Pacific Air Forces airmen in the Philippines to participate in an annual exercise turned instead to aid mountain villagers caught in the horrific mudslide of Feb. 17. The 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, with aircrews and C-130s deployed from Yokota AB, Japan, transported relief workers and equipment. Airmen with the 36th Contingency Response Group out of Andersen AFB, Guam, were put on 12-hour alert to be ready to open an airfield or provide other assistance.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.