55Th Assn Newsletter
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Videmus Omnia 55th WING ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2019 Assn OPR: Presenter, Ham Kennedy PRESIDENT’S CORNER th 55 Wing Assn Check Donation Airplanes are not the only Presentation: USAF Ball Committee things which fly for the ($550) Presenter, Don “Husker” Kelly Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth! Assn OPR: Max Moore The calendar certainly 2019 Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth Heritage Week: does, as well! Where in the Assn OPR: Mike “Coach” Hoskins world is 2019 going?! Hall of Fame: New inductees: With deference to Elizabeth Capt (Sep) Ken Prater and Barrett Browning, CMSgt (Ret) Carl Edmiston “…Let me count the Palm Trophy: 2019 O’Malley Award Winner ways…”: (USAF Best Recon Crew, FIXX 74) “Tales of the 55th”: Historic Flood: Offutt AFB (OAFB), NE 343rd RS Flood Recovery, RAF Rivet on “The Ides of March” 2019 Joint Integration; 338th RS 20th 55th Wing Assn Reunion /Recon Anniversary (Assn’s VP RJ McMahon), Rendezvous: Omaha April 2019 USAF Birthday: #72! 55th Wing/Assn Monument Dedication: USAF Birthday Ball: Guest Speaker (former Omaha National Cemetery (ONC) 55th Wing/CC) LtGen John Shanahan Assn OPR: Mike Hoskins Assn Award for Excellence: Recipient, Mike 55th Wing Commander Change: Colonel “Coach” Hoskins Michael Manion to Colonel Gavin Marks 55th Wing HQ offices on-going relocation to 55th Wing Vice Commander Change: Colonel OAFB Bldg. 500, formerly HQ SAC Sheri Levan to Colonel Jon Shumate Currently HQ USSTRATCOM (in progress 55th Wing Director of Staff Change: LtCol of moving to new state-of-the-art facility) Aaron Gray to LtCol Steve Payne 55th Wing Assn/55th Fighter Group Wreath And yet, more on-going or coming before 2019 Laying: Madingley American Cemetery closes out: (Cambridge, UK) Doolittle Award: AFHF to 55th Wing for Assn OPR: Jim Thomas in concert Historical Unit Legacy (more following) with the 95th RS, RAF Mildenhall Assn OPR: Bill Strandberg National Cemetery Clean-up: OAFB Base Wing Commander Dinner: TBD Cemetery (Awaiting his availability) Assn OPR: Jim Thomas Assn OPR: Pres Joe Spivey Memorial Day Ceremonies: Omaha National 55th Wing/Assn ONC Monument and Offutt Base Cemeteries Rededication: TBD before end of year. Memorial Day USAF Wreath Laying: ONC 1 Newly engraved granite base is navigator) is the technical mastermind behind this installed; 55th Wing monument is just the implementation, which is already in use. second in ONC—other is for Of course, hard copy membership forms, checks Vietnam Veterans and mail still work, especially for new members to 2021 Recon Rendezvous: Tucson, AZ: record their veteran status and contact info. Continued planning But, this methodology is more likely to be “user Assn OPR: Val Dugie friendly” for tech savvy future/prospective members On-line membership registrations: and/or renewals. More on this as the test progresses. Test period on-going The other is the planning, Board member Val Assn OPR: Jon Adams Dugie, is spearheading, for our next reunion in By-laws Review: TBD Tucson (Val’s hometown and, home (D-M AFB) to Assn OPR: Kurt Kramer the Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth’s Electronic Combat Group RIVET AMBER Monument: TBD with (ECG). Since we rendezvoused earlier this year, the 45th RS fund-raising on-going. actual Tucson date remains TBD; but look for more Remaining 55th Wing HQ offices relocation to info as Val finalizes details. OAFB Bldg. 500 on going As you can see, YOUR Association remains On-going OAFB Runway Reconstruction committed to “Honoring Those Who Served and Assn OPR: Mark Schenck Serving Those Who Do”. Thanks to all in our ranks Construction of 55th Operations Group who make this possible! consolidated facility/flood recovery Videmus Omnia, Assn OPR: Mo Krishna Spy V As you read through this latest “Max * * * * * Production,” you will get even more exciting TH detailed articles on your Association’s recent 55 WING CHANGE OF activities and insightful glimpses into our future. COMMAND 2019 has turned into a year celebrating and memorializing the fraternal bond the Association shares with the active duty Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth. Including the memorials mentioned above, the Association jointly received proclamations from several civic organizations highlighted by Congressman (NE-2, former 55th Wing/CC and current Association member) Don “Bits” Bacon’s Congressional Record Proclamation. Additionally, 2019 is a year of anniversaries: 25 years since the 45th RS reconstituted (previously, 24th SRS/RS) as part of the 55th Wing; 20 years ago th the 338 CTS stood-up, and it’s been 20 years since Major General Mary O’Brien presents the 55th the Wing’s inception of what is now the Hall of Wing guidon to Colonel Gavin Marks. Fame—just to name a few. 55th Wing Command Chief Brian Thomas (center) Now, we face the future. was the guidon bearer. In my crystal ball, I see two significant (Photo by Charles Hammond, 55th Wing