JET LETTER

North Dakota Air National Guard October 2007

Phenomenal cleanup

effort in Northwood!
2 JET LETTER/October 2007

Hooligans host town hall meeting with

Lt. Gen. McKinley and staff

Health insurance now available for

traditional Guard members

Jet Letter is a funded U.S. Air Force newsletter published regularly for personnel of

the 119th Wing, North Dakota Air

National Guard. Opinions expressed herein

do not necessarily represent those of the

Air National Guard or the Air Force. Public

Affairs office: Direct line (701) 451-2195,

fax (701) 451-2197, DSN 362-8195, or

e-mail: PA@ndfarg.ang.af.mil

JET LETTER

Volume 53, Number 8

We’re on the Internet

http://www.ndfarg.ang.af.mil

119th WG Commander

Col. Robert J. Becklund

Editorial Staff

Capt. Penny A. Ripperger

Tech. Sgt. Samantha J. Clarke

Layout and Design

Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp

Photographic Support

 Multimedia Center

Printer

Quality Printing Services

Bismarck, N.D.

Departments

Original Hooligan Chief Master Sgt. takes part in Honor Flight.

Afterburner

One Guard, one publication

Commander's comments 3

Bulletins 3

12

Feature

CONTENTS

October 2007

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp,

119th Communication Flight

JET LETTER sTaff

Retirements, Promotions, New Members, 2007 UTA Schedule

Hooligan News 11

4

5

A 119th Wing member removes

fallen tree branches and debris

from yards in order to clear a path

for power line workers in

Northwood, N.D., Aug. 28. The

fallen trees are a result of an F4

category tornado on the Fujita

scale for rating tornado intensity

that hit Northwood, N.D., in the

early evening hours of Sunday,

Aug. 26.

See story on pages 6-7.

Director of the Air National Guard answers hooligan questions.

TRICARE for National Guard members.

North Dakota National Guard responds

to Northwood tornado

6-7

N.D. Army and Air National Guard members spring into action

restoring Northwood after tornado.

Hooligan Day

119th Security Forces Squadron wins Commander's Cup.

9

Basic Leadership Training and Leadership Development Course

available for airman; Department of Veteran's Affairs suicide

prevention hot-line established; 2008 Outstanding Airman of the

Year Banquet; Food service survey; Annual officer's holiday

celebration.
JET LETTER/October 2007 3

This has been a year of

change for the Happy

Hooligans of the N.D. Air

National Guard. As many

unit members adjust to new

roles within this organization,

the Jet Letter, a publication

that has represented the

NDANG for decades, will also

be changing.

In approximately January

of 2008, the Jet Letter and the

Straight Arrow (N.D. Army

National Guard publication)

will be combining to

distribute a joint publication.

The joint publication will

serve as a communication

tool for our airman and

soldiers who live in this great

state.

As airman and soldiers unite on the battlefield, the lines between these

two services continue to become more interconnected. A joint publication

is a step toward that “joint” goal that our leadership is striving for.

Ideas for the joint publication are still discussed and researched. The

tentative plans that we have in place thus far is that it will be a monthly

publication, in a glossy, full-color magazine format, and it will be

approximately 20-24 pages.

Even though the Army has a larger presence in our state, the

contributions and accomplishments of the Happy Hooligans will be fully

represented in the joint publication. Our Adjutant General, Maj.Gen. David

A. Sprynczynatyk has made it very clear that the Happy Hooligans will not

lose their identity in this new publication.

Focus groups consisting of airman, soldiers and retirees are meeting to

help design this new publication. Earlier this month, a contest to name the

publication was released with a deadline of Oct 1st. The new name of the

joint publication will be announced soon!

As with any drastic change, there may be bumps in the road. This

new publication will be a moving and breathing magazine and we may need

to adjust it a few times until we get it right. In the end, I am confident that

the joint publication will become something that we will all be proud of.

The mission statement of the new joint publication:

The “joint publication” is published to provide command information for

N.D. Army and Air National Guard Soldiers, Airmen, families and retirees, to

educate Guardsmen about benefits and services offered within their

organizations, to inform the State about unit missions and deployments

and to promote a cohesive Guard community.

Bulletin briefs

One Guard, one publication

119th Wing/PA Officer

Commander's comments

Basic Leadership Training and Leadership

Development Course available for airmen.

BLT and LDC is an excellent training

opportunity open to all airmen in the NDANG.

