COMMANDER’S CORNER: AMAZING EVENTS OF LAST WEEK – PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, September 27, 2007 Vol. 51 No. 26 Peterson transitions to privatized housing By Corey Dahl have certain expectations for amenities that Space Observer these houses currently lack. Now we’ll be Officials here handed over control of base able to provide them.” housing to a private developer this month, Families on base are eager for the changes. the first step in a process that will eventu- Airmen were required to sign new leases ally bring new homes to both Peterson and this summer if they wished to stay in family Schriever. housing, and, according to Bob Mathis, vice Private developer Actus Lend Lease president with Actus, the number of people closed on a $321 million privatization ini- who opted to stay exceeded expectations. tiative for Peterson, Schriever and Los “I had a couple of people tell me they were Angeles Air Force Bases Sept. 20. Actus – op- going to use the opportunity to move off erating under the name Tierra Vista base, buy a house downtown or something,” Communities – will now manage base he said. “But we’re actually at a higher rate housing here and receive servicemembers’ of occupancy than we expected.” base housing allowances each month. And, while families might not see any The transfer of authority also clears the shovels in the ground until April, Mr. way for Actus to begin replacing Peterson’s Mathis said residents can still expect to see 493 homes with 597 new ones and start major changes now that Actus has taken building 242 new homes on Schriever, over. Company representatives have al- which currently has no base housing. graphic Air Force U.S. ready been visiting houses, asking about “This is an exciting opportunity for our maintenance backlogs and taking care of community here at Peterson and Schriever,” them, he said. Actus has also been holding said Col. Carlos Cruz-Gonzalez, Air Force community events, such as a recent Space Command’s deputy director of instal- An artist’s rendition of future Peterson housing. Breakfast on the Go, and Mr. Mathis said lations and mission support. “This project residents can expect more activities in the allows us to move forward on our goal to The new units will be energy-efficient and The new houses will be a significant im- near future. provide good quality housing for our larger than the houses currently on base. provement over Peterson’s current housing “We want to create community, so they feel Airmen.” Actus will also take care of all lawn main- stock, which was built between 1965 and like somebody’s there watching over them,” Actus will start building new houses here tenance for residents and plans to build 1975, Colonel Cruz-Gonzalez said. he said. “Our goal is to improve quality of this spring with construction finishing on walking and biking trails, playgrounds and “They’re in good condition overall, but life for the men and women in our armed Schriever in 2010 and on Peterson in 2013. a community center. they’re dated,” he said. “Our families now forces.” Photo by Roberta McDonald Current and former members of the 76th SPCS gathered to bid farewell to part of its heritage, and adopt a new one, Sept. 21 at hangar 104 on the Peterson flight line. Transfer ceremony reunites pieces of historic Air Force heritage By Corey Dahl of the Flying Tigers heritage, which it has the 1940s. 76th as the newest member of our unit,” he Space Observer held since 1995, to the new 76th Fighter Col. Steve Arthur, commander of the said. “And we’re sure the 76th Fighter Two A-10s carried a piece of Flying Tigers Squadron, a reserve associate unit based out 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman AFB – Squadron will continue to serve with the heritage away from Peterson Sept. 21, part of Moody AFB, Ga. The 76th FS will now which is supplying the Reservists for the excellence that has always been a hallmark of an Air Force effort to reunite three pieces join the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons, new squadron, said the new unit is excited of this proud tradition.” of a historic World War II legacy. which also share the Flying Tigers heritage, to be adopting such a historic piece of Air The Flying Tigers heritage dates back to During the transfer ceremony, the 76th under the 23rd Wing – the same arrange- Force history. Space Control Squadron here gave its piece ment the original Flying Tigers shared in “As a wing, we are proud to welcome the See Tigers page 10 INSIDE Warrior Airmen Air Force heritage News 1-6 Combat action medal recognizes Peterson museum showcases a slice Airmen remember Commentary 7 Airmen serving on the front lines of history Briefs 8 POWs/MIAs Happenings 15 Page 14 Page 10 Page 5 Sports 17 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, September 27, 2007 SPACE OBSERVER www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, September 27, 2007 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. Jay Raymond COMMANDER’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Toni Tones Editorial Staff Amazing events of last week Chief of Internal Information Steve Brady Commentary by Col. Jay Raymond up hope despite the challenges he and his Staff Reporter 21st Space Wing commander Col. fellow Americans faced. Corey Dahl Looking back over the past week, it was un- Jay Raymond Mr. Beck is a true American hero and we can Assistant Production Manager doubtedly my busiest week yet as commander never thank him enough for his 27-plus years Jeff Adcox of the 21st Space Wing. of military service. It goes without saying that On Sept. 20, Peterson hosted the JFCC Space 21st Space this event would not have been possible Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers and 14th Air Force commander’s conference at Wing without the support of many people. There Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, 80903, a private firm in no way connected the Leadership Development Center. In addi- commander were dozens of support personnel who as- with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written con- tract with the 21st Space Wing. This commercial tion, we had the honor of hosting the 76th sisted with everything from set-up, invita- enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized pub- Space Control Squadron heritage ceremony as tions and parking all the way to the reception lication for members of the U.S. military services. the Flying Tiger lineage was formally trans- and escort for all of the honored guests. There Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily decided to reunite the 74th, 75th, and 76th the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. ferred to the 76th Fighter Squadron at Moody were also hundreds of individuals who partic- Government, the Department of Defense or the AFB, Ga. As mentioned in last week’s article, fighter squadrons at Moody AFB. On Sept. ipated in the 24-hour POW/MIA run. Again, Department of the Air Force. 21, we conducted a ceremony to formally The appearance of advertising in this publication, the entire week was filled with a series of my personal thanks to all those who con- including inserts or supplements, does not constitute POW/MIA events, culminating with the transfer that lineage back to the new 76th tributed to making this event so successful. endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Fighter Squadron. Since its inception in 1995 Force, or CSMNG, of the products or services Remembrance Day ceremony Sept. 21. To top The capstone event of the week occurred advertised. Everything advertised in this publication as the 76th Space Operations Squadron, the shall be made available for purchase, use or patron- it all off, we celebrated the Air Force’s 60th an- with the Air Force’s 60th anniversary celebra- age without regard to race, color, religion, sex, niversary with a spectacular “Birthday Bash” men and women of the 76th SPCS have tion at The Club. Those attending the event had national origin, age, marital status, physical handi- taken great care of the Flying Tiger lineage cap, political affiliation or any other non-merit fac- event at The Club that same night. the opportunity to reflect on the great achieve- tor of the purchaser, user or patron. The JFCC Space and 14th Air Force com- and have proudly carried on the tradition ments the Air Force has accomplished since its Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by of excellence and innovative spirit that were the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office, 775 mander’s conference was a huge success inception as a separate service in 1947. Since Loring Ave., Suite 218, Peterson AFB, Colo., 80914- thanks, in part, to the outstanding planning the hallmarks of that historic group. that time, pioneers of the Air Force – like 1294, (719) 556-4351 or DSN 834-4351, fax (719) Since the Air Force made the decision to 556-7848 or DSN 834-7848. All photographs are Air and preparation that took place over the past Billy Mitchell, Hap Arnold, Curtis LeMay, and Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. two months by members of the 21st Space reunite the 74th, 75th, and 76th Fighter Bernard Schriever to name just a few – have The Space Observer is published every Thursday. Wing team. I received lots of comments from Squadrons at Moody AFB with the legacy been the driving force behind the continued For advertising inquiries, call Colorado Springs Military Newspapers, (719) 634-5905. Employees many of the conference participants regarding of the Flying Tigers, the professionals of capability and lethality that we possess today.