Marines Dominate Warrior Games Shooting Competition

By Shannon Collins
Joint Hometown News Service, Defense Media Activity

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 14, 2013 – As a hush went across the spectators, two Marines, tied in the finals for shooting an air rifle, lined up their final shots in a shoot-off. A tenth of a point on the last shot meant the difference between winning gold and silver for these two Marines.

The Marine Corps shooting team gathers to celebrate its dominant medal count in the shooting events during the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 13, 2013. The Marines won 13 of 24 medals, including four gold medals. DOD photo by E.J. Hersom   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

These Marines were two of 13 Marines who made it to the finals and won 13 out of 24 medals -- four gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals -- during the 2013 Warrior Games shooting competition at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here yesterday.

Gunnery Sgt. Pedro Aquino, who beat teammate Cpl. Angel Gomez in a shoot-off by a tenth of a point, won the gold medal in the SH2 prone air rifle category during his first Warrior Games. The scores range from 0 to 10.9.
“We were confident we would dominate,” said Aquino, who shot a 10.7 against Gomez. “We trained hard, focused and showed discipline. I went into the finals for the SH2 prone for the air rifle and was tied with an Army competitor. We got down to the last shots, and I saw him flinch. I kept my composure and persevered.”

Gomez didn’t leave empty-handed. He took the silver in the prone and standing air rifle competitions during his fourth Warrior Games. He said he continues to compete for the thrill of the sport.

“I love shooting, just looking at those sights and shooting, the feel of the rifle,” he said. “We worked hard, and it paid off. We were determined to win those medals.”

Sgt. Clayton McDaniel also had a close win. He won the bronze medal in the prone open air rifle category during his first Warrior Games. He was a tenth of a point from third place when he went into his final round. He shot a 10.7 and catapulted himself into third place for the bronze. McDaniel said he was honored to win a medal for the Marine team. Though intensive training had him mentally prepared for the physical challenges of the competition, his challenge was the pressure of having friends and family there, watching him compete.
“I was able to tune everybody out, but keeping my heartbeat under pressure was another story,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said he’s proud of his teammates and competes to honor the fallen.

“They’re amazing; they are my heroes,” he said. “They find a way to pick themselves up on a bad day and come here and pull it off on game day and pull out the win. I look up to them a lot. I compete for my Marine Corps and for the fallen.”

Retired Maj. John Schwent has coached the Marines team for almost four years and trained Marines in shooting for 20 years. He said he is proud of his team.

“We had new shooters with a lack of experience this year, and there’s always a learning curve, but we overcame it and took the majority of the medals. They earned it,” he said. “It came down to the very last shot in the finals a few times, but we won the medals. I’m very proud of them.”

Schwent said tenths of a point can mean the difference in winning a medal, and the Marines team trained to meet this challenge.

“We train as if it’s going to come down to the very last shot and you’ve got to perform. These guys did that today,” he said. “They train to be able to perform, to shoot when the pressure is on, on and off the battlefield. We did that, and it’s a testament to the Marine Corps.”

For Master Sgt. Dionisios Nicholas, the competition was more about defending his three-time gold medalist title in the SH1 pistol category. He won gold and kept his title and added a silver medal in the rifle SH1 match.

He shot rifle right after winning a gold medal in the pistol. He said the challenge is to keep the nerves down, focus and push through any pain or spasms he may feel from his spinal cord injury. Nicholas shot a few 10.9s, perfect scores, during the competition and a perfect score for a full 40 shots in practice.

Nicholas said he is proud of his team and that shooting is par for the course for Marines.

“Marines shoot -- that’s what we do,” he said. “We try to do our best in spirit de corps, in professionalism and in executing the fundamentals. I love being a Marine.”

Staff Sgt. Phillip Shockley, who won a gold medal in the open pistol category, echoed the sentiment.

“It goes back to the basics: ‘Every Marine is a Rifleman,’” he said. “It goes back to the lessons we learned at boot camp, going to the rifle range and learning the emphasis the Marine Corps places on marksmanship and how you’re suppose to perform a certain way because every weapon is a gun in the fight.”

Shockley, who raced 12 miles in cycling the day prior, brought his years of experience of being a primary marksman instructor and Marine Corps shooting team member to his first Warrior Games. He said that though he won gold, he could do better.

“I’m going to try to get one of these air rifles so I can train on it and dominate next year,” he said.
Marine veteran Cpl. Richard Stalder won a gold medal in the SH2 standing air rifle competition, his first medal in his first Warrior Games. He said he would have been OK with the second or third place win, because his competitors were his fellow Marines. They took the gold, silver and bronze in the category.
“I would’ve easily let them take first, because they’re my brothers,” he said. “The Marine Corps had a great day shooting. “

The shooting classification groups were modified from the Paralympic rules. Athletes from the Army, Air Force and Navy, a joint team from the U.S. Special Forces Command and a team from the United Kingdom competed in the pistol open or pistol SH1 category or the rifle open, SH1 or SH2 category. Some athletes competed in both the pistol and rifle.

The open category includes competitors who do not have a permanent physical disability, such as someone who has a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. The SH1 category includes all competitors with a permanent physical disability, such as a spinal cord injury or leg amputation. The SH2 category includes competitors who do not have the ability to support the weight of the rifle with their arms and therefore require a spring stand. Athletes in this category could have an arm amputation or other upper body injuries.

Each athlete shoots 40 shots at a distance of 10 meters. They use single shot rifles and pistols with iron sights firing a .177 caliber soft lead match pellets. They cannot use any sight with a lens. Each competition could have anywhere from seven to 30 competitors. The top eight of each category made it to the finals

