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Show Hilltop COMMENTARY End of one war provides possible perspective on others Aug. 22. 2013 T Hilltopm BY AARON C. CLARK 75th Air Base Wing and installation historian n -Ice 1948 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Charles Horton Mary Lou Gorny Krista Starker Standard-Examiner publisher Hilltop Times Editor Hilltop Times Correspondent Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimes@standard.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 Corp., 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 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, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 801-625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gorny, at mgorny@standard.net . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. HAWC Nest Fitness Tip from the Health and Wellness Center Up to 12 weeks of FREE tobacco cessation medication is available to federal employees and up to 6 months is available for active duty, dependents and retirees when attending the tobacco cessation series. Call the Health and Wellness Center at 801-777-1215 for further information. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2013 DUIs: 16 Hill's Last DUI: /4ct. to A fter ignoring the Potsdam Declaration that asked for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese Empire on July 26, 1945, Japan's Emperor Hirohito felt the devastating repercussions of his choice the first two weeks in August. President Harry S. Truman stated, "Surrender or suffer prompt and utter destruction," and destruction at an unimaginable scale was employed by the Allied Forces. Soon after the president's announcement, the United States would go on to drop two atomic bombs on Japan. The first detonated over Hiroshima on Aug. 6; then three days later on Nagasaki. Occurring parallel to these drops was the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, a move executed to choke Japan in the mission to obtain their surrender. With these crushing attacks and growing Japanese governmental internal conflicts, Emperor Hirohito had no choice but to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration on Aug. 14, 1945. For the first time ever most Japanese citizens heard their emperor's voice as he gave a radio broadcast announcing the defeat of Japan to the Allied Forces: "Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation but would lead also to the total extinction of human civilization." This announcement devastated the highly patriotic Japanese because many were blind to the internal problems which had been evolving within their country, so the surrender came as a surprising blow. Although this was a sad day for the nation of Japan, it was a glorious day in world history because it marked the official end of World War II. When the news reached the United States, President Truman spoke to the world on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. (EDT) stating, "This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor. This is the day when fascism finally dies, as we always knew it would." He would later go on to announce an imme- Photo courtesy of the National Archives Gen. Douglas MacArthur signs as Supreme Allied Commander during formal surrender ceremonies on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. diate two-day holiday and the Allied countries followed suit. There were no celebrations in Japan on Aug. 15, 1945, but the rest of the world celebrated as this day was declared Victory in Japan Day (V-J Day). At Hill Field, as Hill Air Force Base was known then, celebrations also ignited as emotions reached fever pitch with the highly anticipated news. Everyone working on base enjoyed the newly announced two-day holiday; however, after the holiday came the reality and impact of a world war ending. Immediately after V-J Day, funding for many programs on base and in the surrounding region were cut. The local radio stations around Hill Field dropped three radio shows which were in place to support the war effort and provide updates on the action across the sea. Hill Field's local publication, the Hillfielder, which was the predecessor to the Hilltop Times, was cut from an eight page publication to four. Most dramatic, with the end of the war came the monumental effort of force reduction. By September of 1945, as many as 100 military members were cleared each day at Hill Field for separation; over 11,000 civilian employees had also been released. Even though the end of WWII brought a tremendous decrease in manpower and funding to the base, there was still plenty of work to be done in preparing and preserving airplanes and their components as war reserves. Hill Field and its masterful civilian and military workforce productively carried on into the post-war years preparing the country for future global threats and advancing aeronautical technology. MMI MBECI (E? Graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Capt. Richard Ritchie became the academy's first graduate to become an ace (thus far followed only by Capts. DeBellevue and Feinstein). Who was the academy's first graduate to become Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force CSAF)? A. Ronald R. Fogleman (Oct. 1994-Sept. 1997) B. Michael E. Ryan (Oct. 1997-Sept. 2001) C. John P. Jumper (Sept. 2001-Sept. 2005) D. T. Michael Moseley (Sept. 2005-July 2008) A GLIMPSE BACK On Aug. 28, 1972, in a F-4D, Capt. Richard S. "Steve" Ritchie, with Capt. Charles D. DeBellevue, shot down his fifth MiG-21 near Hanoi. Ritchie thus became the first U.S. Air Force ace of the Vietnam War and the first since the Korean War. For this feat, Ritchie shared the 1972 Mackay Trophy with DeBellevue and Jeffrey S. Feinstein. A NSWER (7QQ1 -13thrmiq92-1 1QQ1 a3clot30) nsmIgoq .A A command pilot and a parachutist, he flew over 6,800 hours in fighter (F-100, F-4, F-15, F-16, A-10), transport, tanker, and rotary wing aircraft, including 315 combat missions (806 hours), mostly in F-4s. In 1997, after careful deliberation and believing he had made all the contributions that he could, he chose to retire early after 34 years of distinguished service. U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles B. DeBellevue, Vietnam Ace F-4D Phantom at Udorn Air Base, Thailand As a captain, DeBellevue became the first non-pilot ace and the leading ace in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was an F-4 weapon system officer with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Unit Involved: 3gra Equomeat Naiateactace Squarditaa Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 to request a ride anytime. H ours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight. Oii\AAy'f?) 1rD Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 24-hr, Crisis Information Force Support Squadron Base Restaurants Retirement/Compensation (civilian) Equal Opportunity Office Employer Relations Military Pay Civilian Pay Air Force Suggestion Program 777-3056 Hill Straight Talk 777-3056 IG Complaints 777-4134 (for appointment) 777-2043 IG Complaints 777-6142 Report suspicious activity via the AFOSI EAGLE EYES program Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. Watch - Report - Protect Force Protection is Our Business - Everyone isa Sensor 777-7433 777-9696 Hill Pride Hotline 777-5305 Public Affairs 777-5333 Military Housing 825-9392 777 5361 Maintenance Safety Office 777-3333 (after hours) 586-9300 Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777 5361 Safety Office Hotline 777-5455 Sexual Assault Response 777-1985 (recording) 777-7129 Coordinator (or) 777-1964 1-877-885-9595 777-1851 Loud Noise Union 777-3257 (complaints) 777-6246 777-1852 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-4918 777-6901 75th Medical Group 777-3090 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Family Assistance Center (when activated) - - SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777 7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 National Suicide (800) 273-8255 Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line (866) 284-3743 TriWest Behavioral (866) 651-4970 Health Contact Center EAP (800) 222-0364 777-1163 Occupational Medicine Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 - |