BLT course dates:

Oct. 13-14 in Bismarck at the Comfort Inn &

Conference Center

Nov. 17-18 in Fargo at the Armed Forces

Reserve Center (UTA Weekend)

LDC dates:

Nov. 26 – Dec. 7 at Camp Grafton, Devils Lake,

N.D.

Department of Veterans Affairs suicide

prevention hot-line established

To ensure veterans with emotional crises have

around-the-clock access to trained mental

health professionals, the VA has begun

operation of a national suicide prevention hot

line.

The toll-free hot line number is 1-800-273-TALK

(8255).

2008 Outstanding Airman of the Year Banquet

Mark your calendars and get your uniforms

ready because the OAY Banquet will be here

before you know it. OAY 2008 is scheduled for

Jan. 12 at the Moorhead Marriott. Contact your

first sergeant for ticket information.

Food Service Survey

We want your opinion! The goal of the Services

Flight is to provide customers with quality

food, prompt courteous service, and a pleasant

dining environment. You can help us

accomplish this goal by answering questions to

our survey on the SharePoint site. Just go to

the following link:

https://sharepoint.ndfarg.ang.af.mil/services/.

The location of the survey on the left-hand side

and at the bottom of the main page. We

appreciate any comments that you can give us!

Annual Officer’s Holiday Celebration

The officer party will take place Nov. 16, 2007 at

7p.m. at the Auger Inn. All officers past and

present and their guests are invited.
4 JET LETTER/October 2007

Hooligans host town hall meeting

with Lt. Gen. McKinley and staff

By Capt. Penny A. Ripperger

119th Wing / PA officer

Twenty-five members from the National

Guard Bureau had the opportunity to not

only meet the Happy Hooligans, but to also

observe first-hand what makes the 119th

Wing a successful organization.

Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Director of

the Air National Guard and members from

each NGB A-Staff visited the 119th Wing

Sept. 8-9. The purpose of the visit was to

give unit members the opportunity to meet

with NGB A-staff members to discuss issues

affecting the unit.

“You can’t ask for much more than being

able to sit down with those who wield the

most influence and talk about the things you

deal with everyday, both good and bad,”

said Lt.Col. Nathan W. Erstad, 119th Wing

comptroller. “I thought it was great that our

members had the opportunity to discuss

pressing issues with the Director of Finance.

Hopefully he’ll have a better understanding

of what we experience at a unit level and the

effect that their policies, directives and

systems have on those who work in the

field.” Unit members also had the opportunity to address questions at a base-wide

town hall meeting held in the 119th hangar Sunday afternoon.

Today is a special day because it’s an honor to have these guests spend

some time with us and to learn a little more about what is going on in the field.

The 119th Wing has had a chance to show who they are, what they do and most

importantly, why they succeed in each and every mission they undertake, said

Maj.Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. Adjutant General in his opening remarks at

the town hall meeting.

The 119th Wing is the sixth unit that McKinley and his staff have visited in

their efforts to better understand the needs and answer questions of units going

through conversions.

“The whole nation is going through transition, going through change, but all

of them are doing it very well and you know why? Because of units like the 119th

who have already led the way,” said McKinley. “Col Becklund never said no, he

never said slow down. He led this unit through the transition, and from what I’ve

seen today, we couldn’t be more proud with the results.”

The town hall meeting opened up into an interactive question and answer

period for unit members. Questions ranging from C-21 equipment issues, to

concerns over required auxiliary training were addressed by McKinley or a subject

matter expert within the NGB A-Staff.

“What’s next for the 119th? You’ve had a great history, a great legacy. I look

around this 119th hangar that I’ve visited many times. I look at the accident free

flying hours, the William Tell and Hughes trophies. I am so very proud to be back

here in Fargo to see that nothing has changed; it’s only getting better,” said

McKinley.

To watch the taped version of the town hall meeting, go to the multimedia

Sharepoint site/videos/all new/town hall.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradly A. Schneider, 119th Wing

A-staff member Col. James Wilson steps up

to the microphone to address Hooligan

concerns.

Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley Director of the Air National Guard, stage right,

speaks with North Dakota Air National Guard unit members in a town hall style

forum Sep. 9.
JET LETTER/October 2007 5

By Master Sgt. Barbara J. Anderson

119th Mission Support Flight

Perhaps the biggest benefit to date is being offered to the

Reserve Component. Effective October 1, 2007, every RC

service member in drilling status who is not eligible for the

Federal Employee Health Benefit Program is eligible to

purchase TRICARE Reserve Select for a low monthly premium!

