Andrews 072415

JBA NEWS 79th Medical Wing Master Sergeant selectees announced, Page 2

DCMILITARY.COM

LESLIE C. SMITH STAFF WRITER

Army veteran Jackie Muddiman says the Veterans Curation Program sharpened his business skills.

COMMUNITY

East Coast Tuskegee Airmen Chapter hosts golf tournament, Page 3

Have a fun, safe time at the pool, Page 7

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD.

EXAMINING THE PAST, DISCOVERING SELF

LESLIE C. SMITH/ANDREWS GAZETTE

SPORTS

The Veteran’s Curation Program (VCP) is a pioneering program training veterans for the workforce through the preservation of cultural resources. Located in Alexandria, Va., VCP

see VCP, page 4

Military appreciation night at Bowie Baysox

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SENIOR AIRMAN JOSHUA R. M. DEWBERRY

Tech. Sgt. Karen Blackburn, 11th Wing Command Post controller, sings the national anthem for the Bowie Baysox baseball game at Bowie, July 17.

see BAYSOX, page 9

Strolling Strings entertains at Museum of American History

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 | VOL. 4 NO. 29

Generals testify for their future positions

BY SENIOR AIRMAN HAILEY HAUX

SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMAND INFORMATION

Two Air Force generals testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee during their nomination hearing as the next U.S. Transportation Command commander and new vice chairman to the Joint Chiefs of Staff July 14.

Both were nominated by President Barack Obama and expressed their gratitude for the nomination, and if selected look forward to working together with Congress, the Defense Department, and other branches of the government and military.

“I look forward to working with (all agencies) to address a wide spectrum of challenges confronting

see FUTURE, page 10

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SENIOR AIRMAN HAILEY HAUX

Gen. Paul J. Selva, the nominee for vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Darren W. McDew, the nominee for U.S. Transportation Command commander, sit before Congress to testify for their future positions during their nomination hearing July 14, 2015. Both were nominated by President Barack Obama and expressed their gratitude for the nomination, and if selected look forward to working together with Congress, the Defense Department, and other branches of the government and military.

Optimism helped Vietnam veteran survive as POW

BY KAREN ABEYASEKERE

100TH AIR REFUELING WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS RYAN J. SONNIER

Senior Master Sgt. William Tortolano, Strolling Stringsí violinist, performs for a crowd at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., July 16, 2015. The U.S. Air Force Bandís Strolling Strings concert was part of the museumís Star-Spangled American Music Series.

see STROLLING, page 6

When 2nd Lt. John “Spike” Nasmyth climbed into his F-4 Phantom II on Sept. 4, 1966, to fly a combat mission over Vietnam, he never foresaw that he’d be blown out of the sky by a surface-to-air missile.

The last words he heard before his jet was transformed into a lump of crumpled, metal wreckage were from his “guy in back,” Ray Salzurulo, a pilot systems operator —

see POW, page 8

COURTESY PHOTO

Prisoners of war await their release in January 1973, at the end of the Vietnam War. Spike Nasmyth (center), then a second lieutenant and an F-4 Phantom II pilot, was shot down by a Vietnamese surface-to-air missile Sept. 4, 1966. He was kept prisoner for 2,355 days. Nasmyth visited Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, July 8, 2015, and shared his story with RAF Mildenhall Airmen.

Andrews Gazette

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Friday, July 24, 2015

Hot tickets Congratulations to the 79th Medical Wing Master Sergeant selectees arnound town

BY MELANIE MOORE

July 24

Maryland Wine Week: Music in the Vineyard 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Romano Vineyard & Winery, 15715 Bald Eagle School Road, Brandywine Maryland Wine Week is a celebration of Maryland wine, hard cider and mead produced by more than 65 wineries throughout Maryland. An evening of music, wine and barbecue at Romano Winery, featuring the jazzy sounds of GrooveSpan and food from of Lil Macks BBQ. Call 301-752-1103 or visitwww.romanowinery.com.

July 25

Glenn Dale Day 2-4 p.m.

