by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
1/31/2014 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Air
Force Global Strike Command and 509th Bomb Wing leadership surprised
retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Charles Sibert with a shadow
box presentation at Whiteman Air Force Base, Jan. 24.
A World War II veteran, Sibert was held as a prisoner of war in Germany
and was missing in action for 548 days before being rescued by U.S.
forces.
"Brig. Gen. Bussiere and I met Sibert during the 2013 POW/MIA 24-Hour
Run this past September," said Chief Master Sgt. Lee Barr, 509th Bomb
Wing command chief. "While speaking with Sibert, he talked about his
experience as a POW. It was then he showed the general and me his DD
Form 214 and said he never got any of his medals when he retired from
the Air Force."
Upon finding out Sibert never received any medals from the Air Force,
Barr and Bussiere assured the WWII veteran they would take care of it
for him, Barr said.
"I got with Master Sgt. Dawn Couey from the Force Support Squadron and
she validated all the chief's medals and ordered them for us," Barr
said. "Giving Chief Sibert individual medals didn't seem to be enough,
so the general and I decided a shadow box would be the right thing to
do. [Tech. Sgt.] Cathy Lauseng, my command chief assistant, was vital to
making that happen."
Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, and
Maj. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, 8th Air Force commander, were also in
attendance for the presentation, which was quite timely, as Sibert was
assigned to the 96th Bomb Group under 8th Air Force.
"It was fitting to have Air Force Global Strike Command commander Lt.
Gen. Stephen Wilson (also the former 8th Air Force commander), Maj. Gen.
Scott Vander Hamm (current 8th Air Force commander), and Brig. Gen.
Bussiere do the presentation," Barr said.
In addition to attending the ceremony recognizing Sibert, Wilson and
Vander Hamm visited to congratulate Team Whiteman on a job well done
during a recent Nuclear Surety Inspection. A group of civic leaders also
toured Whiteman the same day to learn about the installation, military
culture and the 509th BW's unique mission.
"The other incredible opportunity was having all the AFGSC civic leaders
there to witness the presentation," Barr said. "They were honored to be
there for Chief Sibert."
It was truly important for Bussiere to tie the heritage of the past --
8th Air Force Warrior-Airmen -- with that of the present, Barr said.
"Without the heroics of Chief Sibert and his generation, there would not
be an 8th Air Force with such a distinguished, heralded past," Barr
said.
For Barr, it was important to make the shadow box a reality after meeting Sibert at the POW/MIA run.
"I also wanted all the chief master sergeants on base to see an American
hero up close and personal," Barr said. "It was an awesome experience
having all the chiefs and chief-selects there with Chief Sibert and his
family."
Whether supporting Airmen serving today, or honoring veterans of the
world wars, it is important to pay respect to veterans of all ages.
"First, they have paid a price to secure all our freedoms," Barr said.
"Second, without their selfless sacrifice, America would not be what she
is today! Veterans from all our wars have made that possible; our
children and generations to come owe them a huge debt that we will never
be able to repay."
Sibert's family also attended the ceremony.
"Everything my grandpa said to me was significant," said Tech. Sgt.
Kimberly Stone, 442nd Maintenance Group training manager and Sibert's
granddaughter. "He laughed, he cried, and he was proud. He doesn't think
of himself as a hero. Gen. Bussiere and Chief Barr made him feel like
one and I truly believe he deserves that. The whole ceremony was truly a
blessing for our family."
One unique aspect of Sibert's story was the fact that he was still a
teenager when serving on the frontlines for his country, Barr said.
"He was just 19 years old when he went on his first mission, and was
shot down and captured as a POW on his second mission," Barr said. "He
had a girlfriend back home, who later became his wife. Suddenly, you
realize it was a bona fide love story."
As a walking, breathing representation of Air Force history, Sibert
leaves a footprint on the hearts and minds of those who hear his story.
"When he tells the story of bailing out of his B-17 and an enemy
aircraft tips his wing and salutes him instead of shooting him down,
then you get it," Barr said. "You get just how special it is that Chief
Sibert is still among us--a true hero!"
Friday, January 31, 2014
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