TRS is a full, comprehensive health care plan available to

the military. The premium for a service member to purchase

TRICARE Reserve Select will be only $81 a month. If a service

member wished to include his or her family, it will only be $253

a month.

TRICARE Reserve Select is an excellent health care plan

which offers comprehensive medical care and does not cease

when you travel. Visit www.triwest.com “Guard and Reserve”

for more benefit information. TRICARE Reserve Select follows

all the same rules as TRICARE Standard/Extra.

Beginning October 1, 2007, there will be a continuous open

season. Members can elect coverage on the first of the

Health insurance is now available for

traditional guard members

following month or on the day of a qualifying life event

(marriage, birth of a child, basically any change in family

composition). If a member is on active duty for more than 30

days, you are covered by a different TRICARE plan at no cost,

and TRICARE Reserve Select will be terminated, you can then

re-enroll in TRS at the end of your tour.

To enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select send in a DD Form

2896-1 by entering the Guard and Reserve Portal (https://

www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/esgr/index.jsp). Enter the TRICARE

Reserve Select logo on the left, and access the applicable link in

the top box. You will need your to enter your DFAS PIN

(MyPay PIN), certify that you are not eligible for FEHBP, (MPF

suggests choosing continuously open enrollment), and fill out

the information and elect persons in your family you wish to

have covered. Print and send in the form with your elected form

of payment.

If there are any questions about this program or how to

access it please contact Master Sgt. Barbara J. Anderson. Also,

if you are in need of health care prior to October 1, 2007, contact

Sgt. Anderson regarding your eligibility.

Augmentees train with Security Forces at Camp Grafton

A 119th Wing Security Forces

augmentee experiences the thrill

of firing the M240 Bravo on full

auto during her recent

deployment with the 119th

Security Forces Squadron at

Camp Grafton, N.D. Aug. 15.

Senior Airman Johnson is one of

several augmentees to travel to

Camp Grafton to participate in the

security forces exercise

activities.

"All wing personnel who deployed

with us to Camp Grafton were

outstanding. These individuals

jumped in right from the start,

accepted the tasks given to them

and never missed a beat during

the entire process. " says Chief

Master Sgt. James E. Gibson,

119th Security Forces manager.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
6 JET LETTER/October 2007

Story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp

119th Wing

The school mascot in Northwood, N.D. is the ‘Thunder’, and in

the early evening hours around 8:45 p.m. on Aug. 26 a tornado

brought a thunder like no other, ripping through the N.D. town of

about 900 people.

The tornado that wreaked havoc with the trees, buildings and

homes in the close-knit rural community was no ordinary summer

twister; it was an F4 category tornado on the Fujita scale for rating

tornado intensity. The killer tornado, measuring eight-tenths of a mile

wide and 5 miles long, is responsible for taking the life of one man

and sending 19 more to local hospitals.

 “I still can’t find my garage and it’s been four days. Where does

a snow blower go?” said Tech. Sgt. Chad C. Peterson, 119th Civil

Engineer Squadron, who was one of the residents who weathered the

storm better than his home, which is considered a total loss by his

insurance adjustor.

Peterson is the human relations director and works with

information technology and emergency management for the

Northwood Deaconess Health Center in his civilian job, which is the

largest employer in Northwood. The health center is also the place

where he and his family rode out the tornado, assisting patients along

the way.

His military training in emergency management kicked in when

the tornado hit as he directed people into hallways and had them get

down and cover their heads. Exterior doors blew open and the ceiling

tiles lifted up and came crashing down around them along with glass

from the windows.

The damage in the town is among the worst seen throughout

state history and is estimated by the Red Cross to be somewhere

North Dakota National Guard responds to

between $38 to 59 million. 431 of Northwood’s 460 homes

were destroyed, damaged or affected by the tornado.

“I’ve never seen destruction like this before,” said

Capt. Penny A. Ripperger, 119th Wing public affairs officer.

“You see pictures, but to walk through a town where

literally every house seems to be touched by this

disastrous storm is unbelievable.”

Within the first 15 hours after the tornado hit, 40 N.D.

Army National Guard members were driving heavy

equipment into town to begin clearing streets of debris

and helping the residents begin the process of getting

back into their homes.

“This is what we do,” said Army Lt. Col. Lee Nordin,

operations officer for the 141st Combat Support Battalion,

who was one of the first to respond as the on-scene

commander, “We’re here to support the Governor and the

emergency management people in their efforts in the

event of emergencies and natural disasters.”

