Wisconsin National Guard
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at ease October 2007 at ease Wisconsin National Guard From the top For the past five years Although we had a I’ve been honored to serve ceremonial change of as adjutant general of command ceremony the Wisconsin and commander first week of August and of the Wisconsin National I’d been involved in a Guard. full-scale state emergency It was an extraordi- a few weeks later, the nary time to be adjutant gravity of the position of general. Five years ago I adjutant general didn’t fully began my term the same set in until the last day of day Wisconsin Emergency August — the day before Management and the Wis- I formally assumed com- consin National Guard were mand — when I stood responding to a tornado in with General Wilkening in Ladysmith, and five years Oshkosh to welcome troops later we were recovering home from their dangerous from devastating floods in year-long mission in Iraq. southern and southwestern It was a sobering reminder Wisconsin. Maj. Gen. Al Wilkening Brig. Gen. Donald P. Dunbar for me of the high stakes In between, we’ve involved with service in the participated in the largest mobilization of the Guard in more Wisconsin National Guard, and of the awesome responsibility than 60 years. Wisconsin has witnessed the incredible service I have been given by Governor Doyle to you and the citizens and sacrifice of 8,000 of our soldiers and airmen who’ve of Wisconsin. been called to serve. They have performed long, difficult and Words really fail to convey how impressed I am with the dangerous missions with the kind of skill and courage I have quality of the soldiers and airmen of the Wisconsin National witnessed time and again from the men and women who serve Guard. You are out there doing important work for our state in the Wisconsin National Guard. Wisconsin Guard soldiers and nation every hour of every day, and you’re doing it excep- were wounded in action for the first time since World War II. tionally well. We have welcomed our heroes safely back to Wisconsin. And As I begin my term as adjutant general of Wisconsin we we lost eight Army National Guard soldiers who answered our are a nation — and a National Guard — at war. The months nation’s call and never returned. and years ahead will most certainly bring more mobilizations, In the past five years I have been impressed, inspired and present new challenges, cause additional hardships, and proud. I have been incredibly happy and I’ve been indescrib- demand further sacrifices. But I already know there is no mis- ably sad. It’s been an amazing five years. sion you will be assigned that you will not accomplish with the As I leave the position of adjutant general, I turn the finest same selflessness and courage that has always characterized National Guard in the nation over to a first-rate officer and a the soldiers and airmen of the Wisconsin National Guard. strong leader who will be an outstanding adjutant general. I look forward to leading you, supporting you, and serving Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar is superbly qualified to lead the Guard with you. You are the very best National Guard soldiers and and the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs into the future. airmen in the nation and I am proud to be associated with you Don, you have the stick. as we work together to serve Wisconsin and America. Since the last issue of At Ease was published, 26 Wisconsin service members have lost their lives in service to their country: n Marine Lance Cpl. Adam VanAlstine, 21, Superior n Marine Lance Cpl. Jesse Tillery, 19, Vesper n Marine Lance Cpl. Eric Palmisano, 27, Florence n Marine Capt. Kevin Kryst, 27, West Bend n Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Nathan Vacho, 29, n Marine Cpl. Joshua Schmitz, 21, Spencer Janesville n Army Pvt. Evan Bixler, 27, West Bend n Army Spc. Eric Clark, 22, Pleasant Prairie n Army Cpl. Matthew Grimm, 21, Wisconsin Rapids n Army Spc. Grant Dampier, 25, Merrill n Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Matus, 19, Cheteck n Navy Reserve Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class n Army Spc. Jon St. John III, 25, Neenah Jaime Jaenke, 29, Bay City n Marine Lance Cpl. Harry Timberman, 20, Minong n Army National Guard Cpl. Stephen Castner, 27, n Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Robert Basham, 22, Cedarburg Kenosha n Army National Guard Sgt. Ryan Jopek, 20, Merrill n Army Pfc. Nicholas Riehl, 21, Shiocton n Army Cpl. Kenneth Cross, 21, Superior n Army Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Albrecht, 31, Hager City n Army Spc. Shaun Novak, 21, Two Rivers n Army Sgt. Tyler J. Kritz, 21, Eagle River n Marine Sgt. Luke Zimmerman, 24, Luxemburg n Marine Cpl. Matthew Zindars, 