Face of Defense: Air Guardsman Donates Kidney to Fellow Airman

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Julio Olivencia New York National Guard

NEWBURGH, N.Y., January 25, 2016 — Air Force Master Sgt. Henry Windels donated one of his kidneys to Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Cola in October, saving Cola from a difficult and limited life with continual kidney-dialysis treatments.

Windels has returned to duty at Stewart Air National Guard Base here, Cola is continuing a remarkable recovery, and the two men -- both members of the 105th Airlift Wing and once just acquaintances -- said they are much closer.

Moreover, Cola and his wife Aly said they are eternally grateful to Windels. They’ve gained a new perspective on life, they said, and a determination to focus on helping others.

“My husband was given a second chance at life -- we aren’t going to do things the same,” Aly said. “We’re not going to take things for granted, like holidays and lazy Sundays.”

Illness Strikes

In the fall of 2014, everything was coming together for Cola, a flight equipment specialist: He was 28 years old, in his third year as a New York police officer, his 10th year with the New York Air National Guard, and he’d just married Aly, his childhood sweetheart.

Cola said he and his new bride were on the fourth day of their honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos Islands when he began to feel ill.

“He was really only feeling sick at night. During the day he seemed to be OK,” Aly said.

The couple said they thought he just had a minor sickness that can be common when traveling abroad, but on the final night his condition got much worse. “That’s when it hit me full-blown. I was puking, dehydrated and couldn’t keep anything down,” Cola said.

There was a small hospital on the island, Cola said, but he wanted to get back home to New York, where he trusted the medical care more. Besides, he said he thought he just had a bug and needed to be hydrated, which happened to him on a previous trip to the Dominican Republic.

Worsening Condition

He said his symptoms continued to get worse, making the trip home a difficult one. He began vomiting nearly every 15 minutes and looked like a zombie, Aly said. Coincidentally, the Ebola scare of 2014 was at its height during that time.

“The flight was terrible,” Aly said, adding that Cola was making trips to the airplane lavatory every 15 minutes. “Everybody was staring at us, everybody was scared -- everybody thought he had Ebola.”

Though Aly tried to convince her new husband to go to the hospital during the layover in Miami, he decided to press on to New York. Cola said he knew he didn’t have Ebola and he was still convinced he had some minor illness that would be dissipate once he was hydrated.

“We landed in New York and went straight to the hospital,” Cola said. He was admitted and hooked up to an IV. After a few hours of tests and monitoring, he said the doctor returned with an entourage of other medical professionals, and they began grilling the couple with questions.

Aly said a team of about 20 specialists came in and said "you need to tell us everything about your trip -- where you were, what animals you were around, what you ate, every activity you did."

First Diagnosis

Then they were told Cola was in kidney failure. He was treated for the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever. The symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, muscle and joint pains. If left untreated, it can progress into a life-threatening hemorrhagic fever.

“It literally feels like your bones are breaking,” Cola said. “They describe it as bone crushing pain.”

While Cola had an IV to keep him hydrated and medication to manage the pain, he said there was nothing to do but wait to let the disease work through his system. The hope was once the dengue fever was gone, he would regain kidney function.

“I think that’s where my head was most of the time -- I was just hoping I regained kidney function,” Cola said.

Between the fever and the pain medication, Cola said he was in a fog and not fully aware of what was going on. Aly, however, said she was very aware and becoming increasingly worried.

“I was just in disbelief,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it was happening. I couldn’t believe how it happened. He only had like one bite on him. I was covered from head to toe in mosquito bites, so you figure if anyone should have gotten sick it should have been me.”

Doctors told the couple that they didn’t think he would regain kidney function after about a week of monitoring and blood tests four times a day.

Bad to Worse

Cola said he was diagnosed with stage 5 chronic kidney disease, which meant his kidney function was less than 20 percent. He learned he would eventually need a new kidney or have to go on dialysis for the rest of his life.

Cola and his wife believe his CKD was caused by dengue fever, which is made worse when a patient has had a different strain of the disease before. Cola believes he got the disease while in the Dominican Republic the year prior.