Wounded Special Ops Warriors Thrive on Competition

By David Vergun Army News Service COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 14, 2013 – Extremely tough mental and physical training and experience give the special operations team’s wounded warriors a competitive edge, said their cycling coach. Coach Jeth Fogg prepares for the upright- and hand-cycling races at the 2013 Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 12, 2013. U.S. Army photo by David Vergun    (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The athletes’ background in special ops prepared them well for the 2013 Warrior Games, said Coach Jeth Fogg, prior to the upright and handcycling races at the Air Force Academy here May 12.   However, Fogg quickly added that the advantage is no guarantee they’re going to win. “We’re always the underdog, because we’re smaller than the other services and don’t field as many folks.” The special ops team has athletes from the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps -- some active, some medically retired, some old, some young. It makes sense to have a separate special ops team, Fogg said, because it’s a unique part of the military in which members of each service operate as a team, often in arduous conditions. They know each other very well and develop close-knit bonds. Fogg himself is not a wounded warrior, nor was he ever in special ops, but he said during the course of his Air Force career he worked alongside them numerous times and understands their mindset. Also, he said, is familiar with special ops wounded warriors, because this is his third year at Warrior Games coaching them. The Warrior Games started in 2010, but special ops didn’t field a team until 2011, the year after Fogg retired from the Air Force. The Warrior Games are for wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans and teams represent each of the services and one from the United Kingdom, in addition to special ops. There are basically two levels of competition here, he said: “Complete and compete.” The first goal for the athletes, he said, is just completing the course - going the distance. That’s the initial standard. After that, they need to show a real desire to go further “and actually make it to the podium,” he said. Here, just completing the course is a “huge deal” and the competitive aspect is at the high end, he added. He provided an example of an athlete last year who could barely move about, but made substantial progress and made the team. And another lost 48 pounds in a year to compete. And then there’s the ultimate goal for some, he said: leaving the team. “Some guys eventually get in such good shape that they pass the Veterans Affairs disability standard and can no longer compete,” he explained. Once that happens, they can join the Paralympic team and try out for the 2016 Olympics. The team has lost a number of athletes because they’ve improved to that degree, he said. Some, however, enjoy the Warrior Games so much, they return year after year. “For them, they’ve made that higher level already,” Fogg said. Athletes come to the program at various levels and with various types of illnesses, injuries or wounds, he said. Some are missing an arm, some a leg. That is one of the factors that will determine if they use an upright bike, which is a normal-looking bike, or a handcycle. Both types of bikes are sometimes tricked out to suit the needs of the athletes, he added. Next, a power test is given. Special training bikes are equipped with power meters that measure watts of energy the athletes can generate. That level of energy is one of the factors that go into customizing an athlete’s individual training program, which begins about a year out from competition. Then, the tactics of racing are instilled into each athlete, Fogg said. Before a race, the coach said he takes each of them individually through the course and talks them through each segment. “For some guys, this is their first time ever doing a bike race,” he said. Then more tactics follow. “Some hard chargers spend themselves, because they go until they pop, which might be halfway through the race,” Fogg said. “They suffer the remainder of the race. The grey-haired guys seem to be able to pick up on the tactics better than the younger ones. They take what you say and use their smarts. They don’t let physicality rule the situation.” Fogg said the younger guys tend to have a lot of physical energy but they overuse it at the wrong time,” he said. “When they do, someone takes advantage of them. It’s hard for them to understand you don’t always need to be the guy in the front. You gotta go ahead and use your smarts first, and then use your physicality at the right time.” Fogg said he’s been blessed to be this team’s coach. He admits that he doesn’t really have to do much emotional or psychological counseling with his athletes. “They all know how to suffer,” he said. “They know the pain they can put their bodies through.” He said they all want to get to the podium, and his advice to them is to be aware they’re going to have to do a lot of suffering. “And they do,” he said.

Marine Missing from Vietnam War to be Buried with Crew

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, was recently accounted for and will be buried along with the 12 other servicemen who were lost in the same crash.

Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel A. Benedett of Seattle, Wash., will be buried May 15, at Arlington National Cemetery, along with Air Force 2nd Lt. Richard Vandegeer of Cleveland, Ohio; Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Bernard Gause Jr., of Birmingham, Ala.; Hospitalman Ronald J. Manning of Steubenville, Ohio; Marine Corps servicemen Lance Cpl. Gregory S. Copenhaver of Lewistown, Pa.; Lance Cpl. Andres Garcia of Carlsbad, N.M.; Pfc. Lynn Blessing of Lancaster, Pa.; Pfc. Walter Boyd of Portsmouth, Va.; Pfc. James J. Jacques of La Junta, Colo.; Pfc. James R. Maxwell of Memphis, Tenn.; Pfc. Richard W. Rivernburgh of Schenectady, N.Y.; Pfc. Antonio R. Sandoval of San Antonio, Texas; and Pfc. Kelton R. Turner of St. Louis, Mo.

On May 12, 1975, Khmer Rouge gunboats captured the S.S. Mayaguez in the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Cambodia. After the vessel was taken to Koh Tang Island, U.S. aircraft began surveillance flights around the island.  When efforts to secure the release of the ship and its crew failed, U.S. military forces began a rescue mission.

Three days after the Mayaguez seizure, the Air Force dispatched six helicopters to the island.  One of the helicopters came under heavy enemy fire and crashed into the surf with 26 men on board.  Thirteen of the men were rescued at sea, leaving Benedett and 12 other service members unaccounted-for from the crash.

Between 1991 and 2008, investigators conducted more than 10 investigations and excavations, led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC).  On three occasions, Cambodian authorities turned over remains believed to be those of American servicemen.  In 1995, U.S. and Cambodian specialists conducted an underwater recovery of the helicopter crash site where they located remains, personal effects and aircraft debris associated with the loss.  Between 2000 and 2004, all of the missing service members from this helicopter, except Benedett, were accounted-for.

On Jan. 30, 2013, Benedett was accounted-for.  Scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and DNA process of elimination to account for his remains.

Today, more than 1,600 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.  The U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover Americans lost during the Vietnam War.

Peterson EOD tech competes in this year's Warrior Games

by Michael Golembesky
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

5/14/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Combat can take its toll on the body both physically and mentally but the Warrior spirit is not limited by such things. For many wounded warriors, the tolls of combat could have diminished their abilities and reaction times, but the internal fire of the Warrior Spirit remains untouched and vibrant.

"When you are injured, people love to tell you what you can't do. I don't believe in that, I don't believe there is a box for me," said Master Sgt. Benjamin Horton, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician.

This is Horton's second time competing in the Warrior Games, representing the Air Force in the Men's 100-meter Freestyle Open. While Horton is disappointed that he will not be competing in sprints and cycling this year due to knee injuries, he remains honored and excited to be a part of the games.

"Everyone has limitations. We all talk about them, we share ideas on what works and what doesn't work. You can learn new tricks to get your body to perform better," Horton said when asked about his experiences with the Warrior Games.

As a highly decorated Airman with many honors and prestige, Horton remains humble when talking about his combat experiences and points out that with his multiple shrapnel and blast injuries, he is nowhere near as bad as many of the other service members participating at the games.

Horton went on to talk about his most memorable Warrior Games moment and spoke about a triple amputee Marine that was also blind, competing in the 50-meter swimming event.

"As they lowered this Marine into the pool, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up," he said.