Marietta House Museum, 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale Live music, food and craft vendors, and try a little wine from local wineries. Free. Admission Call 301-464-5291 or visit www.pgparks.com.

July 25

Stolen Identity: The Story of Esau and Jacob Noon Evangel Cathedral, 13901 Central Ave., Upper Marlboro Evangel’s 2015 summer production. Tickets are available on a first come first serve basis. Additional performance at 4 p.m.. Free. Call 301-2499400 or visit www.evangelcathedral.net.

July 26

Swinging Summer Celebration 6 p.m.

Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier Summer swing dance hosted by Joe’s and featuring Gottaswing’s own Tom Koerner. A fabulous Sunday evening at Joe’s. Meet the instructors and learn some basics tonight. ($). Call 301-699-1819 or visit www.joesmovement.org.

July 28

International Champions Cup: Chelsea FC vs.

FC Barcelona 8 p.m.

Fed Ex Field, 1600 FedEx Way, Landover The International Champions Cup returns to FedEx Field for a high-powered match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona. Limited number tickets still available. For tickets, visit www.internationalchampionscup.com or www.ticketmaster. com.

COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military.

The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.

Maxine Minar, president mminar@dcmilitary.com John Rives, publisher

jrives@dcmilitary.com

Tiffany Arnold, page design tarnold@gazette.net Leslie Smith, editor lsmith@dcmilitary.com Bobby Jones, photographer bjones@dcmilitary.com

79TH MEDICAL WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

On July 16, individuals from the 79th Medical Wing were selected for promotion to master sergeant. Advancement to master sergeant is one of the most significant promotions within the enlisted Air Force. Congratulations to: n Tech. Sgt. Millicent Cavazos n Tech. Sgt. Nailah Dillard n Tech. Sgt. Andrea Franklin n Tech. Sgt. Deborah Garcia n Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Glover n Tech. Sgt. Maisha Granda n Tech. Sgt. Thomas Kellner n Tech. Sgt. Rodrick Martin n Tech. Sgt. Maria Paucar n Tech. Sgt. Michael Ramsey n Tech. Sgt. Kara Shores n Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Tanner n Tech. Sgt. Lashenna Wells n Tech. Sgt. Catalina Caldwell

AF PHOTOS BY STAFF SGT. JILLIAN KOZUB

Colonel Robert Bowersox, 79th Medical Wing Commander and Chief Master Sgt. Michelle Thorsteinson-Richards, 79th Medical Wing Command Chief congratulate the 779th Medical Group Master Sgt. Selectees at a party on Joint Base Andrews.

Colonel Robert Bowersox, 79th Medical Wing Commander and Chief Master Sgt. Michelle Thorsteinson-Richards, 79th Medical Wing Command Chief congratulate the 779th Medical Group Master Sgt. Selectees at a party on Joint Base Andrews.

Retiree Corner OPM Cyber Attack

The Office of Personnel Management in coming weeks will begin to send notification packages to some 21.5 million individuals affected by a recent cyber incident involving federal background investigation data. This includes records of current, former and prospective federal employees and contractors.

Types of information include Social Security numbers; residency and educational history; employment history; information about family and business acquaintances; health, criminal and financial history. Some records also include findings from interviews conducted by background investigators and fin-

gerprints. OPM and the Defense Department are working with a private firm specializing in credit and identity theft monitoring to address potential risks created by this incident for at least three years, at no charge. An OPM website — ww.opm. gov/cybersecurity — offers information regarding the incident. The site will be regularly updated.

Beneficiary Update

Your life insurance beneficiary is the person you have designated to receive your insurance proceeds. It is important to make sure your beneficiary information is up to date. This will make it much easier on your family members to file a claim and receive the benefit

quickly. You should review your beneficiary information at least once a year to make sure everything is current. Even though you may have the same beneficiary, they might have changed addresses.

A regular beneficiary review each year will make sure you capture these changes. Certain events such a marriage, birth or divorce should also trigger a review of your beneficiary information.

established by the TRDP contract. Specific information regarding the annual premium adjustment can be found on the TRDP website, http:// trdp.org. Enrollees in the Enhanced TRDP can use the website’s Premium Search feature to find their new monthly premium amount. You can always review your Retiree Account Statement on myPay.

