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Show .1=71.1 "VI ES April 24, 2014 'Take Back' medication event at clinic BY SARAH STOLL Hilltop Times correspondent On Saturday, April 26th, the Hill Air Force Base Clinic will participate in a National Medication Thke Back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During this time, those with base access can bring their expired, or no longer used, medications to the horseshoe of the Clinic for anonymous and free-of-charge drop-off. Volunteers will take the dropped off medications and dispose of them in a safe and proper manner. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, "The National Prescription Drug Thke-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications." Not only do event coordinators feel this is an opportunity to educate the public about proper medication disposal techniques, they feel it is a useful event for raising awareness about the dangers of expired medications. Many people feel that flushing medications down the toilet or tossing them in the garbage are effective ways to dispose of medications, however, these methods can harm the environ- ment and medications could potentially end up in the possession of children or pets. The National Medication Take Back Event has occurred on Hill AFB approximately two times a year since 2011. Event coordinators said patients frequently ask about when the events will occur, and they get excited about this proper disposal opportunity. Coordinators hope this convenient opportunity will keep medications out of improper hands and out of the environment. If you are unable to attend this event, there are facilities for disposal throughout the community, and these can be found at: wwwuseonlyasdirected.org . For more information about the Hill AFB event, or upcoming events, please contact the Hill AFB Pharmacy at 801-7770419. The Legacy of Sacrifice Family still awaits return of missing hero BY STAFF SGT. JAKE BARREIRO 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs SAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea — Like a lot of boys growing up in the '60s and '70s, Chris Balcom liked to watch TV He could often be found on the couch, eyes sewn to the screen. While watching, Chris was attentive, fixated even, to what transpired in front of him. A parade of faces graced the edges of the screen, emerging for a moment before departing. He was watching TV like other children, but Chris wasn't watching passively, or for joy or entertainment. There was nothing frivolous about his gaze. As he watched, his heart wrenched. Noting each departing face on the screen, his hope would fade. Renew again with another face. Then fade. Chris was watching the repatriation of American prisoners of war and missing in action, looking for his father. On May 15, 1966, at 9:50 am., Capt. Ralph Balcom's plane was seen ascending into the clouds about 10 miles southwest of Dong Hoi, Vietnam. Afterward, Ralph lost voice contact with his flight, and didn't return to base by the time his F-105 Thud's fuel should have run out. When a search and recovery party found no trace of Ralph or his plane, he was declared missing. Serving in Vietnam as a pilot for the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ralph, promoted to colonel while missing, left behind his wife, Marian, their 7-year-old daughter, Tracy, and 4-year-old son, Chris. More than 47 years have passed. Marian remarried, limey is 54, and Chris, 51, has three children of his own, but the Balcorns still await the return of their hero. Suffering with the burden of this sacrifice for four decades, a recent gesture has shown the Balcoms they're not alone, and will always be part of the military family. It was coincidence that Ralph's old unit, now the 421st Fighter Squadron, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Marine Corps Cpl. Jake Balcom, Chris's son, stationed in Hawaii, would be deployed to Korea at the same time. When Lt. Col. David Shoemaker, 421st FS commander, 0 STAFF SGT. JAKE BARREIRO/U.S. Air Force ABOVE: Marine Corps Cpl. Jake Balcom watches an F-16 take off on March 26, at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Balcom's grandfather, Col. Ralph Balcom, served as a fighter pilot in Vietnam, but has been missing in action since May 15, 1966. BELOW: Capt. Ralph Balcom, his wife, Marian, his daughter, Tracy, and his son, Chris, in a family photo. Ralph Balcom was lost in Vietnam more than 47 years ago. heard the grandson of a fallen Black Widow (the squadron's moniker) was going to be in the area, he worked fast to get a chance for Jake to get a tour of the squadron's deployed station at Osan Air Base. Jake spent March 25-26, 2014, at Osan AB with his grandfather's unit. "It was a no brainer to try to get Jake out here," Shoemaker said. "It means everything to us. This is important. Our heritage, our legacy and taking care of families, that's what our unit and the military is about." As commander of a decorated fighter squadron, Shoemaker stays in contact with multiple families of fallen 421st Airmen from the Vietnam era, but first got ahold of Chris and limey about a year ago. Since then, the two stay in contact regularly through phone calls and email. For See SACRIFICE I Page 8 INDUSTRIAL-MILITARY FUNCTIONS SHOWCASED Air Force Chief of Safety visits Hill Air Force Base 75th Air Base Wing Safety Office Recently, Maj. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, Air Force Chief of Safety, visited Hill Air Force Base to meet with Team Hill leaders, tour various base facilities, and interact with the base's safety professionals. Maj. Gen. H. Brent Baker Sr., Ogden Air Logistics Comlex commander and Col. Kathryn Kolbe, 75thAir Base Wing commander, hosted the visit and showcased Hill's unique industrial-military functions. Neubauer was given eight tours of depot and maintenance hangars, allowing him to see up-close operations such as C-5 landing gear assembly repair, plating process tanks, machine guarding, airborne generators and preparations for the F-35 beddown. During his visit, Neubauer spoke at an "All Call" for installation safety professionals to share his vision for Air Force safety. He hosted a question and answer session, where attendees voiced concerns over pending budget cuts, limNeubauer ited resources, redundant systems, and incompatible databases. The general took some of the feedback as action items for follow up. The 75th ABW safety office also provided a short Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) presentation, highlighting Team Hill's implementation and many successes. VPP is the Air Force Sustainment Center's chosen safety management system, which promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. It focuses on a culture where employees are empow- ered and accountable for their own safe work environment. The use of VPP at Hill has driven illness and injury rates down 23 percent during the past 12 months — a success story that continues to exceed expectations. Neubauer said he was impressed with Team Hill's ongoing synergy and for the installation's collaborative efforts to maintain a safe work environment. |