Chief Pfingston Loses Fight with Cancer SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) — Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gary R
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COMMANDER’S CORNER: COL. RAYMOND - PROUD TO BE A KNIGHT – PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, June 28, 2007 Vol. 51 No. 13 Chief Pfingston loses fight with cancer SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) — Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gary R. Pfingston died of cancer June 23 in San Antonio. “Today the Air Force mourns the loss of a great enlisted leader,” said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. “Gary’s life was a shining example of service to our nation and we will miss him greatly.” Chief Pfingston was the 10th chief master sergeant of the Air Force and held this highest Air Force enlisted position during Desert Storm, the first Gulf War. He served as CMSAF from August 1990 to October 1994. Gen. Merrill McPeak was the chief of staff during Chief Pfingston’s tenure. “Chief Gary Pfingston was an American who always put his country first, a father who always put his family first, and a simply great NCO who always put the Air Force first,” said General McPeak. “I don’t know how he did this, how he managed to put three things first, seeming to violate the laws of physics. Maybe he was able to do it because he never paid any attention to himself, and that made a lot of room for the things he loved.” Chief Pfingston was born in Evansville, Ind., on Jan. 2, 1940. He played minor league baseball before enlisting in the Air Force on February 23, 1962, as an aircraft mechanic. He attended aircraft mechanics technical school at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, in the summer of 1962 after gradu- ating from Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas. He served as a B-52 Stratofortress crew chief at Castle AFB, Calif., from 1962 to 1968, and then worked on B-52s and KC-135 Stratotankers at Plattsburgh AFB, N.Y., from photo Air Force U.S. 1968 to 1972. Retired Chief Master Sgt. Gary Pfingston, the 10th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, died of cancer June 23 in San Antonio. After serving in Thailand at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Base for a year between 1972 and 1973, he became a military Forces Headquarters, Hickam AFB, Hawaii. BAS for Airmen living in field conditions and toward in- training instructor at Lackland AFB in 1973. In 1979, he On Aug. 1, 1990, he became the chief master sergeant of creasing Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance amounts. became commandant of the Military Training Instructor the Air Force. Chief Pfingston’s focus during his tenure was His toughest challenge was Air Force downsizing. With School. He became a first sergeant in 1982 and then be- tackling the Air Force’s drawdown and budget. After basic a goal of avoiding involuntary separations during the on- tween 1984 and 1990 he was a senior enlisted adviser at allowance for substance issues arose during increased de- George AFB, Calif.; Bergstrom AFB, Texas; and Pacific Air ployments surrounding Gulf War I, he worked to continue See Chief page 14 Free camp will help children of deployed servicemembers By Corey Dahl Lessons in manners and self-discipline Without the donations, the camp would Space Observer won’t come without a hearty dose of fun, have cost a little more than $150,000 to run, About the camp Children of servicemembers about to though, Mr. Hart said. Kids at the camp, Mr. Hart said, at a cost of $375 per child. deploy will be able to attend a unique day who will range in age from middle school “Lots of people have come behind this Operation Military Kids Character Camps camp this summer – free of charge. to early high school, may play laser tag as and really helped make it happen,” he said. run July 23 to 26 and July 30 to Aug. 2 from Character Concepts, a nonprofit founda- teams, teaching the value of community If the community continues to provide 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch provided. tion run by the Aesir Group, a business ed- over self, or they might try bowling blind- donations, Mr. Hart said, the camp could The camp is free and open to children en- ucation firm, is organizing two four-day folded, requiring their peers to guide them become an annual event. With the National tering sixth through 10th grades with a camps for children that will use games, through the process. Military Family Association estimating that parent who is deployed, has deployed re- classes and team-building exercises to teach “One of our goals is to make sure the kids there are roughly 5,000 children of de- values such as respect and responsibility. have fun,” he said. ‘We want them to enjoy ploying or deployed military members in cently or will deploy soon. The camp is made possible thanks to dona- being at a day camp but learn while they’re Colorado alone, Mr. Hart said he would like To register, visit www.aesirgroup.com. Click tions from local businesses and individuals. there.” to see the program expand to as many as on the button that says “Character Geared toward children with a parent The whole program is possible because eight camps per summer, accommodating Programs” and then the link that says who is deployed, has deployed recently or is of donations from the community. A donor roughly 1,300 kids. “Middle School” to find an online registra- preparing to deploy soon, the camp is meant who wishes to remain anonymous is pro- Impossible? He doesn’t think so. A re- tion form. to help children better cope with their viding the bulk of the money for the camp, tired Army major, Mr. Hart said he and parent’s absence, said George Hart, Aesir he said, while others have donated goods many other local military retirees will do Interested parents can also call 785-4823 Group chief executive officer. or deeply discounted their services. whatever they can to give back to their to request information and a registration “When one member of your family is de- Steve Bigari, for example, is allowing the former colleagues. form by phone. ployed, a lot of things fall on the kid – stress, camp to use Bigg City at a discount for two “A lot of us here are former military,” he Organizers would like participants to register extra responsibilities,” he said. “We want to days while the Air Force Academy will allow said. “When we were active duty, the com- by July 6; camps are limited to 160 children give them some tools to deal with that both the camp to use its grounds, free of charge, munity did all kinds of things for us, so this each. internally and externally.” for the other two. is our way of giving back now. INSIDE Airmen on the big screen Life saver News 1-5 Movie makers team with military to create Reservist’s 8-year-old daughter saves 21st Space Wing Briefs 7 realism drowning toddler Change of Command Around the AF 8 10 a.m. Sports 18 Page 13 Page 17 Page 7 Athlete of the Week 19 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, June 28, 2007 ©2006 Northrop Grumman Corporation >j]]\geakl`]^YZja[ l`Ylmfal]kmk& We’re proud to support the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, whose diligence and courage make freedom possible today and for the future. www.northropgrumman.com SPACE OBSERVER www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, June 28, 2007 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. John Raymond COMMANDER’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Toni Tones Editorial Staff Proud to be a Knight Chief of Internal Information Steve Brady By Col. John Raymond War on Terror, is so vital to our nation and our Managing Editor 21st Space Wing commander Col. theater warfighting partners. Rob Larimer To the men and women of the 21st Space John Raymond These responsibilities cannot be taken Staff Reporter Wing, please accept my sincere thanks on lightly; flawless operations must be our stan- Corey Dahl behalf of my entire family for your efforts in dard…not our goal. As your wing com- Assistant Production Manager supporting our transition back to Peterson Air 21st Space mander, it will be my standard to provide you Jeff Adcox Force Base, and most importantly back to the Wing an environment that allows us to relentlessly 21st Space Wing – it is great to be here. commander strive for excellence. Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado A special thanks to Mr. Al Strait and his Next week as we celebrate the independ- Springs, 80903, a private firm in no way connected team who superbly planned and executed ence of our great nation, I ask each of you to with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written con- tract with the 21st Space Wing. This commercial today’s change of command ceremony. The while there I had the privilege of working take a moment to reflect on the privilege it is enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized pub- dedication and attention to detail you dis- to serve our country and protect our way of life. lication for members of the U.S. military services. alongside 21st Space Wing Airmen de- played were evident to all who attended and you Let’s also take a moment to remember the 209 Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily ployed to deliver these vital space effects. the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.