The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through If you’re enrolled in Friday. Visit the office in the Tricare Retiree Den- Building 1604 at Califortal Program (TRDP), nia and Colorado Avenues you may notice a change or call 301 981-2726. Call in your Oct. 1 payment. before your visit to ensure This change is the sched- a volunteer is on duty. uled annual adjustment The RAO has a website at in monthly premiums as www.andrews.af.mil.

Change in Retired Pay

Andrews Gazette

Friday, July 24, 2015

East Coast Tuskegee Airmen Chapter hosts golf tournament

BY BOBBY JONES

is my ministry. I try to take my experience in life — learned lessons, Singer and songwrit- love and relationships er Lahla-Hadiya uses — and try to minister to music to help others other people, male and heal. This petite pow- female.” erhouse wants to get a One of nine children, message to people when she discovered early on she performs. the gift of music. Her faA pastor’s daughter, ther sang and her mothshe used her gospel er sang gospel with sevroots to form the basis eral groups, including of her current day music the Richard Smallwood which she describes as Singers. neo-soul, jazz and R&B “I think I came out with a gospel perspec- the womb singing — it tive. “I believe singing was almost if I didn’t

BY LESLIE C. SMITH STAFF WRITER

Jerome Hodge sinks a bogey at the seventh hole during the 25th Annual Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Golf Classic at The Courses at Andrews on July 17.

Burnie, where kids can learn to be aircraft mechanics. In fact, we have a couple of kids that got their licenses to work on airplanes,” said Smith. “ “We’re trying to instill the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen in them from their past.” Smith said the East Coast Tuskegee

Chapter was first to organize among the more than 50 chapters around the country. “We started in 1972, and we’re the largest chapter.”

Approximately 120 players turned out for the event. “We received strong support from the

see GOLF, page 7

July 14, 1:40 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a vehicle accident

belt something out it would’ve been ‘what is wrong with her?’”

Hadiya mimicked early on what she heard her mom sing. She actually got her nickname Lahla from singing scales with her mom.

“We would sing and I would get stuck on that [La]. It was my favorite part, and I would just keep singing that part all around the house. So she started calling me

see SONG, page 9

Organization helps vets turn ideas into new businesses

BY LESLIE C. SMITH STAFF WRITER

Project opportunity was created in 2010 on the Eastern shore when Joe Giordano was seeking to create a program that would help veterans in search of employment and would provide an alterna-

tive to traditional employment. The retired Army veteran was looking to develop an answer to the high unemployment rate among veterans in Maryland.

“This year Maryland had the highest veteran unemployment rate in the country. These guys and girls are coming home and

just can’t seem to find a job,” Giordano noted.

In business since 2002, Giordano is the owner of Consulting, Training, and Development Services where he advises and consults in human resource and workforce development

see NEW, page 6

TRUSTED FAMILY DENTISTRY

Security Forces Police Blotter The Security Forces Blotter is intended to keep members of the Joint Base Andrews Community informed and aware of the crimes and offenses that occur throughout the base each week. If you have any information that may help Security Forces solve a crime or prevent a criminal act, please contact BDOC (Base Defense Operations Center) at 301981-2001, CRIME STOP LINE 981-2677 (COPS, or the investigations section at 301-9815656).

Music, melody, message

Singer, songwriter Lahla-Hadiya builds bridges through music

STAFF PHOTOJOURNALIST

The East Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (ECCTAI) had a good showing of members and fair weather for the 25th Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Golf Classic held at The Courses at Andrews on July 17.

Held in honor of General Davis, the first African-American general in the Air Force, the flagship chapter holds the annual fundraising event to support its youth programs.

According to golf committee chairman Clarence Smith, the chapter provides thousands of dollars annually for scholarships to students in Prince George’s County and the Youth and Aviation Program, which is geared toward inspiring youths toward careers in aviation and aerospace.

