April 5, 2013 - Kaiserslautern American

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HAVE YOU READ YOUR KA TODAY?

April 5, 2013

Volume 37, number 13

Father Kapaun to be

awarded Medal of Honor by the 21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs There is a bust of his likeness, a statue in the middle of an Air Force administrative annex in the KMC in faraway Germany, an ocean away from his hometown roots and a continent away from where he is buried in an unmarked grave. The face and shoulder representation is meant as a reminder of the namesake, often overlooked and rarely thought upon from a long ago war referred to as the “forgotten war.” The statue briefly describes his actions as a member of the Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division to memorialize his selfless accolades in life and captivity in

a North Korean prisoner of war camp. This man, U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Father Emil J. Kapaun (pronounced K-pawn), will be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously April 11. According to the U.S. Army, Kapaun’s extraordinary courage, faith and leadership inspired thousands of prisoners to surCourtesy photo vive hellish conditions, resist enemy indoctrination and retain their faith in God and country. In 1955, four years after his death, the Army named Kapaun Barracks — now Kapaun Administration Annex in Kaiserslautern — after him. Over the years, the names of the installations have changed, but Kapaun’s memorial See KAPAUN, Page 9

Serbians trained on PTSD programs

Tip of the Week As the weather warms up, be aware and cautious of motorcyclists on the road.

Photo by Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright

Training for the fight Airman 1st Class Joshua Peckham (foreground), 86th Comptroller Squadron financial adviser, is assisted with his gas mask during ability to survive and operate training March 29 on Ramstein. The ATSO training is designed to prepare Airmen for real-world contingencies. For more on the ATSO training, see Page 7.

See TRAINING, Page 3

NEWS

T

wo Serbian military members and one Serbian doctor visited the 86th Medical Group and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center March 25 to 27 to become familiarized with mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder programs. They were given the requirements for establishing and sustaining their own military PTSD program. “We were able to share experiences

between Serbian and American PTSD programs,” said Maj. Danilo Joković, Serbian military member. “We gained a lot of valuable knowledge.” During the three days of briefings, the Serbians were taught about personnel roles and responsibilities, training, qualification and certification requirements, military regulations, and mental health specialist’s roles and responsibilities. “The Serbians were being briefed on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of PTSD with the U.S. Air Force mental health system,” said

FEATURES

Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Airmen remember historic drop, Page 13

7th Weather Squadron moves to Wiesbaden, Page 13

593

As of April 2

707


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