“For someone to go from good kidney function to end-stage kidney function at this age is not common,” Cola said.

Aly got tested right away only to find that she wasn’t a match, but as luck would have it, she was a match for an individual who was part of a complex kidney exchange.

A complex kidney exchange involves multiple donors and patients. This way Aly could donate a kidney to someone else and Cola could still benefit by receiving a kidney from another donor in the exchange. There were eight individuals involved in the exchange, creating a sort donation chain.

Hopes Dashed

“It was crazy. We had what we thought was perfect timing,” Aly said.

A few days before the surgery, in May of 2015, Cola was informed that there was a chance that his donor had tuberculosis. The exchange was called off after much debate among his doctors.

His hopes were raised once again when a kidney became available on his birthday in June, but that fell through as well.

“It was a waiting game,” Aly said. “We couldn’t do anything and the longer it went on the less hope we had.”

And so they waited.

Hopes Restored

Air Force Master Sgt. Henry Windels, a loadmaster, heard about Cola’s condition in June.

The two airmen had attended water survival and parachute training together four years before, but both described their relationship at the time as acquaintances.

“I’d seen him around here, but I didn’t know him,” Windels said.

Windels heard that Cola was sick, but didn’t know to what extent until someone else mentioned Cola needed a kidney. Approximately 12 years earlier, Windels said he'd read a story about someone who donated a kidney to a complete stranger.

“It seemed like a noble thing to do, and I was interested, but it never really went anywhere,” Windels said. He said he called Cola shortly after he found out about the situation.

Cola thought Windels was reaching out to show support, but when the two spoke, Windels asked how he could get tested to see if he was a match.

“I told him to think about it, and see how it would affect [his military status], but at that point, I knew he had his mind made up,” Cola said. “I got the feeling he already did his soul-searching beforehand.”

Tests and More Tests

The doctors said that Windels would most likely be a match since he was a universal blood donor, and they began the long testing and preparation process shortly after they spoke.

Windels was put through numerous tests over the next three months.

He had dozens of vials of blood drawn, heart and brain scans, stress tests and meetings with a kidney specialist. He even had to meet with a psychiatrist and social worker to make sure he understood what he was doing, and that he was doing it for the right reasons.

Cola said he remained patient through the process, because he knew that his hopes could be dashed at any time, as they were before.

Windels, on the other hand, said he wanted to get under the knife as soon as possible to help his wingman. There were a number of times that he fought with the hospital to move appointments up, because he didn’t want Cola to have to remain sick for longer than he had to.

“I was very relaxed compared to Henry,” Cola said. “He wanted it done right away. Throughout the whole process he kept apologizing, saying ‘I’m sorry this is taking so long.’”

Windels was cleared to donate in late September, and the surgery was set for Oct. 6. Cola called his kidney specialist the Saturday before to cancel his scheduled appointment on Oct. 5 and tell her the good news.

She told him it was just in time, because his kidney function was below 10 percent and she had planned to discuss him going on dialysis.

Cola said dialysis will prolong a patient’s life, but it makes receiving a kidney later more difficult and there are a number of quality of life issues associated with the treatment. “It’s a big strain on the body,” Cola said.

Successful Surgery

The surgery took longer than expected, but there were no complications and Cola’s new kidney immediately began to pick up the slack.

“The day after surgery, I’ve never seen him look so good or feel so good,” Aly said. “He was a different person.”

Cola said he is feeling much better since the surgery. He has begun to gain back the 30 pounds he lost, and his kidney function is back to normal. He said he still has some recovery and monitoring to undergo before he is cleared for work.

Windels said he recovered quickly and was back flying aboard a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane by mid-November. He said he was given no restrictions, but will follow up regularly with a doctor to be sure everything is going as expected.

“My doctor told me just to live my life. He didn’t say ‘lay off salt,’ or ‘do this that and the other thing,’” Windels said.

The two airmen have become much closer since the surgery and now hang out together on a regular basis. They even joke that Cola, a New York Giants fan, is part New York Jets fan now that he has Windels’ kidney.