More N.D. Army and Air National Guard personnel

continued to trickle in over the course of the next few

days and seamlessly fit into the recovery efforts.

“Military personnel were working around the clock in

every aspect of the recovery effort. Soldiers and airmen

were busy operating chainsaws and heavy equipment to

remove debris and clear trees and branches. They were

providing security in and out of the city and they were

working closely with city officials and volunteer

agencies,” said Ripperger.

By 2 p.m. Tuesday, only 24 hours after they began

arriving, the National Guard members had helped remove

and haul approximately 700 dump truck loads of debris to

the landfill five miles west of Northwood.

The removal of the debris made it possible for

A 119th Wing Senior Airman of the 119th Logistics Readiness

Squadron, directs dump truck traffic at the landfill five miles west of

Northwood which is bing used to deposit debris from the tornado that

hit Aug. 26.

A member of the 119th Wing stands among the debris in

his yard in Northwood, N.D., Aug. 28
JET LETTER/October 2007 7

o Northwood tornado

electrical technicians to work on getting power restored,

which had been down since the tornado hit Sunday night.

“The soldiers and airmen of the North Dakota

National Guard are doing an outstanding job assisting the

residents of Northwood in their recovery efforts,” said

Governor John Hoeven. “The mission in Northwood

highlights the dual role of our citizen soldiers in defending

our nation and assisting our state in a disaster.”

“The soldiers and airmen of the N.D. National Guard

continue to serve their country from around the globe and

here at home. Nearly 100 Guardsmen volunteered to help

their neighbors with the recovery effort in the Northwood

community,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk,

Adjutant General, N.D. National Guard. “This is just one

of the many contributions our Guardsmen continue to

make.”

Sprynczynatyk was quick to add that he was pleased

with the support provided by the employers of N.D.

National Guard service members.

“I would like to thank the employers for their

commitment and sacrifice in giving our soldiers and airmen

time to serve. It is critical that our Guardsmen are able to

deploy in an effective and timely manner to aid our

communities in times of need as demonstrated here in

Northwood.”

“The National Guard has done a phenomenal job

assisting the locals with manpower, equipment and

security. I can’t say enough good things about them,”

said Tom Bush, a FEMA region 8 team member working in

the disaster command post. “The volunteerism here is off

the chart. When you guys come together it is something

to behold.”

119th Wing personnel work in the mobile command post

on the outskirts of Northwood, N.D. Aug. 28

119th Wing members remove fallen tree branches and debris from

yards in order to clear a path for power line workers in Northwood,

N.D. Aug. 28.

Below, a 119th Wing videographer in the 119th Wing, is dwarfed by

the huge trees knocked down by the Northwood tornado as he

documents storm damage on videotape Aug. 28.
8 JET LETTER/October 2007

Hooligans play on, despite the rain

Two 119th Wing Hooligans are

awarded The EANGUS Heroism

Medal for their lifesaving actions of

pulling a man from the water while

ice fishing this past winter.

The pair of life savers have also

recently been awarded the Valley

Forge Cross by the National Guard

Association of the United States.

Hooligan life savers recognized at EANGUS conference

North Dakota Air National Guard members take a day to build

esprit de corp through competitve activities during Hooligan

Day, which was held on Saturday of unit training assembly

Sep. 8.

Right, A member of the 119th Security Forces Squadron,

catches a football during the Flickerball contest.

Below, the 119th Security Forces commander accepts the

Hooligan Day Commander's Cup from Col. Robert J.

Becklund, the 119th Wing commander.

Photo by 1st Lt. Tiffany Beasley, Army National Guard

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
JET LETTER/October 2007 9

You can help prevent suicide

By Maj. Tamie Gerntholz, RN,

119th Medical Group

In any given year in the United States, approximately

30,000 individuals die by their own hands and thousands more

attempt suicide. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death

among adults and is the third leading cause of death among the

country’s young people. In North Dakota, suicide is the second

leading cause of death (behind unintentional injury) among

adolescents and young adults ages 15 – 24.

Each of us can help prevent suicide through educating

ourselves and others about the warning signs of suicide.

