NORTHERN SENTRY FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 1 FREE | FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 | WWW.NORTHERNSENTRY.COM | MINOT AIR FORCE BASE | VOL. 54 • ISSUE 12 U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO | STAFF SGT. CHAD TRUJILLO 2 FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 NORTHERN SENTRY Hell froze over: The Lynn Aas Story SENIOR AIRMAN APRYL HALL | MINOT AIR FORCE BASE PUBLIC AFFAIRS INOT, duty, obligation and desire life. Even though he was By this time in the something you learn real N.D. to serve their country,” an excellent shot, he told interview, I realized I had fast,” Lynn said. “You -- “I Lynn said. “After Pearl me the thought of being a started bouncing my legs learn how to duck bullets, don’t Harbor, the loyalty of rifl eman didn’t thrill him. and rubbing my hands you learn how to dodge know everybody was strong “It wasn’t easy, but I together to stay warm. the various artillery that why I and we wanted to fi nd a accepted what was given to That hangar felt like it came in, and you learn justM got choked up there,” how to survive in deep he said, wiping his nose snow. My mission became with a handkerchief. “I’m survival you might say, normally not that way.” plus watching out for my I hadn’t even noticed his buddies.” emotion. There were no As Lynn recalled those tears in his eyes. His voice brutal 45 days in combat didn’t crack. If he hadn’t near Bastogne, Belgium, mentioned it, I never would he spoke with ease. He have known he missed a described how terrible the beat. I could tell during our weather was with blizzard- hour-long interview this like conditions and no was the norm for him. He shelter to protect them doesn’t have a weak bone from it. He named each in his body. soldier he had been paired Lynn Aas is a 94-year- up with throughout battle. old World War II veteran. He remembered each date He served during the of each movement his Battle of the Bulge as a unit made, something I combat infantry rifl eman was especially impressed and is a Bronze Star and with. As if I wasn’t already Purple Heart recipient. He hooked, Lynn then started attended the Massachusetts on the diffi cult topics. The Institute of Technology day of January 7, 1945 was for engineering. He is an particularly hard, beginning educated accountant and U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO | SENIOR AIRMAN APRYL HALL with Lynn trying to console has a law degree. He served his foxhole partner. as a member of Legislature. U.S. Army Private 1st Class (Sep.) Lynn Aas, 17th Airborne Division combat infantry rifl eman, poses for a “He was scared to death photo at the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot, N.D., Feb. 18, 2016. Aas served during the Battle of He was a devoted husband the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his sacrifi ces. and fearful,” Lynn recalled. and is a father to four boys. “He said to me, ‘I know Simply put, he is inspiring. solution.” me, and I don’t think I ever was getting colder by the I’ll be killed,’ and I tried As we sat down to talk in Shipped off to Macon, complained to anybody minute. Then Lynn began to encourage him. At 11 the unheated air museum Georgia for basic training, about it,” Lynn said. talking about the Battle of that morning I was laying hangar, I apologized it was there Lynn was given “Nobody liked combat. War the Bulge. I instantly forgot for how cold it was. It the job of infantry rifl eman, is hell. I can’t say I liked about the temperature. was February in Minot, a job he said he became it, but I was an expert shot “Staying alive is Continued on page 12 North Dakota so the quite good at while hunting and was trained beyond room temperature was in the North Dakota my years, beyond my uncomfortable. Wasting no countryside his entire assignment.” time at all, Lynn replied, “I’ve been colder,” with a knowing smile on his face. Slightly embarrassed by my own ignorance, I instantly knew it was going to be a fantastic interview. Lynn began his story by telling me how the bombings of Pearl Harbor inspired him to leave college and enlist in the U.S. Army in order to do his part. “I think everybody actually felt it was their NORTHERN SENTRY FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 3 23rd Bomber Barons Return from Guam CONTACTUS Tonya Stuart-Melland AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JESSICA WEISSMAN | MINOT AIR FORCE BASE PUBLIC AFFAIRS Sales Manager | Ad Designer [email protected] INOT AIR FORCE decade. to offi cials and the men the B-52 community Beth Duchsherer MBASE, N.D. “I am so proud of the and women who fl y and incredibly well and Ad Designer | Sales Representative -- Returning home