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  • Overcoming tragedy: A small town reaches out

    On May 26, 2011, our squadron received the horrible news about Staff Sgt. Joe Hamski, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance disposal craftsman, who recently made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. Joe's death was especially tough for us, because his wife Christina is also an Air Force

  • In a Word: Opportunity

    I remember the day like it was just last week: I was sitting in my seventh-period high school English class in Turlock, Calif., late summer of 1980. The windows were open, but that offered no relief from the sweltering heat. I had done my homework, but many others hadn't, so the teacher was going

  • The first step is the hardest

    It started with an assignment I wasn't too keen on taking. We all have them, where we have already been there, done that and wanted something else. I knew the assignment would be difficult since I recently retrained into a different career field. I hadn't expected or been told before arriving that I

  • The Air Force Wife - Life Is a Classroom

    As an Air Force spouse, I've had an incredible journey. I met my husband, Sam, in the Philippines in 1982. He was at his first duty station at Clark Air Base, living in the dormitory. Back then, single Airmen lived in the dormitory with at least two per room. Sam's roommate, Romeo, was a Filipino

  • Air Force leaders issue Memorial Day message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz send the following Memorial Day message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:As we pause this Memorial Day to honor those who have died in service of our great Nation, it is also useful to

  • Remember those who served

    June has special significance for Americans and Europeans. On June 6, 1944, allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. As I reflect on the sacrifice "The Greatest Generation" made some 67 years ago, I can't help but think about a young man who I had the distinct honor to receive back home in

  • Photographer's insight: Personal experiences at Eifel Thunder 2011

    "I love you, Trey," I said."Gaahh," my 2-month-old son said with a big smile on his face while squeezing the blood circulation out of my index finger and rapidly kicking his fat little legs as if he was running a marathon.I could feel a couple of tears slowly trickling down my cheeks like rain drops

  • What you can't learn in a classroom

    Today was the day my oldest son, Phil, turned 7. I remember turning 7 very well -- it was the age I was finally allowed to have a Barbie! It was also the year I lost one of my best friends. It was a big year! But, today, Phil learned a little about the world around him, and I watched a bit of his

  • No frills needed when establishing short-notice bare base

    It began March 18 with a call from Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, that they needed a site survey to assess all aspects of operations, maintenance and mission support requirements at a Western European installation. The stand up of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, now

  • Sexual Assault Awareness Month

    Sexual assault quite often becomes the elephant in the room -- we all know it exists, but we don't like talking about it. I know hearing the same statistics over and over gets old, but if you take a second to absorb them, it can be quite sobering. "Of female sexual assault victims, 73 percent were