Meanwhile, Cola and his wife said they are planning a fundraiser for Donate Life America, an organization dedicated to educating people on the benefits of donating and connecting them with different resources, and they have been volunteering through Volunteer New York to, among others, send care packages to troops overseas.

“I constantly think, ‘What do you say to the person who literally saved your life?’” Cola said.

“I think we can only thank him and show our thanks by paying it forward,” Aly said.

Peterson Museum a unique asset

by Rob L. Bussard
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

1/20/2016 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  -- Located within buildings that were constructed from 1928 through 1941, the Edward J. Peterson Air and Space Museum here is a free unique asset dedicated to telling the story of Peterson AFB, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"With only 11 field museums in the Air Force, Peterson is very lucky to have one" said Gail Whalen, the museum director. "It is here that the history of the base is told to visitors by our displays and our complement of over 50 volunteers, called docents."

The docents provide a warm welcome and appear eager to explain Peterson's history. It began life as the first Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, then in 1942 the area was leased by the city to the Army Air Forces and renamed Colorado Springs Army Air Base. Later its name changed again to Peterson Army Air Base in honor of 1st Lt. Edward J. Peterson, a World War II Army Air Corps pilot and Colorado native who was killed in a crash here on Aug. 8, 1942.

Docents will tell visitors that as a B-24 bomber training and aerial photo reconnaissance training base, Peterson prepared Soldiers for WWII action. Once WWII ended, the base returned to its origins as the municipal airport. Then in 1951 the base was reactivated as an airfield supporting the relatively new USAF Air Defense Command.

"The base has always had an association with air defense, both U.S. and North American air defense," said Jeffrey Nash, the museum's assistant director. "And it still does today with the very first Air Force space wing."

In addition to being an Air Force field museum, the age-old facilities are on the National Register of Historic Places and are also considered a Colorado State Historic District.

"The museum has an agreement with the 21st Space Wing that because of the historical designations, the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron will maintain the structures in as much of their original condition as possible," Nash said.

The museum consists of four original structures - the airport passenger terminal, two identical aircraft hangars and the original airport manager's home, now known as "The Spanish House."

The terminal was built in 1941 and reflects the Art Deco architectural movement of that time. Serving as the entry point to the museum complex, period styling and fixtures attest that it was built to be a Colorado Springs showplace. It houses the museum gift shop, theater, and various exhibits related to early Colorado Springs aviation and WWII Peterson Field.

Built in 1928, one of the hangars is known as the City Hangar and is the oldest structure of the museum. It houses a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft that was restored by museum volunteers.

"That P-47 was my initial introduction to the museum," Nash said. "As a volunteer prior to gaining employment here, it took a team of us slightly more than five years to restore it. In 2005 it was ready and put on display."

The City Hangar also contains various missile assemblies, various space satellites, radar displays and the crown jewel - a ballistic missile launch control facility mock-up. Other NORAD and CMAFS displays dot the large structure.

The other hangar was built in 1930. Known as the Broadmoor Hangar, it's a duplicate of the City Hangar. Nash explained that future plans are to expand the museum's visitor and exhibit space into it, after restoring the hangar inside and out to return the features of its original design.

Within a circle created by these three landmarks, an award-winning airpark with over 16 U.S. and Canadian aircraft and missiles reside as outdoor static displays for visitors to roam and learn about. Designed by museum staff to be a walk through time, each display has an informational plaque for visitors to peruse as they learn about air defense of North America during the Cold War.

There are also four other off-campus static aircraft strategically located at different areas around base, along with a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on Peterson Road.

The museum is popular with civilian tourists.

"We average over 20,000 visitors a year" said Nash, "and most of those visitors have no military affiliation."

Visitors without a form of military ID will require a visitor's pass, which can be arranged by calling (719) 556-4915, or requesting one via their online form found at the museum website at http://petemuseum.org/.