“We actually give kids flying hours toward soloing in airplanes, plus we take them around to the Smithsonian and various air fields,” said Smith, a former ECCTAI president.

“We also work with a company called AvDyne AeroServices, in Glen

3

MINUTES FROM JOINT BASE ANDREWS!

involving a Government Owned Vehicle. The operator made contact with the gate resulting in damages consisting of dents to the driver’s side door and a cracked driver’s side window. The individual was charged accordingly.

July 16, 2:06 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a shoplifting at the Main Exchange. An individual walked out of the Main Exchange without rendering payment for various items. The individual was apprehended and charged accordingly.

July 17, 6:02 p.m.: At the Main Gate Security Forces stopped an

see POLICE, page 10

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Andrews Gazette

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VCP, from page 1 provides transitional employment and vocational training for recently separated veterans.

The program consists of a five-month long session where each vet is trained as a laboratory technician to work on federal and private collections in a variety of conditions — working on artifacts and archiving.

They are then returned to their original repository.

During the five months, the participants receive pay while learning new job skills in a “peer-to-peer veteran’s environment.” Skills such as data entry, photography and report writing, processing and curation of archeological collections are learned and utilized to rehabilitate archeological collections and records for long-term curation and research.

Veterans are directed to the program from a number of sources — friends, veteran organizations, schools.

The Alexandria Lab, the largest, is one of three labs funded and directed

PHOTOS BY LESLIE C. SMITH/ANDREWS GAZETTE

Marine veteran Joseph Grier says the Veterans Curation Program motivated him and opened doors. He’s now eyeing the entrepreneurial arena beyond the program.

by the Army Corp of engineers. There are also labs in Augusta, Ga., and St. Louis.

Currently, 13 Air Force, Navy Army and Marine veterans are participating in the program.

A total of 172 veterans have or are participating in the program, of which an estimated 86 have gone on to employment or future education.

The program does not require prior experience in the archiving and archeological arena but is designed more to give veterans the opportunity

to hone skills they already possess while looking for the career. Participants have a range of experiences and have different plans.

Army veteran, medically retired after five tours in Iraq, Jackie Muddiman is currently two and a half months into the program. Muddiman found the project through the Army Wounded Warrior Organization.

“You’re able to dive into history. I love history — to be able to see a piece and hold it in your hand.

It gives you a better un-

Air Force veteran Joshua Williamson says he appreciates the Veterans Curation Program’s flexibility in working with veterans’ unique needs.

derstanding, especially with the investigations and compiling the data,” said Muddiman, a native Virginian.

Muddiman is eyeing a position in operations with a local restaurant.

Muddiman credits the program with sharpening his current skills and amplifying them.

“I already had a large amount of attention to detail, I didn’t think I could have any more, but I was able to broaden and deepen that here.

There is a great deal of detail that goes into everything we do here — as far as picking up an artifact and writing about

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it, to taking a document and trying to reference it with the report in the right order so that people that come after us can make sense of it. The photo piece — the level of detail that goes into it is immense. So now it’s just second nature and anything I go into I’m going to have this.”

Joshua Williamson, an Air Force veteran, made his way to the program after a professor at George Mason referred him. He shared what the program means to him beyond employment.

“It means a lot to me that it’s only veterans — that the technicians are veterans. They are really looking out for veterans and have their best interest in mind. I think it’s really great that they’re very flexible. They understand that most of us have appointments with the VA — which can be a process sometimes — that maybe some other places of employment won’t be as understanding when you need to take a half day off to wait at the VA. So that really means a lot to me that they understand as a veteran that we have some

other obligations, hardships, that other people might not have.”

Marine veteran Joseph Grier plans to use the skills acquired in an entrepreneurial role. Grier’s plan is to own a jazz restaurant. Grier plans to use the current digitalization skills along with the management and teamwork skills honed in the program.

“It’s been a great experience being around other veterans. It creates a relaxed environment for me to work,” Grier said.

“It’s also a motivational experience for me. Its means a lot what they’ve brought out of me,” Grier shared.