"With only one arm he gave his absolute all. Everyone was screaming so loud, nobody cared who had won the race. They were just amazed at the effort and heart he was putting into it," Horton said with pride. "The most important thing about the games is the inspiration you get from the people around; it's just amazing," he added.

"People go to sporting events and it is all about being the absolute best, the fastest or strongest. You go here and you see the more important things, you see compassion, you see heart, you see pure effort," he said. "That is what makes it amazing."

Homestead Airmen conduct live ordnance loading area operations

by Ross Tweten
482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/14/2013 - HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- Homestead Air Reserve Base recently conducted a series of live ordnance loading area operations.

More commonly known as LOLA, the operations consist of loading live ordnance on F-16s in an authorized area on the flightline away from people and buildings. The munitions are loaded in an isolated location in case of, in so many words, inadvertent blasts or firings.

"Safety plays an integral part in determining how far away the LOLA has to be," said Lt. Col. David Sundlov, 93rd Fighter Squadron commander. "The weapons are usually loaded on a remote portion of the runway. Currently we are working on a new LOLA across the runway that will have room for a few more jets."

The 482nd Fighter Wing's F-16s then dropped their ordnance on Pinecastle Bombing Range in northern Florida.

Once the flying schedule calls for live munitions on flying sorties, the aircraft are positioned on the LOLA and weapons load crews are dispatched to perform the live loading operations. The aircraft remain on LOLA until takeoff or until live munitions have been downloaded.

The recent operations consisted of eight sorties, dropping more than two dozen MK-82 500-pound bombs, all hitting their intended targets on the bombing range.

Aircraft maintenance Airmen have requirements to be trained on loading live ordnance just as pilots have requirements to drop live ordnance.

"LOLA ops are important from a maintenance prospective in that it gives our weapons personnel valuable training in handling and loading live munitions; munitions they would normally only see in a deployed environment," said Master Sgt. Desmond Ojeda, 495th Fighter Group, Detachment 93, Weapons Flight chief.

According to Lt. Col. Adam Meyers, 482nd Fighter Wing Chief of Safety, the LOLA is the one place on base where all three safety disciplines - ground, weapons and flying - converge.

"There's zero room for cutting corners when we're talking about literally tons of explosives being loaded on jets," said Meyers. "It's a good thing we've got diligent professionals doing it right."

Air Force shooters final in three events; take silver

by Senior Master Sgt. Dean J. Miller
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

5/14/2013 - Colorado Springs, Colo.  -- Monday was Day 2 of the 4th annual Warrior Games featuring the start and conclusion of the .177 caliber air rifle and air pistol events at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Both air rifle and air pistol events included a pre-qualification phase requiring athletes to fire 40 rounds in an hour and fifteen minutes. Scores from the pre-qualification phase identified finalists who participated in competition courses of fire. These included pistol, prone rifle, and standing rifle.

Each competition had a supported and open category. Supported categories provide specified assistance to the shooters within that category. Examples include a mechanical device to support the heft of a weapon, assistance with loading a weapon, or shooting from a seated position. Athletes fire their weapons unassisted in the open categories.

Team Air Force shooters qualified to shoot in three open events -- pistol, standing rifle and prone rifle competitions.

Pistol shooters Josh Robistow and Stephen Otero shot 429.4 and 411.3, respectively. Robistow finished a mere 3.3 points from the Bronze winner. Top scores in the event were 439 for the gold, 438.6 for the silver and 432.7 for the bronze, respectively.

Standing rifle shooters Gwen Sheppard and Jael Hansen fired 394.3 and 369.8, respectively. Top scores in the event were 436.7 for the gold, 436.3 for the silver and 415.1 for the bronze, respectively.

Prone rifle shooter Mitchell Keiffer took the silver medal with a score of 496. Top scores in the event were 497.4 for the gold and 493.8 for the bronze, respectively.

The results had team Team Air Force all smiles.

"My goal for the team was for each athlete to shoot within 10 points of their personal average," said Alex Callage, Air Force Warrior Games pistol coach, "With the pressure and distraction of competition, everyone on the team shot a personal best or was within 10 points of their average - I couldn't be more proud of them."

Local shooter Scott Bullis, of Air Force Space Command Headquarters, Peterson AFB, Colo., was extremely excited for fellow rifle Mitch Kieffer.

"The fact that Mitch did so well is great - he earned silver, and that alone was pretty amazing," said Bullis, "He is competing in multiple events and he got off to a great start with his shooting."

Other results from the 2nd day's competition:

Wheelchair Basketball
Air Force defeated SOCOM, 37-25
Army defeated Air Force, 59-9

Sitting Volleyball
Marines defeated Air Force
SOCOM defeated Air Force

Pentagon Seeks to Establish ‘Cost Culture,’ Official Says

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 – In an effort to maximize investments of defense business opportunities during austere times, the Defense Department is seeking to establish a “cost culture,” a senior Pentagon official said here today.

Elizabeth A. McGrath, the Defense Department’s deputy chief management officer, spoke to an audience during the Excellence in Government Forum about DOD’s efforts to optimize business opportunities in support of the department’s core mission.

McGrath’s office advises the defense secretary and deputy defense secretary on matters relating to the management and improvement of integrated defense business operations.

“We’re looking at establishing a cost culture within defense,” McGrath said. “We’re really, really good at putting together a budget. We do it every year without fail. We do budget formulation. We even do execution of that budget. But what we are really focusing our attention on now is the cost of operation.”

McGrath said this cost analysis plays a crucial role in considering business investments.

“Do you know how much it costs per transaction?” she asked. “Do you know what makes up the cost elements?”

Every company, McGrath said, looks at what is driving cost when they evaluate what is profitable and what is not.

“We do this every day at home,” she said. “We look at what’s driving our costs. There are cost decisions we make every day. It’s applying that same thought process that businesses have -- that we have as individuals -- to the execution of the business space.”

When evaluating these cost drivers, McGrath said, there should be a consideration of whether there is a good return on investment. “If it’s not there, we have to say no,” she added. “We’re not going to make that investment, because in this fiscal environment we just don’t have the dollars.”

This approach requires thinking differently, McGrath said.

“It has been a very difficult conversation within the Defense Department, within the business space,” she told the audience. But that approach makes it possible to make informed decisions, she said, if there is an understanding of exactly what the cost drivers are.

McGrath noted the Defense Department is “for sure, the largest government entity,” and in terms of numbers, would be the 16th-largest country in the world, with 3 million to 3.5 million people, 5,000 locations worldwide and a multi-billion-dollar global supply chain. DOD also is the largest health care provider in the nation, she said.