Langley Airmen share 'Full Spectrum' experience across nations

by Tech. Sgt. Katie Gar Ward
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/22/2016 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.  -- A group of U.S. Airmen recently returned from performing a mission to educate, enrich and inspire the lives of not only fellow Service members, but also millions of international community members in Southwest Asia and the Middle East.

But instead of carrying weapons, these Airmen carried instruments.

The group was part of the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band's high-energy ensemble known as "Full Spectrum," based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.  Now home after its 110-day deployment, members of Full Spectrum reflect on their mission of bridging cultures through the universal language of music.

Full Spectrum was created in 2013 to support U.S. and coalition forces deployed to Southwest Asia.  On its most recent deployment, Full Spectrum broke new ground in various regions through its community outreach efforts, and was even featured alongside comedian Conan O'Brien during his deployment tour with first lady Michelle Obama.

According to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Bennett Weidemann, Full Spectrum noncommissioned officer in charge and drummer, the band's deployed mission goes beyond entertainment for Service members by also touching the lives of the international community.

"We played roles as ambassadors for the United States, not just the Air Force," he said.  "To be able to share these [musical] experiences is a once in a lifetime thing.  The relationships that it builds and positive energy that it brings to what's going on over there can't be replaced or recreated."

Many of the band's outreach efforts entailed visits to local schools, which included performances, question and answer sessions and "master classes," where band members had the opportunity to mentor student musicians.

Weidemann said one of his most memorable experiences took place during a school performance in Kuwait City, where approximately 250 children were singing along to American pop music.

"We were floored [that] they knew all the words to all the songs. They were so loud I couldn't hear my own instrument because it was just a wall of sound," he said.  "[That's when] you know that you are doing the right things and bringing the right message. What a tremendous feeling that is for all of us on stage to be able to experience that and share that with [the children].  It's something I think only a military band can really create because music is a universal language -- something that everybody knows."

Staff Sgt. Jordan Kimble, Full Spectrum's bass guitarist, said the most enjoyable aspects of the band's mission was providing support to other deployed Service members during visits to various military installations.

"Music was just a small part.  Most of it was the human interaction, but the music opens the door," said Kimble. "When people get to share their life, they open up and release some of that burden onto you, and we'll gladly take it.  Music is what connects us to everyone and what opens the door to have those relationships."

During their time in Kuwait, Full Spectrum also participated in the "Discover America" program, a two-week event sponsored by the U.S. Embassy that showcases American culture, ranging from food, to entertainment, to travel.

The band's role in the event included several performances at malls, on local radio stations and in local televisions shows.  What started as a few small performance ideas grew into one of the most dynamic events for the embassy in years, said Weidemann.

"Once the word got out on social media that there was a live American band in Kuwait, we didn't sleep much for the next 10 days," he said.  "It was like we were the 'Kuwaiti Beatles.'"

The band was also featured on a Kuwaiti late-night show, which was the first time in the region American music was aired on live television.

"There's no live music in Kuwait, so it almost makes you giddy because it was so fun and exciting," said Weidemann.  "We were able to build bridges and partnerships on behalf of the embassy, the ambassador and the state department.  That isn't something that usually happens, and an Air Force band was the one who was able to make that happen."

Kimble said the scope of the band's efforts during "Discover America" became clear after a conversation with the U.S. ambassador.

"At the end of all of our gigs, [the ambassador] came up to us and said, 'In the 30 years I've been working in the embassy, I've never seen a group bridge as many cultural gaps as you did this past week. The impact you had was amazing,'" said Kimble.  "It spoke volumes [about] our band, but more so to what music in general can do, how music and American music can bridge cultural barriers."

While often thought of as just black notes across white pages, for Full Spectrum and other modern military bands, music can bring cultures into a brilliant chorus, using words that transcend all languages and creating harmonies that unite all voices.


Full Spectrum's performance with Conan O'Brien is scheduled to air on Jan. 25 at 11 p.m. on TBS.

Red Flag 16-1 prepares for takeoff

by 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

1/22/2016 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Red Flag 16-1 is scheduled to begin Jan. 25 and will conclude Feb. 12. Base officials want to remind southern Nevada residents that they may notice increased military aircraft activity during this time period.