Public Affairs.) challenges as we begin the year’s last quarter. Both are on-going; and I hope, exciting for our members. Colonel Gavin P. Marks took command of the We are currently running a test program for on- 55th Wing at a ceremony on 14 June 2019 in Dock line membership registrations, renewals and dues 1 of the Benny Davis Maintenance Facility. payments. Jon Adams (one of our up-and-coming He replaced Colonel Michael H. Manion who “young bucks” still serving as a NebAirNatlGuard was awarded the Legion of Merit by the officiating 2 officer, Major General O’Brien, Commander, 25th Ostrand, respectively; and the Mission Support Air Force. His next assignment is at the Pentagon. Group. The latter commander is Colonel Alan MajGen O’Brien noted that the Fightin’ Fifty- Dayton, a former 55th crewdog, and who is a long Fifth is the largest wing in Air Combat Command, time Association member. Numerous squadron and has the highest operations tempo of any Air commanders also changed chairs. Force unit. Colonel Marks is a 1996 graduate of the USAF * * * * * Academy and his previous assignment was Vice BOARD OF DIRECTORS Commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker AFB, OK, with E-4 AWACS aircraft. DIRECTORY A command pilot, Colonel Marks has had Association Business/Policy/Issues: assignments in the Air Force Intern Program in the President Joe Spivey Office of the Secretary of Defense, International 25014 Farnam Circle Security Affairs, Pentagon; US Joint Forces Waterloo, NE, 68069 Command’s Joint Warfighting Center; he then E-mail: [email protected] commanded the 99th Flying Training Sqd at Vice President Ricky McMahon Randolph AFB, TX, before attending the National 14325 Orlando Road War College, Washington, DC, where he earned Nokesville, VA 20181 distinguished graduate honors. E-mail: [email protected] He and his wife, Deborah, have two teenage Membership/Dues/Changes of Address: children. Treasurer Michael Cook Among the several dignitaries in attendance 3204 Rahn Blvd included were General Michael Hyten, Bellevue, NE 68123 Commander US Strategic Command; Nebraska E-mail: [email protected] governor, Pete Ricketts; LtGeneral (Ret) Leo Secretary Trish Seinwill Smith, a former vice CINCSAC; and 9335 Branchside Lane Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1). Fairfax, VA, 22031 The Association was represented by President E-mail: [email protected] Joe Spivey, and Broad members, Ham Kennedy, Newsletter Editor Max Moore Mo Krishna, Max Moore and Colonel Dave 201 Basswood Court Priesman. Former 55th SRW commander, Colonel Bellevue, NE 68005-2001 (Ret) Steve Stevens, and former (and last) 3902nd E-mail: [email protected] Air Base Wing commander Colonel (Ret) Dick Webmaster Jim Maloney Purdum and his wife, Lorraine attended. 7908 Kona Circle Former 55th Command Chief (Ret) Michael Papillion, NE 68046-5619 Parente (who was also the last command chief of E-mail: [email protected] the 3902nd) and the former Chief Master Sgt of the Awards Chairman Hamilton Kennedy Air Force (#6) James McCoy and his wife, Kathy, 13701 S. 129th St were there. Springfield, NE 68059 Also: 55th Wingmen Frank Kumor, Rita [email protected] Sanders, Jeff Wilke and Cathy Williams attended. * * * * * Other Members of the Board of Directors: As seems to be a bi-annual summer pattern, a Bill Ernst, Jim Thomas, Errol Hoberman, new 55th Wing vice commander, Colonel Jon Fox Censullo, George Ross, Don Kelly, Paul Shumate, an EC-130 veteran, arrived in early July. Jeanes, Val Dugie, Mohan Krishna, Bill Plus, there were three Group changes of command McKechnie. Active Duty Representative: Colonel that month; the Communications and Medical, David Priesman. Colonel Steven Wieland and Colonel Julie 3 Appointed Historian: Fifty 55th Wing, and associated units and William (Bill) Sargent offices, are sent the newsletter for PR purposes, and 2711 Northwood Circle to keep them connected with the Association, and Papillion, NE, 68133 vice versa. [email protected] Occasionally, this effort has a payoff of exposure for the Association, and new active duty * * * * * members to the organization, now at 18, plus one TREASURER’S REPORT member of the Royal Air Force. * * * * * As of 30 September 2019, the treasury had an WHEN DO MY DUES EXPIRE? account balance (rounded) of 50,500. A significant portion of the money in the account comes from That is the most asked question of the dues paid in advance. Therefore, we membership chairman. That date is on the address must keep money in reserve for each label: 20XX. Please make a note of this year-date calendar year to which the dues apply. (31 December 20XX) to keep up with your dues. For example, dues paid for years thru IF 2019 IS ON THAT LABEL, NOW IS A 2022 are prorated and spent through GOOD TIME TO RENEW YOUR DUES. the ensuing years. If you are not sure of your dues expiration date, One optimistic gent is paid to inquire on same, please e-mail to through 2037, and another through [email protected]; or drop him a note at the 2048! For them that may be life memberships.