* Visible changes in behavior, physical condition,

thoughts, or feelings such as withdrawal, isolation, or

loss of interest in social interaction

* Decreased interest in usual activities or hobbies

* Increased risk-taking behaviors, recklessness, or

aggressiveness

* Increased use of alcohol or drugs

* Crying easily

* Abrupt changes in appearance

* Recent weight or appetite change

* Change in sleep patterns

* Exhaustion, extreme drowsiness

* Inability to concentrate or think rationally

* Exaggerated fears, extreme anxiety, or depression

* Low self-esteem

* Hopelessness or helplessness

* Increased irritability or anger, mood swings or

withdrawal from communication

* Stress from difficult situations including the inability

to cope with loss (such as divorce, breaking up with a

boy/girlfriend, loss of a job, death of a loved one)

* Feelings of worthlessness

* A victim mentality caused by physical, sexual or

emotional abuse

* Prior history of attempted suicide

* Writings about suicide (poems, stories, etc.)

* Indirect threats (“I wish I was dead.”) or direct threats

(“I’m going to kill myself.”)

* Preoccupation with death including:

1. Talking about death or compulsively thinking about

and longing for a dead person

2. Making final arrangements (writing a will, talking about

their funeral, etc.)

3. Giving away prized possessions

4. Creating artwork or writing or listening to music about

death/dying

If you are concerned about someone who is demonstrating

any of these behaviors, ask questions to determine if they are in

immediate danger and get help if needed. A suicidal person

should see a doctor or mental health professional immediately.

Calling 911 or going to a hospital emergency room are also valid

options. Always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously.

For more information on depression and suicide contact the

119th Wing Chaplains office or Maj. Tamie Gerntholz, RN, health

promotion manager at (701) 451-2628.

119th Communications Flight

Meet the chiefs
10 JET LETTER/October 2007

By Master Sgt. John W. Noone (ret.)

North Dakota Air National Guard

A real 'killer app'

Lately, I have been lamenting that we don’t know what

the Next Big Thing is, or that there hasn’t been a Big Thing

lately. My last comment was that sometimes we don’t know

what it is until we are doing it. Since then, it has occurred to

me that, in fact, there is a Big Thing upon us, only I didn’t

know it, partially because I’m not doing it. In my opinion the

current Big Thing is: text messaging via cell phone. The

reality is that this is done almost exclusively by teenagers

and young adults. I live with a teenager, and he’ll probably

get mad at me for saying so, but because of the demographic

we are looking at, and the typical content of text messaging, I

believe texting is done mostly by people who believe they

have nothing better to do, as it most typically serves no real

Annual Retirees Breakfast set for Nov. 7

A 119th Wing Chief Master Sgt. serves

breakfast at the annual North Dakota

Air National Guard retirees breakfast

held in the Aerospace Dining Facility

Nov. 1, 2006.

This year the annual NDANG retirees’

breakfast will be held Wednesday,

November 7, 2007, at the Aerospace

Dining Facility.

A retired Senior Master Sgt. is seated

to the Chief Master Sgt.'s left.

The NDANG Chiefs’ Council is

sponsoring this annual event, which will

begin at 7 a.m.

The menu will include: ham and

eggbake, fruit, English muffins, coffee,

orange juice, milk and water.

All North Dakota Air National Guard

retirees are invited to attend free of

charge.

practical purpose. It is basically a form of frivolous selfindulgent socializing (or anti-social) entertainment. To top it

off, it is terribly addicting. Some reports say to a brain

chemistry altering degree, even causing withdrawal symptoms

in some cases where it is taken away.

There are some professional adults who are addicted to

their “Crackberry” for e-mails, but at least that’s e-mail. Texting

is mostly a sequence of abbreviated slang conveying gossip,

quips and put downs.

You want to talk about a “killer app?” A killer application is

some software or utility whose functionality makes it essential

to own the appliance that one would need in order to run the

software. In text messaging we have a literal killer app in that

teens and young adults are doing it while they drive, with

deadly results. There has been a recent scourge of motor

vehicle accidents involving teens driving and texting resulting

in death. As I write this on September 14, 2007, Arnold “The

Governator” out in Collie-four-knee-yuh” is signing a bill into

state law banning 16 and 17 year olds from using any nonintegral electronic device while driving. This law will go into

effect July 1, along with a law prohibiting anyone from using a

hand-held cell phone while they drive.

The Governor’s message to teens: “I told my daughters,

‘I’ll get you the car. I’ll get you the cell phone. But if I see you

one time using both at the same time – both of them are gone.

The car will be gone for a long time, and the phone will be gone

for a long time, and you go to school with the bus. ‘ Start that

right now. You could lose your life, or you could go out there

and cause a lot of damage to other people’s vehicles and lives.

So take that really seriously.”

Words to live by.