21, Watertown n Army Capt. Rhett Schiller, 26, Waterford n Army Capt. Derek Dobogai, 26, Fond du Lac 2 at ease October 2007 atat easeease The issue of At Ease in your hands is, at 52 pages, by far the thickest edition we’ve produced in the 30 year history of this publication — both as a tabloid newspaper and, for the past five years, as a magazine. It’s also taken the longest time to plan, write, edit, design and print — as we’ve scrambled to cover an impressive organization fully engaged across the nation and at ease around the world. Volume 29 Number 1 This issue reaches back to January 2006 to capture the some of the stories of Wisconsin Soldiers and Airmen been do- Official Magazine of the Wisconsin ing important and dangerous work all over the planet. You’ve Army and Air National Guard served from the Southwestern United States to Southwest Asia. You’ve kept the peace in Kosovo and helped your neighbors in The Adjutant General: Brig. Gen. Donald P. Dunbar Wisconsin. You should be very proud. Deputy Adjutant General Army: Brig. Gen. James A. Krueck A few of our stories have aged a bit, but are still worth tell- Deputy Adjutant General Air: Brig. Gen. Gerald C. Olesen ing. Other stories are so fresh the ink is barely dry. But we Director of Public Affairs: Lt. Col. Tim Donovan hope you’ll sit back and soak up some of the Wisconsin National At Ease Staff: Guard history you have written. Editor: Kelly Bradley Photo and Copy Editor: Larry Sommers Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, Public Affairs Officer Contributing staff writers and photojournalists: Features Maj. Jacqueline Guthrie Sgt. Sara Roeske Maj. Scott Southworth Sgt. Gretel Sharpee 4 Conversation with Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar Master Sgt. Michael Schlafman Spc. Meghan Phillips 6 Changing of the Guard Staff Sgt. Brian Jopek Spc. Kevin Schultz Staff Sgt. Terry Ruggles Spc. Christina Beerman 10 Through Thick and Thin Sgt. Jim Wagner Maj. Chris Rodel Sgt. Mary Flynn Tech. Sgt. Paul Gorman 18 Snapshots: Wisconsin Guard in Photos Staff. Sgt. Emily Russell Tech. Sgt. Daniel Richardson 26 Troubled Waters 1st Lt. Adam Bradley Senior Airman Nathan Wallin 28 Back to the Border How to Reach Us 32 Black Hawks over Kosovo E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (608) 242-3055 Fax: (608) 242-3051 35 Exercise Global Patriot Address: Department of Military Affairs; Attn: Kelly Bradley 2400 Wright Street; Madison, WI 53708-8111 38 Commanders-in-Chief 42 Wisconsin Governors at War Submissions For photo or story submissions, please call (608) 242-3055 or 43 Homage to Huey e-mail [email protected] for our StyleGuide. 48 Getting Their Feet Wet Change of Address 50 On the Road Again Current Guardmembers: At Ease gets your current mailing address from your unit records. No special notification is necessary. Guard retirees, civilian and institutional addressees: Departments Change of address notification should be sent to Sarah Mautz at the address below: 2 From the Top 8 In Memoriam / News Briefs Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs; Attn: Sarah Mautz 2400 Wright Street; Madison, WI 53704-2572 Phone: (608) 242-3153 E-mail: [email protected] On the Cover: An F/A-18 Hornet is refueled by a KC-135R The Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard’s At Ease magazine is an from the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwau- authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the At Ease are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the kee. Navy fighters use a drogue basket U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army or Air Force. The editorial hooked to the boom of the KC-135 for air- content of this publication is the responsibility of the Wisconsin National to-air refueling. The 128th Air Refueling Guard Public Affairs Officer. Printed by Royle Printing, a private firm in no Wing turned 60 this year. way connected with the U.S. Government under exclusive written contract with the Wisconsin National Guard. Circulation: 18,000. Wisconsin Air National Guard photo October 2007 3 Wisconsin’s 30th Adjutant General A Conversation With BRIGADIER GENERAL DON DUNBAR EDITOR’S NOTE: Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar sat down with At Ease Sept. 10 after completing his first full week as Wisconsin’s adjutant general. In a far-ranging conversation, General Dunbar talked about his experience, his first impressions, and his role in Wisconsin’s homeland security. Here are some excerpts: Q. Tell us about your background…what are the steps you’ve of soldiers and airmen who come from active duty, many who are taken to get to the Adjutant General’s office? “traditional” from start to finish, and then you have some folks who are AGR (Active Guard and Reserve) or technicians.