Quick thinking—and action—last month by four airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, saved about $52 million worth of aircraft parts from being damaged or destroyed in an electrical fire. SSgt. Akeilee Murchison, SrA. Heather Libiszewski, A1C Mayra Colon-Santiago, and Amn. Martin Renzi responded within moments of detecting the Sept. 22 fire, which was caused by a broken gaslight fixture, in the unit’s parts store. Together they used a fire extinguisher to smother the flames, called for and directed members of the base’s fire department to the scene. “What these airmen did is a great thing, and we need to make sure all our airmen are prepared to take the initiative if a fire breaks out in their work centers,” said SMSgt. James Ferrari, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing ground safety manager. Faulty wiring was later determined to have caused the fixture to burst. (Balad report SSgt. Don Branum)
Dick Cheney’s Legacy with the Air Force
Nov. 6, 2025
Dick Cheney, who died Nov. 3 at 84, is best remembered by most Americans as among the most powerful Vice Presidents in history, a consummate Washington insider who had previously served in the Nixon administration, was Chief of Staff for President Gerald Ford, a Congressman for a decade, and Secretary…
