Air Force

“Seventy-pound Labrador retrievers take up half the bed.”

I cracked up when I read that in this story today about military working dogs at Joint Base Balad in Iraq:

“MWDs ‘out of the doghouse’ at JBB”

U.S. Army Specialist Chris Belville, 25th Infantry Division dog handler, spends time with his canine, Cookie, in his living quarters here Aug. 28.

It doesn’t surprise me – I know enough handlers to know how they are about their dogs, and the stories over the years about them sleeping with the dogs, usually under hostile conditions in the field, are legion.

But … Read More

Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun Visits Wounded Warriors

I don’t know Coach Calhoun personally (just missed him during his days as a cadet at the Academy), but I have a number of close friends who do, and this very much tracks with what they’ve told me about the kinda guy he is:

The visit is part of Coaches Tour 2009, where a number of NCAA coaches are visiting the troops – next stops are Turkey and Iraq. You can read more here:

“NCAA coaches visit wounded warriors in military hospital”

Air Force Amputee Reenlists

TSgt Christopher Frost, an EOD guy who lost his right leg to an IED in Iraq, recentIy reenlisted:

Air Force amputee reenlists

Whole story is here:  “Don’t Call Him a Hero”.

The hard part for me is there are so many of these tremendous young wounded warriors who’ve given so much that I could never talk about them all or say enough.  I still come into contact with a lot of young active duty military people, especially Army troops at Fort Carson, many of whom know I’m an old retired guy and will … Read More

First Air Force Cross in Six Years

Very, very rare for the Air Force Cross to be awarded, much less to an enlisted guy.  Absolutely outstanding!

Combat controller receives Air Force Cross, Purple Heart

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley presents Staff Sgt. Zachary Rhyner the Air Force Cross March 10 at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Sergeant Rhyner of the 21st Special … Read More