“It’s meant a lot because it’s an opportunity that most don’t realize is there. I would like them to get the word out to more veterans.” Grier said that his hope is to follow in VCP footsteps and create more jobs for veterans.

The program is managed through CogstoneBerger, two cultural resource management firms. To find out more about the program or to apply, visit Veterans CurationProgram.org.

Friday, July 24, 2015

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Andrews Gazette

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Andrews Gazette

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STROLLING STRINGS ENTERTAINS AT NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTOS/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS RYAN J. SONNIER

Guests of the National Museum of American History listen to the U.S. Air Force Band’s Strolling Strings during a concert held in Washington, D.C., July 16, 2015.

The Strolling Strings performance was part of the museum’s Star-Spangled American Music Series.

Friday, July 24, 2015

NEW, from page 3 on projects.

After receiving additional funding Giordano was able to expand the program to offer courses in Southern Maryland, Anne Arundel County and Howard County.

The Anne Arundel County program, funded by county agencies, is aimed at veterans in Howard County and Anne Arundel County. Due to the funding sources, participants must be a resident of one of the counties or own and run a business in those counties.

Other courses have some flexibility in eligibility depending on the course funding.

Along with being a veteran, participants entering the programs must already have a solid concept of what their business venture is to be.

“We conduct a pretty thorough screening and assessment. What we do is, when we have interest for the course, we conduct a two to two-and-half hour orientation session where we speak about the course.

We talk about what I like to call the good, the bad and the ugly of entrepre-

neurship. After that, we follow up a questionnaire with telephone calls.” Giordano and the team want are seeking out candidates which would be serious pursuers.

With veterans as course instructors, using Nx Level curriculum, a nationally recognized entrepreneurship training program, the course meets three hours a week for a total of 30 hours of classroom with approximately 20 hours of outside coursework required.

“Time-wise, it’s pretty much like taking a college course,” Giordano said.

The main goal is to research and develop a viable business plan. The classes are supplemented with expert guess speakers. “Each class session we have someone come in to speak.

We have a lawyer come in. We have a CPA come in also. We have commercial lenders come and talk about financial statements and funding for small businesses as well as cash flow analysis.”

There are two business plan review sessions. One session looks at the marketing plan where marketing experts spend 20-30 minutes with each participant giving feedback and insight, and the same with

the finances, budgets and expenditures part of the marketing plan.

Giordano’s advice for budding “vetrepreneurs” is, “They really need to do their research and their homework and use the free resources that are available.” The program has speakers from the local Score Chapter and the Small Business Development Center. Giordano said that persistence is key, noting the participants that follow up with the speakers.

“Veterans have what I consider the four main qualities that you need to be successful: they’re motivated; they’re self-disciplined; they know how to multi-task; and they know how to problem solve.

There have been 144 veterans taking the course, which has an 87-percent completion rate.

Giordano is looking to bring the program to Prince George’s County and is currently accepting applications to be placed on the waiting list.

Those interested can go visit www.project-opportunity.com.

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Andrews Gazette

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Have a fun, safe time at the pool

Clarence ‘CD’ Smith, golf committee chairman, gives welcoming remarks to more than 120 players prior to a ‘shot gun’ start of the 25th Annual Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Golf Classic at The Courses at Andrews on July 17.

GOLF, from page 3 BOBBY JONES/ANDREWS GAZETTE

Children watch a 20-minute water safety video to the safety rules during a Water Day Safety session at the Allentown Splash, Tennis and Fitness Park in Temple Hills July 17.

been a Red Cross-certified water safety instructor for 9 years. She said The season is ripe for that besides basic swimfun in the sun and one ming techniques, “I teach way to cool off is to take [swimmers] how to roll a splash in your neighborover, front to back and hood pool. But first time vice versa.

This technique or novice swimmers need will help them in case to learn how to swim and learn the rules of water they get tired they can roll over on their back and safety.

