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Show COMMENTARY flMES November 5, 2009 Commitment of veterans, families deserves our thanks Hilltop TIMES WW-kly Niuo 1 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee drier... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny. Hilltop Times Editor Lee Anne Hensley Hilltop Times Writer Catherine McNally Hilltop Times Correspondent Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news itemi e-mail nilltoptimes9standard.net or call (801) 625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call (801) 625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call (801) 625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corporation, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in thispublicationshall 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 non merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. .Additional editorial content is provi ous military and civilian wire Base public affairs departments. Call (801) 625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gorny, at mgomy@standard. net. Call (801) 625-4300 for Classified Advertising or (801) 625-4388 for Retail Advertising. be a call for them to de- sion we serve—thank you. Tb our civilian airmen, who do not serve in ploy and put themselves Ogden Air Logistics Center commander uniform but are equally responsible for our in harm's way. successes, I also want to say thanks. I hope you More than 215,000 ext Wednesday, Nov. 11, we celebrate take some time this Veterans Day not only to military personnel are Veterans Day. Many of us will enjoy a currently deployed. This think about our past and present warriors, but day off, spent with friends and famalso to reflect on the service you provide to our number includes more ily —but how many of us know what we're than 40 thousand Airmen armed forces. Unlike civilians who work in celebrating? the commercial sector, you have the responsideployed in 135 counVeterans Day originated as Armistice Day bility of providing much-needed capabilities, tries around the world in 1919, commemorating the first anniversary conducting military and weapons and services to our warfighters. Your of the end of World War I. It became a federal Maj. Gen. Busch humanitarian operations. efforts are vital to a successful military orga-. holiday two decades later, and only in 1954, after the Korean and second World War, did we Veterans Day is a time to be grateful for these nization, and your continued dedication and commitment are much appreciated by those of declare a Veterans Day — a day to commemo- heroes and pray for their safe return. It is a us in uniform. time to say thanks to those who have served rate and appreciate all war veterans. and those who have deployed. It is a time to On Veterans Day, let us reflect on the cour-L The United States has been in constant conflict for the better part of my careen Dur- thank those who serve today and who are cur- age, character and commitment of all Amerirently deployed around the world. Tb those who can veterans — past and present. Take time • ing my 30 year career, the United States has fought in Grenada, Panama, the Cold War, the have served this great nation, past and present to remember the sacrifices of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guards-' Persian Gulf, Bosnia and our current overseas —thank you. It is also a time to thank the Air Force fami- men who are fighting for freedom and providcontingency operations. I am familiar with lies who serve alongside the military member. ing humanitarian relief at home and overseas. the demands wars and conflicts bring on our people. America's Airmen have been at war for The armed forces require uncommon commit- Remember their families and loved ones who more than 18 continuous years, beginning with ment to others, and military families selflessly stand by their side and support them as they deOperation Desert Storm in 1991. Many of our devote themselves to the mission by support- fend our country. Whether attending a parade, a memorial service or observing the day in younger Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines ing their family member in uniform. To the have only known military service during war. families of our military members who sacrifice private, please join me in saying "Thank you"; to They entered the military knowing there would alongside us and remain dedicated to the mis- the veterans of our nation's armed forces. COMMENTARY BY MAJ. GEN. ANDREW BUSCH N Commander's Log 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Report suspicious activity via the AFOSl EAGLE EYES program Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/3058.. Watch - Report - Protect Force Protection is Our Business - Everyone is a Sensoinumbers —the base1 agencies listed can be contacted directly if you Security Forces 777-3056 2-4-hr. Crisis Information .777-3056 Force Support Squadron 777-4134 Base Restaurants 777-2043 Retirement/Compensation 777-6142 (civilian) Social Actions 777-3516 Employer Relations 777-7129 Military Pay 777-1851 Civilian Pay. 777-6246 Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 Program Hill Straight Talk 777-9696 .IC Complaints 777-5305 (for appointment)-^ ;•':• -:;.vjtf'IC Complaints :.-.C.:;u:I.,*^......777:5361 I (after hours) '-^^: £v.-'^ Fraud, Waste or Abuse *.- 777-5361 (recording) '•'-'• "; Loud Noise \: 1-877-8B5-9595 (complaints) 75th Medical Croup 777-4918 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Public Affairs 777-5333 Military Housing 825-9392 Maintenance Safety Office 777-3333 Safety Office Hotline , 586-9300 Union 777-3257 AFOSl Narcotics Hotline 777-1852 Family Assistance Center ...777-3090 (when activated) ...,.'