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Show B July 6, 2000 Fatal accident gives lesson for all airmen Editors note: The following article is an editorial written by an airman who was convicted of negligent homicide, drinking and driving and underage drinking. He wrote this letter from jail. My name is December F. Barcus, and I am assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D. am sending this letter from the Ward County Jail. Last August, I was involved in a drinking and driving accident that resulted in one death and four serious injuries. I was the driver with four passengers, and I was over the legal limit a test and data extractor unit which is used for trouble shooting jet start prob- connects lems. (Photo by Airman 1st for driving while intoxicated. Class Cindy Huston) was also under . The accident was not the result of excess speed or pur- posely erratic driving. was neither stumbling nor slurring. I took my eyes off the road for a moment, lost control of the car, was unable to regain control, and in the blink of an eye our car left the road and rolled over. One friend was killed and the three others, also airmen were injured, including two who broke their backs. almost lost my eye, and I had 105 stitches in my face, head and ear. I also broke my neck in two places. write this letter because I think it is important to get out ihe message that drinking and driving was wrong and illegal. Still, like many airmen 1 know, 1 felt could handle my alcohol and that 1 would never have an accident. 1 had a successful Air Force career and was always thank 21 Sands ACS, letting them know what the target was, if there were any friendly forces in the area and gave the fighters clearance to destroy the target. We are the backup for AWACS, said Capt. Jeffrey Wardell, 729th ACS mission crew commander. If they should have to cancel we will take over control and send information to the fight- the exercise was to strike assigned targets with precision guided munitions and to gain and maintain air superiority, said Maj. Mark Lafond, 34th FS pilot. During the scenarios, ground troops and fighters practiced dealing with the urgency of taking out live, mobile targets. This exercise required a joint effort on everyones part, added the major. The main goal during the exercise was to find Ways to shorten the amount of time it takes to destroy a target from the time it had been identified as a threat, said Major Lafond. Obviously when dealing with mobile targets, such as SAMS, if the response time is too slow, ers. the odds are greater that the missile will be launched ( 'onlnweit from Page A ation Center, which is controlled by 8th Air Force, Barksdale, La. It is there that the commanders rated the level of the threat posed by the missile. If the threat was high enough, the AOC sent an order down the chain to AWACS or the 729th We are the primary data link and communi- cation hub between the Air Operation Center and the fighters. Without us, the fighters wouldnt receive the information they need to complete their mission, said Captain Wardell. While the 729th ACS processed the information the pilots needed to find and destroy their targets, the 34th FS remained poised and ready to carry out its mission. Our role as blue forces (good guys) during before we get there, said the major. Although we can still destroy the missile launcher, it will be very difficult to destroy the launched missile before it could cause major damage. Exercise Roving Sands is an annual event, which spans across the U.S. and includes Camp Lejeune, N.C., Fort Bliss, Texas, Eglin AFB, Fla. and Nellis AFB. The exercise is sponsored by the U.S. Joint Forces Command, and executed by the U.S. Army Forces Command. 1 1 1 1 vided me. Now, I I to live with the fact that my friend is dead because of me. The scene at the accident is one that plays in my head like a nightmare that does not stop. Just moments earlier, we were having a good time, singing along tcGhe radio and then in a second my friends were all laying around the overturned car. The whole reason came into the Air Force was to change my life for the better. Now, my friend is dead, have a criminal conviction and I will be forever haunted by this accident, all because of a stupid decision that I made. will never be able to express how sorry I am or the thoughts that go through my head every night when I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning. The only thing I can do is devote my life to helping get this message out. I f I can prevent j ust one from person drinking and driving, this letter was worth writing. was a normal airman with a promising career one you would find at any base in the Air Force. If you dont believe something like this can happen to ou, read this letter again. Once, was you. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Critical Days of Summer program just started on May 27, and we are not off to a good start. We have already lost two of our Air Force family members in motor vehicle mishaps. The first fatality involved a staff sergeant driving a 978 Camaro and towing a motorcycle trailer with a motorcycle on it. The staff sergeant attempted to pass another vehicle when his vehicle struck a Suburban head-oThe staff serin was his and vehicle to his succumbed pinned geant He was not wearing a seat belt. Three other peo injuries. 23-year-- 1 n. Emm start operator was made when the operator attempted to avoid a small animal in the road while traveling at a high speed. This decision caused the operator to lose control of the vehicle. Finally, a poor risk decision w as made by the passenger, when the passenger decided not to wear a seat belt, which would have kept the passenger safely in the vehicle as it overturned. I implore each commander, supervisor, first sergeant, unit safety representative, and to impress upon all of our Air Force family members to make a concerted effort to use personal risk management. In a joint effort, we can all increase awareness of hazards both on the job and in the higji risk areas of summer recreation. Emphasize the risks in activities such as boating, sw imming, hiking, off-roa-d driving, and particularly, driving long hours on the highways to get to a recreational site. I do not want to lose another member of our ACC family. Working together we can make the rest of the 101 Critical Days of Summer fatality free. 20-year-- LANGLEYAIR FORCE BASE, Th i s y ear s 0 Va. ( ACCN S ) ple in the Suburban were seriously injured. The latest mishap involved a senior airman who was a passenger in a motor vehicle. While traveling at approximately 70 mph, the operator lost control of the vehicle when trying to avoid an animal in the road. The vehicle rolled three times. The senior airman was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. In both of these mishaps, reckless decisions to accept personal risks were made which resulted in loss of life. In the first mishap, the reckless decision was made to road while towing a trailer. pass a vehicle on a two-lan- e The extra weight the vehicle was pulling and the increased time it would take to pass safely were apparently not taken into account. Another reckless decision was made when the person decided not to wear a seat belt. In the second mishap, the operator made a poor risk decision by traveling 70 mph on a road designed for the maximum speed of 55 mph. A second poor decision by the have been convicted of negligent homicide, drinking and driving and underage drinking. will be spending the better part of the next year in jail. Long after the trial has passed and am released from jail, I will have COM ACC: 101 Critical Days of Summer off to bad By Gen. John P. Jumper Air Combat Command commander I I 1 Senior Airman Dave Dickson, 34th Fighter Squadron equipment support apprentice, dis- ful for the opportunities it pro- er, Hidden Heroes... Name: Charles Becker -Rank: Captain Job: Chief, squadron intelligence Unit: 4th Fighter Squadron Time in Service: 7 12 years Major volunteer projects over the past year: Volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for the past 10 years in several different states. Why do you volunteer? I like the organization. Ive been volunteering for Habitat for Humanity since college. All they really ask for is your time and it is easy to do just on a Saturday afternoon. First place, small commercial-enterpris- e newspaper 1997 and 1998 Air Combat Command Contest editorial Staff Col. John Weida Commander Erin Shuler Public Affairs Chief, Capt. Staff Sgt. Brian Bahret Chief Command Informal ton Airman st Class Cindy I luston Command Information assistant 1 Fighter Country is a supplement to the Hilltop Tunes, published by MorMedia. Inc , a private firm in no way connected with the U S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs OfFice This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U S military services Contents of Fighter Country are not necessarily the official views of. or endorsed by the U S Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Torce Unless otherwise indicated all photos are U S Air Force photos Fighter Country is edited, prepared and provided by the 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office. 5887 D Ave.. Suite 1. 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