I think, and hope, text messaging will probably fade away

as a fad soon, then again, I felt the same thing about rap music

back in 1989.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
JET LETTER/October 2007 11

Retirees' corner

By Chief Master Sgt. Jack Tietgens (ret.)

North Dakota Air National Guard

 Retirements, Promotions, New Members 2007 UTA Schedule

October 6-7

November 17-18

December 1-2

Family program

Military One Source can now be

found on the Internet at

www.militaryonesource.com.

Military One Source is free for all

and has been created for a variety of

Department of Defense and family

issues. It is available 24-hours-aday, seven-days-a-week by telephone

at 800-342-9647.

 2007 Auger Inn Events

November 16 - Officer Christmas Party

December 8 - Children's Christmas Party

The 2007 NDNG Annual Retirees’ Weekend at Camp Grafton was an

absolute success. Attendance increased dramatically over the 2006 event.

Many activities were scheduled for the enjoyment of everyone, yet a

casual atmosphere prevailed. Highlight the dates on your calendar for the

2008 festivities!

The Fargo-Moorhead area Happy Hooligans host the monthly

breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Valley Kitchen in Fargo (I-29 & Main Ave) on

Wednesday, October 3.

On Wednesday, October 10, the semiannual WSO Reunion will be at

the Auger Inn, located in the 119th Aerospace Dining Facility, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 20 is the date of the bimonthly breakfast at the

Detroit Lakes Holiday Inn, sponsored by the Detroit Lakes area Happy

Hooligans. Social time begins at 8 a.m. followed by breakfast served off the

menu.

Wednesday, November 7 is the highlight of the year, the NDANG

Annual Retirees’ Breakfast at the 119th Wing Dining Facility. Doors open at

7 a.m.

119 OSF

Promotions

TSgt Mahlum, Julie A.

New Member

SrA Gehrtz, Monte J.

119 SFS

New Member

A1C Gylland, Jens K.

A1C Nygaard, Lamar T.

AB Gylland, Anders N.

119 SFS- Det 2

New Member

A1C Beckner, Shane D.

178 FS

Promotions

SSgt Decoteau, Kristal L.

119 HQ

Promotions

TSgt France, Marcelino S.

JFHQ

Retirements

CMSgt Eckholm, Dallas W.

119 AMS

Promotions

SSgt Lesmeister, Jesse E.

SrA Johnson, Taylor S.

SrA Svenkerud, Nathan E.

119 CES

Promotions

SrA Anderson, Brett S.

SrA Dewar, Jason L.

SrA Dodds, Chad A.

New Member

A1C Parra, Lance G.

119 FM

Retirements

MSgt, Vancleave, David M.

119 LRS

Retirement

MSgt Abernathy, Bryan D.

119 MDG

Promotions

TSgt Guertin, Shannon D.

TSgt Tischer, Lindsey L.

119 MOF

Promotions

TSgt Greenwood, Crystal R.

Do you have any questions or

commentsabout the

Jet Letter?

Do you have a story idea or are you

interested in writing an article?

Contact us!

Visit the updated Hooligan public

website at

 http://ndfarg.ang.af.mil and e-mail

penny.ripperger@ndfarg.ang.af.mil

with comments or suggestions.

You can reach the 119th Public

Affairs officer Capt. Penny A.

Ripperger by e-mail at

penny.ripperger@ndfarg.ang.af.mil

or call (701) 451-2195.
12 JET LETTER/October 2007

TO THE FAMILY OF:

JET LETTER

119th WING

North Dakota Air National Guard

1400 28th Ave N

Fargo ND 58102-1051

Bulk Rate

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 103

Bismarck, ND 58501

Afterburner

A retired Chief Master Sgt. of the 119th Wing, center in Air Force cap, one of the original Happy Hooligans, returns on the

Honor Flight as he deplanes at Hector International Airport Sep. 8.

The Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that flies America’s veterans to Washington D.C. to visit memorials created in

honor of their sacrafices.

Maj. Allen Albright, 119th Wing, escorted his father, a WWII veteran, in the latest honor flight that departed from Fargo, N.D.

“I talked to dozens of the veterans over the two days. I was most surprised, not by stories from events of years gone by, but by how

deeply troubled they were that the lessons they learned at such a high cost seem to be forgotten by younger generations now.

One 80-something female veteran who had been a nurse during the war said it best, ‘All this stone and marble; I finally feel like

there is something here that will remind people forever of what really happened.”

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Communications Flight