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Show Airmen &efm'<&i<g &wr Nation at: Home an$.hkw<%<&... Evlkrty Wednesday, November 23, 2005 388th Fighter Wing supplement to the Hilltop Times Twice Monthly Wing Airmen say thanks to veterans By Staff Sgt. Shane Sharp 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Volunteers from the 388lh Fighter Wing and 75th Air Base Wing spent an afternoon visiting veterans at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City Nov, 17. Tile visit was planned and coordinated by the Air Force Sergeants Association and volunteers from several units on base participated. "I was interested in talking with people who were in past wars," said Airman 1st Class Natalie Broussard from the 421st Fighter Squadron. "It was a good opportunity to hear about the kinds of things they went through and it was interesting to compare and contrast how the military is today." "It's good to get insight into other generations of active-duty military and at the same time, it's important to show them that we care," said Airman 1st Class Clarice Evans. 388th FW Small Computers and one of the organizers of the event. "The Air Force Sergeants Association is big on community service. Part of that is that we are very active with the veterans hospital." Airmen talked with veterans about their military service, their hometown and the differences between serving today compared to past generations. Many veterans shared stories from their Photo by Stafi Sgt. Shane Sharp time at war. Senior Airman Rebekah Albert, 34th Fighter Squadron, shakes hands with Army veteran Dan Crossland after a visit. Airman Albert was one of more than 15 "We talked to one Vietnam veteran volunteers from the 388th Fighter Wing who traveled to the VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City to visit with veterans Nov. 17. whose job was walking in front of convoys to look for mines," said Airman Evans. "He told a story about a time "When volunteers come by to offer a helping hand and a caring body to talk to," said Mr. Richard Crowder, a Navy veteran from when he called back to his command post with the description of a Mountain Home, Idaho. Volunteers provide more than just a listenheart, it means a lot to the veterans. It helps them pass the time and mine and they told him to pull it out of the ground and bring it ing ear. gives them someone to talk to," Ms. Nibley said. back." According to a VA hospital public relations representative, the "The most important thing volunteers provide is the human "He thought they were crazy, but he ended up riding back to his touch," said Ms. Valyri Nibley, Volunteer Resource Assistant at the hospital saw 38,620 patients during fiscal year 2005. With numbers base next to a Russian mine." hospital. "So many of our patients are out-oT-'state veterans, so'they like those, the hospital could always use more volunteers said ty(s. The veterans appreciate having visitors. "It's good to have somedon't have family nearby to visit them." Nibley. For volunteer information, call 801-584-1241. * > 388th Fighter Wing ORI Superior Performers announced during commander's call By Staff Sgt. Shane Sharp 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The 388th Fighter Wing officially closed out the Operational Readiness Inspection during an ORI out-brief and a wing commander's call Nov, 14. "Congratulations to every one of you. I am proud of you, the team effort, and our ORI results," said Col. Robert Beletic, 388th FW commander. "Finishing an ORI is about more than just the rating," he said. "For us it means the men and women of this wing are ready to deploy and are prepared to fight." "It means the American people can count 388 Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Assembly Team Master Sgt. Gregory Vail Master Sgt. William Sikorski Tech. Sgl. Joseph McGowan Staff Sgt. James Dickson Staff Sgt. Leonides Rivera Staff Sgt. Douglas Talbert Staff Sgt. Bradley Trask Senior Airman Alex Munguia Airman 1st Class Steven Wake 4th Fighter Squadron Medical Element Team Tech. Sgt. Berd Trips Senior Airman Rebekah Albert Staff Sgt. Faith Fiechtner Staff Sgl. Aaron Hall 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Weapons Load Crew 1 Staff Sgt. Daniel Peters Staff Sgt. Jose Cortez Senior Airman Richard Rice 388th AMXS Weapons Load Crew 5 Staff Sgt. John Gipson Senior Airman Stephen Dudzik Airman 1st Class Julio Rivera 388th Fighter Wing 1st Lt. Scott Ryder Master Sgt. Michael Piymire Airman 1st Class Clarice Evans on the 388th FW," he said. "I'm also proud of the great work of 75th Air Base Wing and I appreciate all that they do for us," said Colonel Beletic. After months of focusing on the ORI, the colonel says now it's time to rest a little. "It's important now to take some time off to spend with our families. However, we 388th Operations Support Squadron Capt. Bradley Klemesrud ... Capt. Eric Sparks Capt. Shawn Pulscher .'.•,Tech. Sgt. Patsy Ford • Senior Airman Ryan Baurnan .'- 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron - Master Sgt. Sandra Hensley '• Tech. Sgt. Althea Casias • Tech. Sgt. Wade Moeller - Tech. Sgt. Patrick Stringfellow ;: Tech. Sgt. Peter Warsaw Tech. Sgt. Charles Woolard Staff Sgt. Jason Butts Staff Sgt. Brian Cline Staff Sgt. Justin Koch Staff Sgt. Debra Lloyd Staff Sgt. Deepak Moosad Staff Sgt. Jimmy Pruitt, Jr. Staff Sgt. Matthew Tipton Senior Airman Bradley Digue Senior Airman Kari Goodson Senior Airman Christoph Mangels Senior Airman Detrick Mullins Senior Airman David Schmitt -. •;•.••-. . Senior Airman Anthony Stewart Airman 1st Class Wendy Harrison Airman 1st Class Michael Healy Airman 1st ClassErnest Lee III Airman 1st Class Jenny Miranda Airman 1st Class Israel Woodmancy 388th Maintenance Group . • -, Tech. Sgt. Shane ClarkStaff Sgt. Brent Riggan need to still take care of each other and be safe." "When we are at work, focus on work. When we are at play, be safe and have fun." Below is a list of names of the 388th FW's outstanding Airmen who were considedered superior performers in the ORI by the inspectors: 388th Component Maintenance Squadron 1st Lt. Adrienne Stahl Staff Sgt. Scott Fitzpatrick : Senior Airman Ryan Phillips 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Master Sgt. Steven Maurice Master Sgt. Gregory Vail Staff Sgt. Bryn Baker * Staff Sgt. James Dickson • .. . /'. Staff Sgt. Jason Holmes ; Staff Sgt. Darrell McPhail Staff Sgt. Michael Whitlock Senior Airman Carrie Walz Airman 1st Class David Marsala Airman 1st Class Michael Welte 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron Master Sgt. David Hess ' :Master Sgt. Richard Ludwick, Jr. ' ; - ' Tech. Sgt. Kevin Hill Staff Sgt. Kimberly Stewart . . Staff Sgt. Scott West * '• Senior Airman John Koci Senior Airman Wayne Roecker Senior Airman Jarrard Rymer Airman 1st Class Sarah Goodwin 34th Fighter Squadron Capt. Chadwick Greer Capt. Jack Harman Capt. Mathew Miller 2nd Lt. Isabella Stephens Staff Sgt. Aaron Hall Staff Sgt. Terry McQuirt |