McGrath used information technology as an example of considering the right strategy to achieve the right outcome in the business space.

“Annually, we spend about $7 billion, and we have over 2,000 IT systems,” she said. “In my opinion, that’s too many, but what we don’t want to do is say, ‘Well, let’s just cut 10 percent of those,’ not understanding the strategic impact of doing that.”

McGrath said it is critical to understand how to tie the investment to the strategy to achieve the desired outcome. “What business outcome are you trying to achieve?” she asked. “How does the IT enable you to get there?”

McGrath acknowledged that this “deliberate thought process” isn’t always employed by government.
“Typically, it’s oftentimes a blunt-object approach to cutting costs,” she said. “And I really think that the government -- especially over the last couple of years, but certainly historically -- has cut a lot of the easy things.”

McGrath said the current fiscal environment requires different, more strategic, thinking about how to make budget cuts and achieve the mission within the fiscal targets that are provided without disrupting the mission.
Certainly, she said, national security is the Defense Department’s core mission.

“What I often tell many people is you have to sort of look up and out across the enterprise,” McGrath said. “We execute from an end-to-end perspective. There’s nothing that is just financially focused. There’s nothing that is just personnel focused. Every personnel action has a financial transaction.”

In the current and projected fiscal environment, McGrath said, defense officials must think differently to optimize available dollars. And that’s difficult in a culture that favors certainty, she added.

“We really are risk-averse,” McGrath said. “We don’t like to take the risk. We want to ensure success before taking a risk. I think the fiscal environment really allows us to take a little more risk to execute, if you will, bigger and bolder thoughts about how we execute the mission. And so, I really do think it’s time to think differently.”

Kadena welcomes new 18th Wing commander

by Airman 1st Class Malia Jenkins
18th Wing Public Affairs

5/13/2013 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  -- Brig. Gen. James B. Hecker assumed command of the 18th Wing during a change of command ceremony at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 13.

Lt. Gen. Salvatore Angelella, U.S. Forces, Japan, and 5th Air Force commander, presided over the event held inside Kadena's Airborne Warning and Control System hangar where Airmen, Soldiers, sailors, Marines, distinguished guests and members of the Okinawan community attended the ceremony.

"It's great to be back at Kadena for this momentous occasion," Angelella said. "I'm absolutely honored to be here to bid a fond farewell to Brig. Gen. 'Zap' Molloy and welcome Brig. Gen. 'Scorch' Hecker back to the Keystone of the Pacific."

"After more than a decade of war in Southwest Asia the United States security strategy has refocused and rebalanced to the Pacific," Angelella continued. "I can proudly say 'Zap' successfully postured the wing to transition to America's Pacific sentry. I know our Team Kadena is sad to see 'Zap' and his family leave Japan; however I'm confident the Air Force has selected an outstanding new Airman warrior to fill 'Zap's' shoes."

Hecker is taking over the position from Brig. Gen. Matt H. Molloy, who was selected as the deputy director of operations, Headquarters, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Molloy served as commander here from June 2011 to May 2013.

"Two years ago when I took command of the wing I used two words to describe my feelings that day, blessed and grateful. Today I can't think of two finer words as I close out command," Molloy said. "I have been blessed by the Lord for this command opportunity and so very grateful to do that alongside and shoulder-to-shoulder with the Shogun Warriors."

After the tradition of passing the guidon, which dates back to the 18th century, Hecker addressed his new family, Team Kadena.

When it comes to working with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, Hecker said, "We need to make sure that we are not just coordinating (our forces). We need to be integrated everyday and make sure we (can) bring combat airpower (together) should we need it."

"We are on the tip of the spear here," Hecker continued. "There are heightened tensions here in the Asia-Pacific region and we need to be ready. My charge to you is simple: you need to have tactical excellence in your wartime mission, and at all times of every day be ready to go should we need to."

Hecker most recently served as the commander of the 432nd Wing and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech Air Force Base, Nev., and is a command pilot with more than 3,200 hours in the F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor.

He also served as a weapons officer for the 44th Fighter Squadron here from July 1996 to August 1998 and was the director of operations, operations directorate, U.S. Forces Japan at Yokota Air Base, Japan from July 2009 to June 2011 were he was responsible for coordinating both civilian and military disaster relief and humanitarian assistance during Operation Tomodachi.

Hecker said he looks forward to growing a better personal and professional relationship with the Japanese community leaders to bring the 18th Wing and the Japanese community together as a team.

During his remarks, Hecker expressed his love for the Japanese culture and the politeness of the people and looks forward to working with Team Kadena again.

"It's great to be back in Japan," He said.

Honored in stone

by Senior Airman Nathan Maysonet
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

5/13/2013 - LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas  -- Carved into stone are the names of 22 individuals. Each was a pilot who served their country in the skies over Southeast Asia, and each paid the ultimate price, but another fact unites them: they were all instructor pilots here at Laughlin.

The Laughlin Heritage Foundation in Del Rio, Texas, and Laughlin have spent almost two years crafting a memorial honoring fallen instructor pilots from Laughlin with a dedication scheduled for May 31.

"The purpose of our foundation is to honor and remember servicemen like these," said Jim Long, Laughlin Heritage Foundation chairman of the board. "We need to honor these men and their commitment to duty and honor."

One of the initial sparks behind the idea of creating a memorial was a former instructor pilot here with the 3645th Pilot Training Squadron, who revealed in a discussion with Long, that of the 15 instructor pilots in his flight, a third had lost their lives in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. As the discussion went on, additional names from fellow flights he worked alongside were mentioned, painting a startling picture of sacrifice.

"We had always assumed we lost airmen in the fighting," said Long. "But when we were told that 22 instructor pilots from Laughlin were killed in Southeast Asia, it hit us hard. Instructor pilots are some of our best and they touch a lot of lives."

Long took the names of the deceased and began pouring over old class books to put a face to each name and to add more weight to the list of the fallen, he explained. Once done, he began researching each individual to learn more about their lives and deaths.

The task became a personal quest for Long as he learned of the pilots' sacrifices and recounted his own memories of watching in awe as A-1E Skyraiders, an aircraft that some of the fallen pilots flew, took off in support of ground operations in Vietnam.

"I don't remember a single A-1E pilot ever having to buy a drink thanks to their support of ground troops," said Long.

With support from Laughlin and retired Maj. Gen. Gerald Prather, a Laughlin pilot training graduate and president of the board for the Laughlin Heritage Foundation, the mission of crafting a memorial went forward.

