More than 400 airmen from Barksdale AFB, La., worked tirelessly around the clock starting Oct. 31 to help local officials in northern Bossier Parish reinforce a levee meant to contain the Red Chute Bayou against rising waters that had surged nearly 10 feet above normal levels after severe storms ravaged northwest Louisiana. The airmen filled sandbags and hauled them to the affected areas along the bayou to prevent the floodwaters from overtaking local residences. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude [to the airmen] for their dedication and work during this natural disaster,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), in whose district Bossier Parish and Barksdale lie, in a floor speech Monday. He said their efforts prove “once again, why the United States military is the greatest assemblage of outstanding men and women in the world.” (Includes Bossier City report by Maj. Carie A. Parker)
Lockheed Martin projects more than a billion dollars of losses on a classified program, but company officials said April 23 they are confident it will turn profitable by 2028 and become a "franchise" system in the U.S. military.