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Gen. William V. McBride, who served as Air Force Vice Chief of Staff from 1975 to 1978, celebrated his 100th birthday on May 25. Over the course of a 36-year military career, McBride served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, becoming a highly decorated triple-rated officer working as a command pilot and navigator. Air Force Logistics Command. “I enjoyed every responsibility I was given. … That’s the reason why I made the decision to stay for 36 years. I think I did well. It was a very enjoyable career,” he he told his local newspaper, the Ellwood City Ledger.
In his newly published memoir, “American Airman,” veteran Jonathon Benjamin details how he grew up as the son of an Army veteran, joining the Air Force after attempting college. An off-duty accident, however, left him with a severe traumatic brain injury that caused his eventual medical retirement. Transitioning back to civilian life, he finds his unlikely healing in the world of theater, first as an usher, and later, as an award-winning playwright.
Capt. Matthew McChesney, an instructor pilot in the NYANG, was honored in June with a Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device for actions during the evacuation of noncombatants from Afghanistan in August 2021. McChesney and the crew of Reach 824 landed their C-17 in Kabul, were struck by small arms fire, and unloaded equipment used to save hundreds. They flew out 348 people and helped transport the bodies of 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing. Five of his aircrew received the Air Medal with Valor device.
The Air Force Services Center recently announced 15 winners in its annual Air Force Art Contest, selected from more than 2,240 pieces of art and 1,600 participants of all ages. Divided across five categories—adult accomplished, adult novice, 6 to 8 years old, 9 to 12 years old, and 13 to 17 years old—the winners receive $500, $400 and $300 gift cards for first, second and third place, respectively. Among those recognized, Jennifer Slack of Hurlburt Field, Fla., won the adult accomplished division (image above), and Kelly Aistrop of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., won the adult novice category. Among the youth divisions, Samantha Lee from Landstuhl, Germany, won the 6-8 year old category, Eason Becker from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, won the 9 to 12 category, and Morgan Becker, also from Hill AFB, topped the 13 to 17 age range.
The 14th Airlift Squadron, JB Charleston, S.C., was recognized with the 2021 Gen. Joseph Smith Trophy for AMC’s most outstanding airlift squadron. The “Pelicans” were AMC’s most tasked squadron in 2021, involved in everything from safely transporting some of DOD’s highest leaders to assisting in the noncombatant evacuation out of Kabul, Afghanistan. The squadron supported the ACE concept with the first virtual mission management process during Phoenix Sword.
Staff Sgt. Johnny Cox is a full-time recruiter with Missouri ANG’s 131st Bomb Wing. He rose through the ranks to become a professional cornhole player, taking part in the American Cornhole League as the top-ranked player in the state. Supported by the Guard to practice and play in tournaments, Cox has taken on some of the nation’s top players and held his own, and he has also competed in the 2022 U.S. Armed Forces Tournament, finishing as the runner-up in both the singles and doubles event.
A group of Airmen representing Air Force Gaming made history May 28 to 29, becoming the very first champions of an esports competition recognized by the U.S. government—the first Department of Defense Armed Forces Esports Championship. Staff Sgt. Shane Posey, Staff Sgt. Trey Christensen, Senior Airman Cole Schlegel, and Airman First Class Allyson Stephenson combined to claim the title, going undefeated in the competition against other teams from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard while playing the game ‘Halo: Infinite.’ “We are the roots, this is definitely going down in the history books. This is awesome to be a part of,” Schlegel said.
After an office team event in April at Vandenberg SFB, a member of the group collapsed. Staff Sgt. Cristina Garza, a financial analyst with the 30th Comptroller Squadron started CPR while other team members called 911. Security Forces arrived and helped her to continue compressions and breathing cycles, before they started using a defibrillator. When medics arrived the man was transported to a medical facility, where he is recovering.