Memorial makers were contacted, designs chosen, and cost agreed upon. In the end, a large black granite plaque with the pilots' names inlaid in a granite rock was picked, and the hard work of making the memorial a reality began, explained Long.

Money was easy, former friends, colleagues and interested parties donated in large sums to see the memorial made. Contacting the families of the deceased proved challenging at first, but those same donators helped in the leg work of tracking down children and widows to tell them the news. However, the largest hurdle was getting the paperwork completed approving the memorial for placement on Laughlin.

Capt. Derek Marchlewicz, 434th Flying Training Squadron assistant operations officer and project officer for the memorial, was tasked with completing the paperwork required by Air Force Instructions governing memorials and their authentication.

"It was interesting getting out of the flying world, reading the AFI and seeing the complex process in getting this done," said Marchlewicz. "Working with everyone on base and the Laughlin Heritage Foundation to do this was eye opening."

Eventually his hard work paid off and the memorial was approved. A place was made in Laughlin's Ribas-Dominicci Circle for the more than 4,000 pound stone memorial.

"The ease in which we collected money, the support we received from Laughlin and the help from those that knew the fallen told me this project meant something," said Long.

With the dedication scheduled for May 31 at 2 p.m. at Ribas-Dominicci Circle, the years of planning and development have at last, come together.

"The names listed on this memorial mean something special and it has been an honor to have played a part in remembering those who flew in the same sky as me," said Prather. "Instructor pilots keep America's air power strong, and this memorial is a 'thank you' from the community to our instructor pilots who gave all."

Learning from the past

by Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

5/13/2013 - COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- It was early, just before dawn. There was no light over the horizon when a Union patrol group encountered 45,000 Confederate soldiers. The soldiers belonged to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, who ordered them to attack the Union forces. The Union soldiers were taken by surprise, and their forces were driven back to a small church called "Shiloh". The date was April 6, 1862.

For six months leading up to the attack, the Union soldiers had been working their way up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. They had many victories including Fort Henry in February. These victories forced Johnston to gather up remaining troops from various disbanded groups along Northern Mississippi.

Gen. Ulysses S. Grant led 42,000 Union soldiers and had intentions of joining forces with Gen. Don Carlos Buell and his 20,000 soldiers and taking over Corinth, a major rail line. Johnston never gave them that opportunity. When the Union forces were pushed back toward Shiloh, it began one of the bloodiest engagements the Civil War had seen.

Flash forward to today, and you can step foot on the Earth where many soldiers saw battle for the first time in their lives. You can see the place where fear, anguish, bravery, and even courage were felt by tens of thousands of troops.

On April 20, Airmen from the T-6 squadrons on Columbus Air Force Base visited Shiloh Battlefield to see the history of the region first hand.

"It was interesting to see the area, to see the thick brush that the soldiers fought in," said 1st Lt. Brooklynn Mauss, 14th Flying Training Wing Executive Officer, who attended the trip.

The group of over 20 Airmen were able to travel the different locations where battles were fought and experience places such as Fraley Field and the Hornet's Nest firsthand.

Fraley Field was the site where the battle began. It is the place where the Union soldiers realized that the Confederate soldiers were nearby and ready to act.

"It was interesting to see how close the Confederate Army was to the outlying camps of the Union Army the night before the two armies stumbled upon each other," said 1st Lt. Tyler Olmstead, 41st Flying Training Squadron. "Actually seeing the proximity where the two armies were encamped was very shocking. The steep ravines and thick, wooded areas where the fighting took place were also remarkable."

During the trip, the group was also able to go to the Hornet's Nest, and see first-hand how it got its name. The Hornet's Nest is the location that lies in the center of the battlefield. It was the area that saw the heaviest amount of combat. Soldiers named the location The Hornet's Nest, saying that the enemy's bullets sounded like many angry hornets.

Shiloh Battlefield is not the only Civil War location visited by Columbus AFB Airmen. Last year, the 41st Flying Training Squadron travelled to Gettysburg to learn more about the history there.

"I think it's important to study history because it's our history, American history," said Mauss. "We need to learn from it."

The squadrons sent out read-ahead material for the Airmen to look over before going.

"The interesting thing about Shiloh Battlefield is that all locations and events are verified by people who were there," said Mauss. "Our tour guide was very knowledgeable too, he did a great job."

The squadrons go on trips to nearby locations every spring to learn about different battles from our history. They find it important to learn about the historical events, and the leaders that made history.

"As volunteers in the profession of arms, it is imperative that we recognize the sacrifices of others that have gone before us," said Olmstead.

D.C. Guard wife named Military Spouse of the Year

by Courtesy story

5/10/2013 - WASHINGTON -- Alicia Hinds Ward, wife of Tech. Sgt. Edwinston Ward, 113th Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md., is the winner of the 2013 Military Spouse of the Year.

Representing the National Guard, Hinds Ward was chosen among six finalists, each one representing a branch of the U.S. armed forces. She was chosen as MSOY for her outstanding support helping military families with relocation and employment services, as well as her support of special needs resources and helping to build camaraderie among deployed members and their families.

"This ceremony does a great deal to see the significance of the role our spouses play in our military and now important that is to our national defense," said Lt. Gen. Stanley Clark, director of the Air National Guard, "It's an honor to be here and congratulate Alicia on her win."

The MSOY award has been in existence for six years and Hines Ward is the first National Guard representative to win.

According to Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Anderson, 113th Wing command chief, her win was no surprise.

"It is no surprise to those that know Alicia that she was selected as the 2013 Military Spouse of the Year. She works tirelessly not only for our Capital Guardian family, but our extended military family across Joint Base Andrews," said Chief Anderson. "I am incredibly proud of what Alicia has accomplished for the families of our National Guard and can't wait to watch her elevate the entire military spouse community. I know she will serve as a phenomenal advocate for all of our military families!"

Hines Ward was filled with emotions after accepting her award as the magnitude of her win started to set in.

"I'm breathing now, not well, but I'm breathing," Hines Ward said laughingly. "I'm so proud to be here and I love the fact that I'm able to work with all of you (fellow spouses), and I hope to bring attention to our National Guard families, our unique circumstances, and the plight of our families."

Face of Defense: Weather Airman Overcomes Lightning Strike

By Air Force Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson
386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 13, 2013 – A weather airman who issues warnings when lightning strikes take place within five miles of an air base here knows the danger. He’s a lightning-strike survivor.