During a recent Water perform what we call a Safety Day session held survival float. It will keep at the Allentown Splash, them stable in the water, Tennis and Fitness Park without panicking until in Temple Hills, chil- they get close to safety.” dren ages 5 to 13 learned “We just teach them the importance of water safety and survival generally how to swim, skills through watching depending on what level a 20-minute safety skills they’re in. I think that video and a 20-minute most times, when they’re hands-on beginners water afraid of the water, it’s safety class on July 15. kind of difficult to get The class runs four them comfortable in days per week for a two- swimming. But in due week period, where kids time, they do get used to learn to swim free style, it. We start them out with butterfly and breast stroke and turn tech- just bobbing and getting used to the water. niques.

“The instructors also “It was great,” said Miracle Thomas, 12, re- use life buoys and other ferring to the water safety flotation devices to educlass. cate a child about it use to “I learned not to break save someone else’s life by any glass at the pool be- tossing it to them during cause you can hurt your- the water safety sessions self,” said Thomas. “I in the pool,” Tucker said. learned to never, never There are numerous run, because you might pool facilities throughout fall on the slippery floor Prince George’s County around the pool. I learned for children and adults how to float, too. I’m not alike to have fun safely as scared of swimming now, but I need some more and cool off from the practice.” hot temperatures. For Jackie Jones, grand- more information visit mother of Donovan, 5, pgparks.com/Things_To_ noted, “I think it’s of great Do/Sports/Aquatics.htm. value to teach the kids The Maryland Nationhow to be safe in the waal Parks and Planning ter. I have him scheduled to take the next class on Commission Parks and Recreation have specific Aug. 3.”

Topaz Tucker serves safety rules in place to enas a life guard at Allen- sure you have a fun and town Splash Park has safe summer.

BY BOBBY JONES

STAFF PHOTOJOURNALIST

10 tips for water safety 1. Constantly supervise non-swimmers.

2. Take swimming lessons. Lessons can start as early as 6 months.

3. Achieve a level of water competency, which includes jumping in the water and recovering safely, treading or floating for a minute, turning completely around, swimming 25 yards and exiting the pool independently.

4. Use personal flotation devices for non swimmers.

5. Always swim at a facility with life guards.

6. Always swim with a buddy.

7. Know your pool.

Recognize where the shallow end and the deep end of the pool is located. Know where you are comfortable navigating.

8. Know the pool rules before getting into the water.

9. Avoid breath holding games. Holding your breath for long periods of time while in or under water is dangerous.

10. Have fun in the sun this summer.

— Maryland Department of Parks and Recreation

players in the local community.”

Jerry Burton, current ECCTAI president, stationed himself at the ninth hole of the course to congratulate anyone lucky enough to get a hole-in-one and win the $5,000 prize donated by the Andrews Federal Credit Union. “ “The money raised will benefit our flight school of young kids 15 to 19 years of age,” said Burton. “We try to get them all the way to their solo flight of 15 hours and some kids get all

the way to their private pilot’s license. In fact, we just had one young person get their pilot’s license this past Saturday,” said Burton.

“We give $1,000 s ch o l a r s h i p s every year, which we average about 12 scholarships a year, which amounts to $12,000 going directly for grants and scholarships to graduating seniors in the Maryland, D.C. and Virginia areas.

Most of the kids come from Prince George’s County, which is by virtue of our proximity in Maryland,” said Burton.

“We’re here to enjoy the weather, but we’re

also here to get more people involved in the chapter,” Burton said.

The winners were: 1st place, Robert Bullett, Ezekiel Pinkney, Cliff Daniels, Willie Diggs; 2nd place, Rodney Moore, Michael Scott, Morris Wallace, John Jetter; 3rd place, Steven Muller, Scott Bishop, Harry Alaxander; men’s long drive, Matthew Tippy; women’s long drive,Vicki Smith; men’s closest to the pin, Barrington Jackson; and women’s closest to the pin, Sue Hood.

Andrews Fe d e ral Credit Union, The Lodge, Bullett Consulting, Lockheed Martin, Dr. Tracy O. Garrett, AvDyne Aero Services, LLC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Omni Systems, Theodore Wade & Co. Inc., Jet Blue, Finnians Design, Leidos, MGM Grand National Harbor, The Law Firm of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates LLC, Shoppers, and Mr. & Mrs. James Love made the event possible.

