By Senior Airmen Elizabeth Pritchard, 108ARW/PA
Last December the 108th Air Refueling Wing had the honor of flying the last operational mission in Operation Joint Forge.
Wing members from the 108th deployed, under Operation Joint Forge, to Istres Air Base, France to assist in the base closure and the relocation of assets and personnel.
The United States Air
Force has had a detachment
assigned to a hangar in Istres
as part of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization to direct
and provide air coverage over
the Balkans, but now after 11
years, their mission is finally
complete. During that time,
the detachment has flown approximately
6,000 missions
and logged more than 34,000
flight hours.
During the base closure and flag furling ceremony there was a strong sense of friendship between the French and the Americans that had formed during the decadelong service on French soil.
The phrase "What is not finished is the friendship built between us," was voiced several times by the various guest speakers at the ceremony.
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108th Unit Receives AFOUA
The 227th Special Operations Flight, 108th Air Refueling Wing, received the 2004 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) based on meritorious service for the period of Nov 1, 2002 to Jun. 30, 2004.
"The competition was extremely keen, and each winner is commended for having been selected from an outstanding group of nominees,” stated Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, Director, Air National Guard. “The dedication and commitment of the members of these organizations enable the Air National Guard to fulfill its commitment to the missions of peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, domestic improvement, and most important of all - defense of America."
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Santa’s Team Deliver Pies
By Staff Sgt. Matt Johnson, 108ARW Enlisted CouncilPresident
The 108th Enlisted Council held a fundraiser in December, the profits of which were donated to the men and women of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home.
Prior to the fundraiser, a vote was held to choose
Santa and his two elves. The winners were Lt. Col.
Rory Doolittle as Santa, with Chief Master Sgt. Marv
Nichols and Staff Sgt. April Kelly as the elves.
Their job was to deliver whip cream pies to
recipients of the Pie in the Face fundraiser. Individuals
were brought up in front of the Wing to receive
their pies from Santa. The Vineland Veterans Memorial
Home received $200 from the fundraiser.