Air Force Senior Airman Erik White poses next to a newly installed portable Doppler radar at an air base in Southwest Asia, May 4, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Knox   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Air Force Senior Airman Erik White, a 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather journeyman, was taking pictures when he was struck by lightning as a thunderstorm rolled in while he was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

He suffered second- and third-degree burns from his knee to his foot, but he was lucky. According to the National Weather Service, lightning has killed 9,235 people in the United States since the agency started tracking fatalities in 1940.

"It gave me a strong understanding of how powerful and how dangerous weather can be," White said. "I always tell people, of all of our 'big boy warnings' like tornadoes, damaging winds and hail, I think 'Lightning within five [miles]' is the most important, because lightening kills more people every year."

White's recovery included more than two months of convalescent leave and an early end to his amateur weather photography career. He still feels the effects of that electrifying day, he said.

"I have some nerve damage in my leg, and it feels like that tingling feeling when your foot falls asleep," he explained. "It was about a year and a half before I fully got back to normal, but I can tell you, it was a shocking experience."

Understandably, thunderstorms trigger stress for the Bloomfield, Ky., native. "When the thunder roars, I go indoors," he said.

"As a weather guy, you're not 100 percent and the guys that say they are, are wrong," White said.

White joined the Air Force fresh out of high school looking for a better life and to make something of himself.
"I had gotten to the point where nothing was working out," he said. "I had done the whole construction bit and odds-and-ends jobs, and realized the Air Force was a good option."

After graduating from basic training, White spent the next eight months at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., learning about weather.

"Weather is interesting -- it's 90 percent boring and 10 percent all craziness," he said. "There are two aspects of our job: the flying world and the personnel and resource protection aspect."

The flying aspect of White's job provides pilots and crews the information necessary to complete their mission. "We provide flight weather briefs and tell them about any hazards they may encounter en route," he explained.

The other aspect of White's job aims to protect personnel and the resources on the base.

"We provide the 'Lightning within five' warnings that you hear across the loudspeaker to keep people safe," he said. "We also issue certain warnings to help the base commanders make preventive actions like tying down aircraft or to move aircraft."

White is deployed here from Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Wounded Warrior proud to represent

by Michael Golembesky
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

5/13/2013 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- It has been a long journey from the swimming pool at Colorado's Greeley Central High School to proudly representing the Air Force in the lanes at this year's Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy. But for Senior Master Sgt. Martin Smith, operations superintendent for the 380th Space Control Squadron, it is nothing less than an honor.

With the accident still fresh in his memory, Smith recalls the events that led to the amputation of his right leg just below the knee. It happened in August of 2012 while commuting from Peterson to his home in Parker, when he was involved in a motorcycle accident on Highway 83.

After the injury and a lot of soul-searching, Smith elected to have the lower portion of his leg removed. Otherwise the severely muscle-damage leg may have led to a more serious amputation.

"We are fighters," Smith's wife Susan said to him as he laid in recovery at the hospital.

After the surgery in September 2012, Smith was finally able to get back into the pool in December to begin the long road of physical recovery. It was Jack Ladley, Air Force Recovery Care coordinator in Colorado Springs, that suggested that Smith tryout for the team. After the tryout camp in January of 2013 at the Academy, Smith was selected to represent the Air Force in the pool for this year's Warrior Games.

This is the first time the Air Force will be represented at the games with a complete 50 member team participating in all events.

"I never really intended to get back into swimming," Smith said. "Working out in the pool was the only real option for me to stay in physical shape and remain on active duty."

"I am proud to represent the Air Force and also proud of my brothers-in-arms who have been injured in combat," he said with pride in his voice.

"This is the Warrior Games and I do not want my injury to downplay the sacrifice of the fellow service members who have been injured in combat," Smith said during an interview at the Peterson aquatics center.

This humbling statement demonstrates his steadfast honor and compassion. Although Smith's leg amputation was non-combat related, the Warrior Games are universal in celebrating the "Warrior Spirit" that exists within us all.

"It is just an honor to be around these guys, knowing what they struggle with and go through on a daily basis just to do the small things that we take for granted. That motivates me and makes me proud to be a part of this," Smith said.

"The Air Force through this whole process has been focused on getting the inured Airmen back in the game, back to living life," he said. "We don't care if you win; just getting you out there is a win. Placing in an event is just an added bonus but not the purpose," he said while reflecting on his experience.

Smith will swim in four events during the Warrior Games, including the Men's 50-meter Freestyle (single leg amputee), Men's 100-meter Freestyle (SLA), Men's 50-meter Backstroke (SLA) and Mixed 200-meter Freestyle Relay team.

As the Warrior Games come to a close, it is not about the medals, scores or times, but an opportunity to show respect to all injured service members. Not only during the Games but long after the stage lights and podiums are packed away.

NATO Stresses Continuity as Breedlove Succeeds Stavridis

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

MONS, Belgium, May 13, 2013 – NATO’s focus will remain squarely on Afghanistan as Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove succeeds Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis as the alliance’s supreme allied commander, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said here today.

On a cool, windy day, Rasmussen passed the colors of Supreme Allied Command Operations from Stavridis to Breedlove. Rain threatened, but never materialized.

NATO is the heart and soul of the 50-nation coalition in Afghanistan, the secretary general said, and the alliance has been involved since the formation of the International Security Assistance Force.

“On your watch,” he said to Breedlove, “Afghan forces will be taking full responsibility for the security of their own country, and ISAF will complete its combat mission -- as planned -- at the end of 2014. You will help shape a new and NATO-led mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces after 2014.”

But the alliance is more than the war in Afghanistan, Rasmussen noted. NATO forces also serve off the Horn of Africa to deter piracy, patrol the Mediterranean Sea, serve in Kosovo and patrol over the Baltic Sea. NATO forces deployed to Turkey are protecting that ally from Syrian missiles, he said.

These are demanding operational tasks, the secretary general said, but Breedlove also must complete the reform of NATO’s command structure to make it “leaner, more effective and more affordable.” Rasmussen expresseded his confidence in Breedlove’s ability to meet the challenge.

The secretary general then turned to Stavridis, the first Navy admiral to hold the position. Rasmussen said the admiral “has navigated these uncharted waters with great skill.”

Rasmussen said the secret of the admiral’s success lies with his philosophy that the security of the future should be built by bridges, rather than walls. In Afghanistan, Stavridis built bridges among NATO allies, coalition partners and the Afghan government, he said.

