than we thought," said Nina. How did Tekea help her mom and 04 V ' ( ) ' mm V - ST 4. ) trami sandwich." Andra arrived in Indiana a week ahead of his wife, and waited there with their daughter until time to meet her plane. "When my arms were finally around my whole family again, all I could feel was relief. A big sigh from down deep inside me," said Andra. "I started imagining all kinds of things plane crashes, accidents everything. Then, all of a sudden, she was there. I didn't have to imagine or be strong. I knew we were together. I could feel them in my arms," he said. "I felt like crying," said Nina. "You did cry," said Andra. "We were a unit again, not in three different locations all over the world," V A' w dad? "I made brown cookies." Choco- late chip, her dad translated. Tekea was born 4 months pre- - U.S. Air Force Photo by SSgt. Robert Horgreovet Back in the USA SSgt. Nina Batie, left, of the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, and her husband, SSgt. Andra Batie of the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, talk to a reporter at the Salt Lake International Airport upon their return from Operation Desert Storm. mature, so worrying about her has been something her parents have done the whole three years she's been part of their lives. "I've never left her," said Nina, "and to go not knowing how long..." Her voice softened, then came back strong. "It was not easy." Thirteen Hill AFB master sergeants were recently selected for promotion to senior master sergeant. Those selected were: Vincent P. Crispo, 2849th Air Base Group; William R. Copp, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Larry B. University. A special meeting will be held the first week of April to provide details. Officers wishing to host two or more cadets should call 2nd Lt. Maureen Glenn Mangum, 1881st Communication-Compute- r Systems Group; Samuel M. Condron III, 2892nd Distribution Squadron; Mildred L. Kaseeska, 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron; Josephus Jr., 2849th Security Police Squadron; Chester W. Mikesell, 6514th Test Squadron; Ronald D. Busby, Field Training Detachment 533; Gregory R. White, 388th Component Repair Squadron; Arthur J. Beach, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron; Dennis J. Mowry, 388th EMS; Charles H. Brown Jr., 388th Aircraft Generation Squadron; and James E. Oliver, 388th AGS. Air Force-widthere were 23,599 master serfor geants eligible promotion. A total of 1,706 were selected for promotion to senior master sergeant during fiscal 1992 for a 7.22 percent selection rate, said officials at the Air Force Military Personnel By-nu- at Ext. Chapel sponsors concert The Hill AFB Protestant Chapel will host Son Praise Youth Choir from Valley Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane, Wash., in a thanksgiving concert in recognition and celebration of the troops returning from Operation Desert Storm. The concert, scheduled for April 4 at 7 p.m. in the base chapel, will consist of inspirational music, testimony and drama, under the direction of Rick Stafford. The free concert is open to the public. For more information, call the base chapel weekdays from 7:30 a.m.-p.m. at 4 6. Local businesses and communities will hold Project Homefront to show appreciation and support to the immediate family members of those serving in Operation Desert Storm. The event will be held March 30 at the Salt Palace Convention Hall from noon until 5 p.m. There will be food, games and entertainment as The Company Grade Officers Council needs officers of any grade to host cadets April for the Project Warrior Olympics. Cadets will arrive Friday evening, participate in athletic events on Saturday and leave Sunday morning. 12-1- 4, f trongth Through 777-210- Proioct llomefront slated Host for cadots sought Combat iogltflca Hilltop Times Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of well as valuable resources on hand, such as infor- mation about support groups, counseling, budgeting and the Red Cross. For more information, call Jan Bates at 534-543- 5. O IIIII club sponsors raco Registration begins Sunday at 9 a.m. for the Hill Sports Car Club of America race. Racing begins at 11 a.m. at Parking Lot 1. For active duty racers, the first time is free. Cost is $5 for club members and $8 for thereafter. Contact Mark Adams Ext. 71552 or for more information. non-membe- rs Center. &mZr 76976. m e, -- "I found out how soft everybody is when it comes to family," said Andra. "I got comfort from the people around me the guy who's never seen his baby, or whose wife is sick you know you're not the only one who's making a big sacrifice. "Like I said," Andra said, shaking his head. "Everything comes down to family." They shut the house down, parked the cars, and sent Tekea to Indiana. "One advantage was money saved on utility bills," said Nina. The Baties were one of a few couples lucky enough to arrange to see each other during their nearly eight months The purpose of the Olympics is to promote the warrior spirit through friendly competition and camaraderie among Utah's three Air Force Reserve Officer Training detachments at Brigham Young University, the University of Utah and Utah State Masffor sorgoanffs promoted she said. 825-302- 5 Special section sot up for vouchers A customer service area in Bldg. 1239, Room 15, just north of the southwest door, has been set up by Accounting and Finance for processing Operation Desert Storm temporary duty assignment vouchers. Call Sgt. Jon Danielson, Ext. 74833 or 74834, for more information or to schedule a unit briefing. Dental appointments limited Family members of active duty service members not on the Dependent Dental Plan will now be eligible for an examination during the sponsor's birth month. policies are back in effect, so these exams are on a very limited space availaPre-deployme- nt ble basis. Those on the DDP may get exams from participating civilian dentists. For more details, call the Hill AFB Dental Clinic at Ext. 71846 or 77011. f Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, U3er or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff, Bldg. 1102, Room 118, Ext. 77321. Hill AFB Editorial ftaffft Public Affairs Offictr Chief, Inttrnal Information I' ';; Staff Writers Lt. Col. Portia McCracktn Marilu A. Trainor Gary Hatch Debbie Christiansen Donna Davis DoarfHnos Editorial and "around the hill" hems, noon Thursday, week before publication; sports articles, noon Monday, week of publication; classified ads, 2 p.m. Wednesday, week of publication. For more Information, call the editors, Exts. 7732177322. |