Aircraft are scheduled to depart Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada twice a day and participate in the exercise for up to five hours. Flying times are scheduled to accommodate other flying missions at the base and provide Red Flag participants with valuable training in planning and executing a wide variety of combat missions and exercise scenarios to validate joint and coalition operations.

According to the official Red Flag 16-1 press release - which can be viewed here: http://www.nellis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123466684 - this exercise will include aircraft from 24 different U.S. Air Force squadrons; four flying squadrons from both the Royal Australian Air Force and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force.

The 414th Combat Training Squadron, assigned to the 57th Wing, is responsible for executing Red Flag. The exercise is one out of a series of advanced training programs administered at Nellis AFB and on the Nevada Test and Training Range by organizations assigned to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.

Red Flag began in 1975 strictly as an aerial combat exercise but has evolved to include warfighting across air, space and cyberspace domains for United States and coalition air forces. The exercise has provided training for more than 440,000 military personnel, including more than 145,000 aircrew members flying more than 385,000 sorties and logging more than 660,000 hours of flying time.

Flying squadrons and assigned personnel deploy to Nellis AFB for Red Flag under the Air Expeditionary Force concept and make up the exercise's "Blue" forces. Blue forces are able to utilize the diverse capabilities of their aircraft to execute specific missions, such as air interdiction, combat search and rescue, close air support, dynamic targeting and defensive counter air on the NTTR.

The NTTR is north of Las Vegas - the range is the U.S. Air Force's premier military training area with more than 15,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land. With 1,900 possible targets, realistic threat systems and an opposing enemy force that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.

Nellis AFB and the NTTR are the home of a simulated battlefield, providing combat air forces with the ability to train to fight together in a peacetime environment to survive and win together.

The exercise also prepares maintenance personal, ground controllers, space and cyber operators to support the mission within the same tactical environment.

For more information about Red Flag, call the 99th ABW Public Affairs office at (702) 652-2750 or view the Red Flag fact sheet here.

Carter: U.S. Welcomes Rise in Power of Asia-Pacific Nations

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, January 23, 2016 — China as a rising power is a major factor in Asia and the South China Sea that’s welcomed by the United States in almost every way, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday.

The secretary spoke in the forum’s global security panel with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore.

While Carter said he does not believe conflict between the United States and China is inevitable, he added, “It’s certainly not desirable. I don't think it's likely.”

More Nations on the Rise

China's rise is not the only one going on in Asia, he said, noting that India and Japan also are rising military powers, while other nations such as Vietnam and the Philippines also are expanding.

“The U.S. point of view is the same one we've had long-standing, which is we welcome that,” Carter said. “I think we were the pivotal factor in making [an environment] in which over seven decades essentially everybody could follow their own destiny towards prosperity.”

Carter said the United States has “never tried to obstruct China's economic rise and the lifting of hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.”

“We've welcomed that,” he added.

At the same time, the United States wants the region to maintain a system of peace and stability, the secretary said. “We are not separate, we are not dividing the region, [and] we don't seek to ask people to take sides,” he told the forum audience. “We do know people are coming to us increasingly, … because China is taking some steps that I think are self-isolating [and] driving people toward us.”

U.S. Firmly Against Claims, Outposts

The United States has said nations in the Asia-Pacific region should not militarize, Carter said. “To be clear,” he added, “China is not the only one making claims we do not agree with, and they are not the only ones [with] military outposts. We oppose all of that.”

The United States will continue on the same path it’s taken in the Asia-Pacific region, the secretary said.

“We will fly, sail, operate everywhere international law permits in the South China Sea, [and] we will make investments that are intended to sustain our military position, despite these developments,” Carter said.

The United States helps countries in the region who seek assistance with maritime security, he said, adding that U.S. alliances are continuing to strengthen with nations that include Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, India and Vietnam.

Dialogue is Key With China

“It's not our preferred course to see self-isolating behavior by China, and yes, dialogue is the way … [toward] good results,” Carter said.