“Your bridge-building skills were also evident in 2011 when NATO responded to a United Nations call and deployed a force in record time to protect the people of Libya,” Rasmussen said. “You have also stayed focused on the strategic horizon and NATO and [Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe] have benefited from your innovation.”

During his time at the headquarters, Stavridis established a comprehensive crisis management center and an alliance special operations headquarters. And he has reached out, Rasmussen said.

“You have blogged and you have tweeted to help explain the value of our alliance and to sustain political and public support for what we do,” the secretary general said to the admiral.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Rasmussen presented Stavridis with the NATO Meritorious Service Medal. The admiral will retire from the Navy and become the dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Air liaison controls sky, saves lives

by Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/13/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) -- The lieutenant lowered a tactical vest over his head with practiced confidence; his face displayed the cool composure born of constant training. As he straps on his helmet, an aircraft circles overhead, preparing for the first strike of the day.

Minutes later, ordnance begins raining down at the officer's command.

First Lt. Patrick Bonner and his team of tactical air control party members act as mobile air controllers, coordinating with pilots and ground commanders to deliver airpower, maintaining communications and providing precision close-air support, using aircraft and artillery. On this particular mission, 8th Air Support Operations Squadron TACPs worked with Slovenian military counterparts to direct Slovenian aircraft on specified training targets.

"We train with the Slovenian TACPs once every couple of months," said Bonner, an air liaison officer who is part of a select group of commissioned Airmen overseeing TACP units. "On this mission, we conducted 12 airstrikes as a unit to help keep us proficient in our duties."

The air liaison career field was created in 2010 and Bonner was one of the first graduates to go through the nine-month training course.

"I joined the Air Force to originally pay back my student loans, but I also wanted something challenging," Bonner said. "At the time, '13L' (the Air Force specialty code for ALOs) was brand new and exactly the perfect fit for me. There have been some ups and downs but I enjoy it and have not regretted my choice."

Both enlisted members and officers go through the same Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course at the TACP schoolhouse at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

"We both have the same training, from the same schoolhouse, which in turn allows us to trust each other to get the mission done," said Airman 1st Class Phonchai Hansen, an 8th ASOS TACP member. "I can relate to what he (Bonner) went through and vice versa."

ALOs are required to complete six training courses before graduation. They must learn how to navigate through harsh terrain during all weather conditions, operate tactical vehicles and communication equipment, provide tactical advice and coordinate close-air support.

"The fail rate for our career field is very high," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Cullins, an 8th ASOS TACP member. "It's hard enough to become a TACP, but to then become an ALO is even more difficult."

Even after graduating, ALOs must continue their training to ensure they are prepared for the varied situations that can present themselves during a deployed mission, to include joint terminal attack controller certifications and survival, evasion, resistance and escape training.

"The most difficult part of the training is the mindset of it all," Bonner said. "It's very difficult to learn because there are so many moving pieces; you have to be able to think and act, all within seconds.

"You have to continue pushing yourself," he said. "Depending on how great of a TACP you want to be is how hard one challenges himself."

TACP members constantly try to improve their skills, which helps them be prepared for any situation, to include deployments.

Bonner's role in a deployment is quite different than what his enlisted troops find themselves doing on a day-to-day basis.

"My focus during a deployment is liaising with the Army and giving them a grasp on how to best use aircraft in terms of the air-to-ground fight," he said. "Occasionally, I get to go out with my unit and implement airstrikes."

While deployments can be rough at times, most TACP members agree the best part about the job is calling in airstrikes and watching ordnance drop a few hundred yards away.

"When everything clicks, (getting on the radio, talking to the pilot and coordinating an airstrike) it's a blast," Bonner said.

Marine Makes Mom, Wife Proud on Mother’s Day

By David Vergun
Army News Service
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 13, 2013 – “I don’t know what I’d do without my family. They’ve really been supportive of everything I do,” the 10-K hand-cycling racer said shortly after winning yesterday.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ronnie Jimenez celebrates his 10K handcycling win at the 2013 Warrior Games with his wife, Patrice, shortly after crossing the finish line. U.S. Army photo by David Vergun   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

And in turn, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ronnie Jimenez, a wounded warrior and athlete at the 2013 Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy here, made his wife and mother proud and happy with his win. They said as much, cheering him on from the sidelines. His time was 21:53, earning him the gold medal and motivating his Marine team.

Taking the silver was Anthony Robinson from the Army team at 22.16, and the bronze went to Justin Gaertner, a Marine from the Special Operations team.

“This is the best Mother’s Day gift ever,” said his wife, Patrice, shortly after he crossed the finish line to the cheers of supporters. She added that their three children are equally excited with his win.

Jimenez suffered a spinal cord injury from a training accident and has post-traumatic stress disorder following multiple deployments to Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan. The 14-year Marine veteran is currently in a Wounded Warrior Regiment at Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., and is in the process of transitioning out of the Corps.

Jimenez said he has always loved sports and used to run ultra-distance events. Following his spinal cord injury, he added, doctors told him he’d never run again.

But he said a buddy, a Paralympian, encouraged him, with these words that inspired him to take on a new challenge: “You can do the same distance with your arms that you once did with your legs.”

“And so I’m here,” he said, adding that the Marine Corps has been very supportive of his recovery efforts.
His command lets him train in the hills of nearby Joshua Tree National Park. He also receives professional coaching help throughout the year. When he retires from the Corps, Jimenez said, he wants to cycle professionally and perhaps make the Paralympic team.

He said he will maintain contact with his fellow athletes, who are just like family, and that he will always remember the men and women he served with in the Corps.

Mary Ann, his mother, came to see him from Arizona and said her son makes her proud not only on Mother’s Day, but every day.

As she wiped away tears of joy, she added: “He’s just an awesome person. He’ll give the shirt off his back to you if you need something. I’m also proud of all the Marines. They’re all great.”

Navy Warrior Games Vet Shares His Story, Recovery

By Jason Kelly
Navy Live Blog

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2013 – Yesterday, members of Team Navy began sports competitions at the 2013 Warrior Games against other wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans from across the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Retired Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sonny Lemerande, who’d served as a hospital corpsman and was wounded in Afghanistan, puts up a shot during basketball practice for the Navy's Warrior Games basketball team at State College, Pa., April 4, 2013 U.S. Navy photo by EJ Hersom   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Throughout the event, which concludes May 16, the service members and veterans will compete for the gold in adaptive sports of track and field, shooting, swimming, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.

Warrior Games wheelchair basketball athlete and retired Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sonny Lemerande, who’d served as a hospital corpsman and was wounded in Afghanistan, shares his story, his recovery, and what the Warrior Games mean to him.

