A small fortune

Alex Vadis Teye, 9, admires the money donated by American military members in Africa to pay for his surgery. Alex visited the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana Feb. 22 to accept the donation that came from a response to his parents' plea for help. Alex suffers from hydrocephalus, a common birth defect which causes an excess of water in the brain. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Hodonou Motepke, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician, and native African, initiated a drive to raise the money to pay for Alex's surgery. This is Sergeant Motepke’s first trip back to Africa in 10 years. The U.S. military presence in Ghana is in support of U.S. President George Bush's visits to the continent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson)

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Hollis Dawson

Air Force Lt. Gen. Rod Bishop (center right) and Army Brig. Gen Steve Lanza (center left), Joint Task Force - Nomad Fire commander and deputy commander respectively, receive a commander's update briefing on the daily operations of the activities associated with U.S. President George W. Bush's five-nation visit to Africa. JTF-NF was established to provide various support functions including for Air Force One as well as aeromedical support, command and control support, and helicopter support in Liberia.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson

Tech. Sgt. Sarah Gordon holds an orphaned infant at the Osu Children's Home in Accra, Ghana, Feb. 18. Sergeant Gordon is the Joint Task Force West personnelist in charge of contingency operations. She is just one of twenty-five Airmen who visited the home to hand out more than $500 dollars worth of needy supplies they purchased through personal donations. The Airmen are part of a joint task force providing infrastructure, aircraft and personnel in support of U.S. President George Bush's visits to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia Feb. 16 to 21.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson

ACCRA, Ghana – Master Sgt. Kevin Coleman, Joint Task Force West weather craftsman, hands out toys to orphaned children at the Osu Children's Home in Accra, Ghana, Feb. 18. Twenty-five Airmen visited the home to hand out more than $500 dollars worth of needy supplies they purchased through personal donations. The Airmen are part of a joint task force providing infrastructure, aircraft and personnel in support of U.S. President George Bush's visits to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia Feb. 16 to 21.

U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Kathy Ferrero

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- Loadmaster Staff Sgt. Jeff Smith surveys the fuel trucks and a tow bar for offloading from a C-17 after arriving here Feb. 15. More than 20 C-17s missions brought in the necessary equipment and personnel to support the president's visit to Tanzania. Sergeant Smith says he loves the traveling aspect of his job and is proud to support the president's mission to Africa.

U. S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Kathy Ferrero

Tech. Sgt. Billy Morris, contracting officer deployed here, arranges for a new boxed lunch provider Friday in Dar Es Salaam for the multiservice team deployed in support of President George Bush’s five-nation visit to Africa. Master Sgt. Jim Martinez, the joint task force’s eastern component finance officer, listens intently to any negotiations to analyze the costs. The two must work closely together to procure whatever goods the unit needs to accomplish their mission.