 “I look forward to working with all my colleagues in the region, including the Chinese, to get an outcome that's win-win-win-win for everybody,” he said. “That's what we've always stood for. Everybody rises. That's our philosophy.”

National Guard Aids Civil Authorities as Blizzard Pounds East Coast

By Steve Marshall National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., January 23, 2016 — As much of the East Coast hunkered down today in the midst of a ferocious winter storm, National Guard citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen were poised to assist local and state emergency agencies.

National Guard Bureau officials said more than 2,200 National Guard personnel from 12 states are supporting state and local authorities affected by the storm.

Governors in at least 11 states declared states of emergency, which enabled resources to be positioned to assist when the snow and high winds struck. Those states include: Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

National Guard soldiers are assisting Virginia State Police troopers and local emergency organizations in getting through heavy snow to respond to vehicle crashes and to evacuate residents who need medical assistance, and they also have helped to get equipment to a house fire.

400 Personnel Staged and Ready in Virginia

As of this morning, the Virginia Guard had about 400 personnel staged and ready in various portions of the state.

"I am extremely proud of how well our personnel are working as part of the commonwealth's multi-agency response team," said Army Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, Virginia’s adjutant general. “After we received the authorization from Governor [Terry] McAuliffe, we aggressively moved our forces into place so they would be ready to go when needed. It is great to see how the skills, experience and resources of our soldiers, airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force are able to assist the statewide effort to protect the citizens of the commonwealth."

The Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is providing mission command for the response operations in the field and is working almost 25 mission requests from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to provide support to several localities as well as the Virginia State Police in Northern Virginia and along the I-81 and US 29 corridors.

"The Virginia State Police is fortunate to have the National Guard as an additional resource to aid us in our storm response efforts," said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police superintendent. "When every second counts in an emergency situation, having the ability to respond as swiftly and safely as possible is essential for our troopers."

The Virginia National Guard also has soldiers, airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force on duty in Richmond, Sandston and Fort Pickett, where they are providing mission command, administrative and logistical support for the overall mission.

McAuliffe authorized up to 500 personnel for state active duty in his initial emergency declaration, and then he increased that number to 700. The Guard could bring additional personnel on duty if needed, officials said.

The Nation’s Capital, Delaware, New York

In Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser was emphatic to residents: "It has life and death implications, and (people) should treat it that way," she said. "People should hunker down, shelter in place and stay off the roads." The National Guard deployed 100 personnel in 30 Humvees to transport essential employees throughout the nation's capital.

Further north in Delaware, soldiers and airmen were busy with storm response.

"We are in constant communication with [the Delaware Emergency Management Agency] and all first responders in the state," said Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, Delaware’s adjutant general. "Pre-positioning our soldiers, airmen and vehicles allowed us to be the ready and reliable force we are."

The Delaware National Guard has about 200 soldiers and airmen positioned around the state to support the citizens of Delaware throughout the storm. In coordination with DEMA, they conduct support missions ensuring that Delawareans are transported to safety and first responders and medical workers arrive to work safely.

The New York National Guard has pre-positioned 40 vehicles and 95 soldiers and airmen in the New York City and Long Island areas who are available to respond to aid local governments if directed by the governor.

Arkansas Response Winds Down

Guard personnel in Arkansas wound down their storm response yesterday. Initially, the Arkansas National Guard deployed six truck teams and three command and control support cells for 27 Humvees and 54 personnel.

Yesterday's mission closures sent truck teams back to their readiness centers. The next step for these Guard members is to refuel, resupply and prepare the equipment to stand ready for the next mission.

Each truck team consists of four Humvee vehicles and eight National Guard service members.

During the early hours of the winter storm, the Arkansas Guard truck teams reported treacherous road conditions as sleet and snow rapidly began to accumulate across the central and southeastern regions of the state. The overnight roving patrols logged over 1,000 miles and located 18 abandoned vehicles, transported three stranded motorists to local gas stations, transported three state troopers and worked several accidents involving 18-wheelers.