Lemerande’s comments are as follows:

“This year marks my fourth Warrior Games. Once again, I will compete alongside other members of Team Navy in Colorado Springs. I have been part of the Warrior Games from the start. Every experience has been a big honor and very rewarding.

“However, it was the first Warrior Games in 2010 that made the most significant impact on my life.

“In 2009, during my second deployment as a Navy corpsman, I was wounded in Afghanistan. My Humvee hit a pressure plate anti-tank mine, injuring my right leg. Although I didn’t feel the effects until I returned home, my experiences in combat changed me and later brought about post-traumatic stress disorder. My wounds -- both visible and invisible -- still affect me today.

“A year after the incident, I was working a physical therapist in Twentynine Palms, Calif. I was pretty bitter. Every day, I met with service members who were ill or had been injured, but I thought anyone who wasn’t wounded in combat wasn’t truly a wounded warrior. I thought their struggles couldn’t really compare to what men and women were experiencing on the battlefield -- that made me angry.

“The 2010 Warrior Games were very beneficial to me. They opened my eyes and helped me let go of some of those feelings. I met teammates -- like Jim Castaneda -- who altered my perspective about what it means to be a wounded warrior and to fight each day to make sure your illness or injury doesn’t get the better of you.

“Jimmy is a retired boatswain’s mate who suffered a stroke while his ship was underway near the Philippines. Though his recovery has sometimes been pretty tough, he always has a positive attitude no matter what obstacles he has to face. Jimmy cracks me up. I will never forget when he was playing seated volleyball at the Warrior Games -- he unexpectedly blocked a very hard spike and then was completely amazed by what he had done.

“That’s what the Warrior Games are like. They are a great rehabilitation tool for wounded warriors. They remind you that life’s not over just because you are ill or were injured. They show you that you can still surprise yourself.

“Adaptive athletics and programs like Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor have helped me cope. When things get difficult, attending the Warrior Games or a sports camp is a respite from life’s stresses. There, I can hang out with people who really understand me, and who have supported me for four of the most challenging years of my life.

“For that, I am so grateful.”

Niagara recieves artwork honoring military heritage

by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

5/9/2013 - NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- A new display honoring American Veterans is slated to be added to the Heritage Room in the community activity center here.

Created by Vietnam Veteran Dan DeCrow, the piece titled "Never Forget Silhouette" pays respect to the war dead and veterans World War I to the present.

The silhouette has items representing the major conflicts of the last 100 years. An entrenching tool of World War I; pants bloused in boots and a canteen, symbolic of World War II; the type of helmet service members wore in the Korean War; and the M-16 carried by those in the jungles of Vietnam. The Silhouette is paying respect to the Kevlar helmet on top of a modern M-16 which symbolizes those who fought and died in the current War on Terror. Finally, there are empty dog tags, symbolizing the lack of space for the names of the men and women who died fighting for this country.

This is just one of many signs that DeCrow has made. When he completes them, he donates them to families who have lost loved ones in support of the nation's defense.

"This particular sign was donated to the Niagara Falls ARS through the local chapter of the Patriot Riders motorcycle club, as they wanted the sign to have maximum visibility with current military members," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Roach, 914th Services superintendent.

The Patriot Riders escorted the artwork to the base where a dedication ceremony held in the community activity center .

DeCrow's brother in-law, Dan Walsh, also a Vietnam Veteran, provided the original materials and equipment for Decrow's memorials.

"Sometimes people see these memorials and purchase them," said Walsh. "When they do, every cent is put back into making more memorials."

"This piece will be great to have in the heritage room in the community activity center," said Roach. "We are now trying to collect items like this and display them for the military heritage, not just Niagara, but for all U.S. Military."

"It's great that this artwork is going to be displayed in an area where Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines can view it regularly," said Walsh.

Winnefeld Praises Athletes at Warrior Games' Kick Off

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2013 – The 200 wounded, injured, and ill service members and veterans competing in this year’s Warrior Games are the best of the best, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said today during the event’s opening ceremonies in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. speaks to the athletes and their families during the opening ceremonies of the 2013 Warrior Games at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 11, 2013. From May 11-16, more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as a team representing U.S. Special Operations Command and an international team representing the United Kingdom, will compete for the gold in track and field, shooting, swimming, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and U.S. Air Force Academy. The military service with the most medals will win the Chairman's Cup. Photo by EJ Hersom   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Winnefeld called the games, comprising volleyball, wheelchair basketball, archery, swimming, cycling, shooting, track and field including discus and shot put events, the “highlight of the year” in his keynote remarks. The games run through May 16 at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Olympic Training Center, both in Colorado Springs.

“You're here because of your willingness to overcome great challenges … of injury [and] illness, both seen and unseen, coupled with the challenges that any superior athlete must overcome in achieving greatness,” Winnefeld told the athletes.

This is the third year Winnefeld has provided opening or closing remarks for the Warrior Games, but he remains awed by the athletes and their challenges, he said.

“Your heroism and determination are an inspiration,” he said to the athletes. “… When I face a seemingly insurmountable challenge, I just think of you, and my day becomes a very nice day.”

Winnefeld expressed his appreciation to Britain’s Prince Harry for attending the games. He was among those on the stage, and was dressed in his British army camouflage uniform.

"We’re so grateful that you brought your fellow warriors from the United Kingdom to be in these games,” Winnefeld told the prince. “We thank the United Kingdom for being such fantastic partners in combat, from one warrior to another.”

The general also credited the United Kingdom for conceiving and hosting last summer’s London 2012 Paralympic Games, in which U.S. service members also competed.

The vice chairman recognized “other elite groups of people” in the audience -- the athletes’ families, friends, caregivers.

Winnefeld also praised “the spouses, moms, dads and siblings who unselfishly dropped everything else in their lives to become dedicated caregivers. It’s very hard work, is often overlooked, and you are very special people.”

The athletes and the games become better each year because of the volunteers, hosts and sponsors, “without whom these events simply would not be possible,” Winnefeld said.

“What you're doing is powerful, and very important,” he added.

Addressing the British and American teams, Winnefeld noted that the Warrior Games embody the “magnificent cause of freedom and liberty.” Each athlete at the games is already a winner, he added.

“Compete ferociously, fairly, safely, and pick each other up. That's what these games are all about,” he said, adding that the athletes should compete with the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect and friendship constantly on their minds.

“And yes, may the best team win, but remember, we're all on the incredibly great, same team,” Winnefeld said.