to a men and women of the support them, provide a are a true testament [email protected] hero’s welcome, Airmen 23rd Bomb Squadron signifi cant capability that to our global Tia Klein of the 5th Bomb Wing and supporting squadrons enables readiness and mission of providing Ad Designer | Sales Representative reunited with friends and for their service this commitment to deterrence, continuous assurance [email protected] family at the base theater deployment,” said provides assurances allies and deterrence.” today following a six- Katie Gorecki, wife of and strengthens regional Earlier in the MINOT AIR FORCE BASE month deployment in the Lt. Col. Ryan Gorecki, security and stability in the week, the 69th PUBLIC AFFAIRS Pacifi c region supporting commander of the 23rd Indo-Asia-Pacifi c region. Expeditionary Chief of Public Affairs the continuous bomber Bomb Squadron. “I “It’s very exciting to see Bomb Squadron and Maj. Jamie Humphries presence mission. watched with pride seeing families being reunited,” support personnel, Public Affairs Offi cer During the deployment, their accomplishments said Capt. Margaret also located at Minot, Lt. Kylee Ashton approximately 275 in international news Ingerslew, 69th Bomb departed North Chief Editor Airmen and four B-52 headlines and missed them Squadron. “There is a huge Dakota to replace the 23rd in the Pacifi c Staff Sgt. Chad B. Trujillo Stratofortresses from the here at home especially support system in place Staff Photojournalists 23rd Bomb Squadron were over the holidays.” here at Minot for those region. Minot AFB based at Andersen Air Air Force Global Strike here and away, but nothing is the only dual-wing, Master Sgt. Charlene Spade Force Base, Guam where aircraft conducting CBP beats having your family nuclear-capable Tech. Sgt. Kevin Davidson U.S. Pacifi c Command has missions include the B-52 complete again. We are base in the Air Staff Sgt. Kristine MacDonald maintained a continuous Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer so proud of what all the Force, hosting two Senior Airman Kristoffer R. Kaubisch bomber presence in the and the B-2 Spirit aircraft. Barons accomplished while legs of the strategic Senior Airman Sean Danker-Smith region for more than a These aircraft, according away - they represented deterrence triad. Senior Airman Apryl L. Hall Senior Airman Sahara Fales Airman 1st Class Christian Sullivan Airman 1st Class Izabella Sullivan AF senior leaders brief State of the Air Force Airman 1st Class Justin Armstrong Airman 1st Class Matthew Rauschnot MIKE MARTIN | SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS Airman 1st Class Jessica Weissman Media Relations ASHINGTON in the South China Sea Airmen. James said the Modernizing Marissa Howard (AFNS) -- Air … and then a few weeks service’s Airmen are high aircraft, James WForce Secretary ago, North Korea tested a demand, low density, using said, will provide COMMANDERS Deborah Lee James and nuclear weapon,” she said. one career fi eld to highlight warfi ghters 5th Bomb Wing Commander: Air Force Chief of Staff James added in the strain on the force. with enhanced Col. Jason R. Armagost Gen. Mark A. Welsh III Afghanistan, the Taliban, “In the maintenance capabilities. 5th Bomb Wing Vice Commander: discussed the State of the al-Qaida, ISIL and other arena, because we have One example of Col. David Ballew Air Force during a press anti-government groups, aging platforms ... the the service’s eff ort 91st Missile Wing Commander: conference at the Pentagon continue to conduct attacks, maintenance needs are to modernize is the Col. Michael J. Lutton March 7. undermine security, and going up,” James said. B-21. James said in 91st Missile Wing Vice Commander: James acknowledged a create challenges to the “We have thousands of the case of the 21st Col. Kelvin Townsend lot has happened since the people and government of maintainers in the force, century bomber the NEWSSUBMISSIONS last State of the Air Force Afghanistan. but we actually need Air Force is leaning Northern Sentry Offi ce address in August 2015. “Your Air Force has more maintainers going forward and trying to [email protected] | 701.839.0946 “In October, Russia been extremely busy and forward.” be more transparent. launched its fi rst airstrikes extremely eff ective,” James Welsh agreed, adding “We’ve given MAFB Public Affairs Offi ce in Syria. In November, said. “In the past year, maintenance professionals the bomber a (Islamic State of Iraq coalition forces upped the are working hard and designation, shown [email protected] and the Levant) terrorists ante against (ISIL), fl ying retention could be a you an artist’s 701.723.6212 attacked Paris again, as more than 55,000 sorties challenge.