COMMANDER’S CORNER: GETTING IT DONE - PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, March 29, 2012 Vol. 56 No. 13 62nd Medal of Honor recipient added to memorial By Lea Johnson by a ground attack. Despite having little 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer combat training, Etchberger heroically and single-handedly held off the enemy with an M-16, while simultaneously directing air A wrong was righted 42 years after Chief strikes and calling for air rescue. While Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger was killed still under enemy fire, Etchberger placed in the country of Laos during the Vietnam his three surviving wounded comrades into war, when he posthumously received the the rescue slings hanging from helicopters Medal of Honor. On March 22, his name waiting to take them to safety. Etchberger was added to the Medal of Honor memorial was finally able to climb into the evacuation at Peterson Air Force Base. sling himself, only to be fatally wounded by Jeff Nash, Peterson Air and Space Museum enemy fire, Nash said. deputy director, said Etchberger was su- Originally, Etchberger was awarded the perintendent of a ground radar site, Lima Air Force Cross, the highest Air Force Site 85, in Laos in 1968. “Its mission was award for valor, in a private ceremony at to provide guidance and direction for U.S. the Pentagon. Because the Vietnam War Air Force aircraft that were bombing North was still in full swing, former President Vietnam,” he said. Lyndon B. Johnson could not acknowledge Several factors made this mission unique, that there were U.S. combatants in Laos, Nash said. First, due to the classified nature Nash said, and Etchberger’s family was told of the site, Etchberger and his crew were he died in a plane crash. “His wife knew actually discharged from the Air Force and what really happened and she took that to sent to the site as civilians. “They still had a her grave,” he said. military connection; it was more of a cover Etchberger became the 62nd Airman than anything else because of the secrecy awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor of this site,” he said. Sept. 21, 2010, by President Barack Obama. Second is, at the time, Laos was a neutral “The Secretary of the Air Force waived the country. “There should not (have been) U.S. two year limitation on nominations for combatants in the country of Laos at this the Medal of Honor because of the very time, however there were,” Nash said. unique circumstances surrounding Chief Despite the secrecy of Lima Site 85, the Etchberger,” Nash said. Vietnamese knew about the mission and At the ceremony rededicating the on March 11, 1968, Etchberger and his crew See Memorial page 14 sustained heavy artillery attacks, followed (U.S. Air Force photo/Craig Denton) Tech Sgt. Susan Hill, 21st Space Wing Director of Staff office, places a wreath at the Peterson Medal of Honor memorial. Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger, who was killed in the country of Laos during the Vietnam War, posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2010, and his name was added to the Peterson memorial March 22. Commanders say ‘thanks’ to key spouses By Lea Johnson 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — A special group of people work hard behind the scenes to help the families of Airmen at Peterson Air Force Base. The Key Spouse program consists of approximately 40 spouses selected and super- vised by unit commanders to be there to support families, especially when a member is deployed. “It’s an informal but very necessary program to make sure that our spouses, both those deployed and not deployed, have available resources to them,” said Paul Smith, Airman and Family Readiness Center chief. The Key Spouse program is an Air Force-wide volunteer program standardized in 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Craig Denton) “They serve as a liaison for the spouse (at home) and our spouses out in the field,” Miranda Sherman (center), receives the 2011 Key Spouse of the Year Award from Kayreen Crawford (left), and Smith said. Meegan Flewelling (right), senior key spouse mentors, March 23 at The Club. The Key Spouse program consists See Spouses page 14 of approximately 40 spouses selected and supervised by unit commanders to support families, especially when a member is deployed. INSIDE News 1-14 Briefs 15 Classifieds 16 Clothing Warrior April Swap Games Events Page 4 Page 7 Page 12 Space ObServer 2 Thursday, March 29, 2012 www.peterson.af.mil Space ObServer www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, March 29, 2012 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. Chris Crawford COMMANDER ’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs 1st Lt. Holly Hess Editorial Staff Chief of Internal Information Getting it done Mr. Steve Brady PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — and they perform. Staff Writer For many years, we’ve seen enlisted promotion It is not only our young NCOs who we are Lea Johnson rates steadily improve. In 1993, 16 percent of asking more of. You can take any organization senior airmen made staff sergeant; just three Al Strait on Peterson AFB and you can find that young Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers years ago nearly half made E-5, and last year one or two striper, the company grade officer Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, nearly 43 percent did. 21st Space Wing or civilian who is willing to step up and get the 80903, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Clearly, the Air Force makes NCOs quicker mission done. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the Director of Staff The wing recently hosted Lt. Gen. Susan 21st Space Wing. This commercial enterprise Air Force than we did 20 years ago. But while a cadre of newspaper is an authorized publication for members of retirees still lament at how “they don’t make Helms, 14th AF commander, and I was very the U.S. military services. NCOs like they used to,” I’m here to tell you impressed with Airman 1st Class Annie White Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily the they’re doing great things and growing up from the Area Dental Lab, Airman 1st Class official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, quicker than in years past. Alexandria Molony from the fitness center, and the Department of Defense or the Department of the Airman 1st Class Andrew Ho from the Aragon Air Force. Manning shortfalls, troop draw-downs and ... every The appearance of advertising in this publication, two-plus decades of deployments merely exac- Dining Facility. Each had the opportunity to including inserts or supplements, does not constitute erbate the demands placed on the young NCOs brief the general on their respective duties and endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Force, in today’s Air Force; resultantly, we expect and highlight how their organizations contribute to or CSMNG, of the products or services advertised. organization demand more of the new E-5 sooner in their the wing’s day-to-day mission. Their enthusiasm, Everything advertised in this publication shall be made professionalism and commitment to excellence available for purchase, use or patronage without regard career than a generation ago. For example, at to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital the wing’s comptroller squadron Staff Sgts. were truly impressive. status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other Also impressive is the contributions of the Chad Owen and Darlene Tydingco will run the has the star non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. civilian workforce. One unsung civilian hero day-to-day operations of the busiest financial Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by who gets it done every day is Bob Orwig of the the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office, 775 Loring services flight in Air Force Space Command Director of Staff office. Organized, dedicated Ave., Suite 219, Peterson AFB, Colo., 80914-1294, (719) for the next six months due to three vacancies player who is 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185, fax (719) 556-7848 or DSN and possessing a passion for excellence, Bob, (one E-7 and two E-6s) and two deployments 834-7848. All photographs are Air Force photographs as I would say “straps it on every day to achieve unless otherwise indicated. (E-6, E-5). Read that again — two young staff mission success.” He knows what needs to be The Space Observer is published every Thursday. sergeants will do the work that of a master, three getting it done. See Done page 14 For advertising inquiries, call Colorado Springs Military techs and three staffs. We ask the impossible Newspapers, (719) 634-5905. Employees of Peterson Air Force Base who want to place a free classified advertise- ment should call (719) 329-5210. Articles, announcements, news briefs or feedback for the Space Observer should be submitted to the 21st SW/PA via [email protected]. For further information, Action Line call 21st SW/PA at (719) 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185 or The 21st Space Wing maintains a commander's action line, a direct link to the 21st Space Wing commander. The wing commander e-mail [email protected]. Deadline for article submission is noon the Friday one week before publication. encourages its use. Concerns should be addressed at the lowest possible level in the chain of command and elevated as necessary. All articles, copy and announcements submitted will be edited to conform to AFI Series 35 and the Associated To reach the action line: Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.