.,. Veterans' sacrifices can have far reaching effects fices. Children may find a parent veteran isn't fully present to Commander, Air Force Materiel Command them for a time or for good. ; The Air Force, as well as our n Veterans Day, we sister services, are commit- ' honor those who have ted to helping family members served in our nation's cope with the emotional hardarmed forces, as well as those ships that often accompany a ,/ who continue to serve. veteran's service. We've gotten This being the Year of the Air Force Family, it's also appropri- a lot better at it over the last 40 years. ate that we acknowledge not "only the serVicBan^^acnnces oT^""rr"Something we call the Inte- i our military veterans, but those grated Delivery System brings, nf their family.m6mbers as*weLb*altogether all the resources devotDeployments are tough on ed to physical, mental, spiritual family members, multiple deand emotional wellness to better ployments more so. serve the needs of all members of Air Force families. > • Veterans returning from • The Air Force, however, isn't hostile environments sometimes find it difficult to re-enter their able to help everyone who needs families, a situation that causes it. Wingmen, good neighbors, •: caring coworkers and resil- • < family members heartache and tests their capacity for patience ient family members have an'1 important role, too. We set aside and understanding. Family members of veterans who come one day each year to honor ourhome wounded or disabled must nation's veterans. This year, •' adapt to permanent changes and let's also honor the people who sustain and love them. sometimes permanent sacriBY GEN. DONALD J. HOFFMAN O The C-119 Flying Boxcar BY AMY KEMP BUTLER Hill Air Force Base History Office Learn how to recogize the various signals of marital relationship warning signs of difficulty and learn to enhance your communication skills at a lunch and learn Tuesday, Nov. 10,11 a.m.-noon. The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program is designed for engaged, newlywed and married couples. Call the Health and Wellness Center to reserve your spot in the class, (801) 777-1215. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2009 DUls: 36 Hill's Last DUI: Oct. fZ Unit Involved: Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. „" CB// 777-1111 any time to request B ride. T he C-119 Flying Boxcar was a significant asset to the U.S. Air Force operations around the world beginning in the early 1950s. The planes, manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft, totaled 1,183 built, two of which are still airworthy in Alaska. The C-119 was initially a redesign of the C-82 Packet built between 1945 and 1948. The C-82 had performance limitations which were corrected in the C-119. More powerful engines were added, the cockpit was moved to enable the aircraft to carry more cargo, the fuselage was widened and the airframe was strengthened. The aircraft at 86 feet 6 inches long and 26 feet 4 inches in height, weighs 39,982 pounds and can carry up to 34,018 pounds. The C-119 was a valuable aircraft during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was used to transport equipment and troops. Because of the amount of cargo it could carry, it earned the nickname "Flying Boxcar." From 1955 to 1973, the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command had the Flying Boxcars in service. During this time the aircraft performed many aerial recoveries, including retrievals of balloon-borne instrument packages. The aircraft also retrieved film capsules for the Corona spy satellite program on Aug. 19,1960. The C-119 was the first in history to perform a mid-air recovery of a space capsule. This was also the first successful recovery of film or an object returning from a satellite orbiting Earth. The aircraft dropped supplies to besieged French forces while flying through heavy combat during the siege at Dien Bien Phu in 1953 when the CIA secretly loaned the C-119s to French forces in Vietnam. On Nov. 5,1985, the Hill Aerospace Museum acquired a C-119G Flying Boxcar, donated by Hawkins and Powers of Greybull, Wyo., manufactured by Fairchild Aircraft and which was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force at the end of, 1954. After serving at several base locations throughout Canada, it was sold to Hawkins and Powers for use as in firefighting Courtesy photo A C-119 Flying Boxcar similar to the one displayed at the Hill Aerospace Museum. efforts. The aircraft is painted in the colors of the Reserve 733rd Troop Carrier Squadron to resemble the original "State of Utah" C-119 and the name "Maj. Rex A. Hadley" is painted beneath the pilot window to memorialize Hadley's honorable service to the squadron and his commitment to the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah. . Maj. Gen. Rex A. Hadley served the military for 40 years in such assignments as logistics manager, maintenance officer, flight commander, line pilot, operations officer, instructor pilot, command pilot and group commander of the Reserve 945th Military Airlift Group at Hill Air Force Base, this being his last flying assignment. As a command pilot he accumulated more than 7,000 hours flying various aircraft, one of those being the C-119. After he retired, he wasn't finished with his exceptional service. In 1983, he joined the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah, holding the position as the foundation chairman from 1986 to 1994. As chairman and in partnership with the state of Utah, he was able to gain funds for the Visitor's Center and Aircraft Gallery, which now are part of the Hill Aerospace Museum. |