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Andrews Gazette

8

a fighter plane is damn dangerous. It’s nothing but a little tube full of fuel and bombs. So you don’t get worried about things going ‘boom.’

“Most fighter pilots figured they’d survive and get out — most of us did,” he continued.

“The optimists survived, the pessimists died. Every guy I know who died was a pessimist. If you look at the dark side and think you’re probably not going to make it, you don’t.”

POW, from page 1 “Hey, Spike — here comes another...”

Direct hit

As the missile struck, the first thing in Nasmyth’s mind was disbelief.

“As with all good fighter pilots, I thought I was invincible,” said the 74-year-old Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war during a visit to Royal Air Force Mildenhall July 8. “I couldn’t believe that they’d got me. But then, as I realized I was falling toward the ground at an appalling rate, I said to myself, ‘Eject or die, Spike!’ It looked like a movie — I was tumbling toward the ground and it just looked like it was spiraling toward me at a hell of a rate. That’s what made me eject.”

In 1966, Nasmyth was assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Ubon Air Force Base, Thailand, where he flew combat missions in support of the Vietnam War.

Crash landing

After what seemed like an eternity, his parachute opened and brought him down to Earth, somewhere north of Hanoi.

Struggling to free himself from his canopy harness, Nasmyth realized he’d been injured during the ejection. A shard of metal had gouged through his arm and gone in just below the elbow, out the other side and straight into his leg.

“It was just like a piece of red, raw meat was coming out of my right arm,” said Nasmyth, as he showed off his forearm and the scars he still bears today.

Once on the ground,

Friday, July 24, 2015

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY GINA RANDALL/RELEASED

U.S. Air Force retired Maj. Spike Nasmyth, speaks with Team Mildenhall during a lunch July 8, 2015, in the Galaxy Club on RAF Mildenhall, England. Nasmyth spoke about how prisoners of war communicated with one another in the camp by tapping messages on the walls. He was a POW for more than six years.

he was immediately surrounded by the North Vietnamese, some of whom started to beat him before hauling him away to collect their bounty.

They took him to the infamous Hanoi Hilton — the first of several prison camps which would become his “home” for the next 2,355 days.

Unbreakable spirit

Nasmyth was subjected to constant torture and near starvation during the first three years.

The guards would find any reason to humiliate him and try to break his spirit. Refusing to acknowledge that Nasmyth was a prisoner of war, they referred to him as a war criminal, and, as far as they were concerned, the Geneva Convention didn’t apply to war criminals.

After several months of solitary confinement, he was allowed to mix with the other “American air pirates,” as they were called by their captors. Together, the prisoners were held in a camp known as “the

Zoo.”

Sunny side of life

Being reintegrated into the general population of the camp brought new challenges for Nasmyth.

Primarily, this meant getting along with others and sharing a cell.

An antagonistic relationship between cellmates could make long days and months even worse.

“I only had one I considered killing,” said Nasmyth, in a tonguein-cheek way. “Luckily, I had great cellmates. My best one ever was a guy named Jim Piere, from Bessemer, Alabama.

Nothing got him down, everything was a joke.

I was with him for six months, and we laughed the entire time.”

Nasmyth’s positive outlook is what he said got him through dark times where others would have given up.

“I’m a perpetual optimist and always have been,” Nasmyth said. “I always see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Most fighter pilots are optimists, because flying

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‘Remember, no ‘k’’

The prisoners learned to communicate in the form of tapping on the walls and quickly passed messages around the camp in this manner. An entire communications network was built upon “the tap code.”

When he first entered the camp in solitary confinement, Spike had heard the tapping, but had no clue as to what it was. His fellow Americans taught him the secret code: “The alphabet has 25 letters, no ‘k’. Five lines of five letters, the first tap is for the line. The second tap is the letter in the line.

Remember, no ‘k;’ use ‘c’ for ‘k.’

“I had nothing but time on my hands, so I practiced,” he said. “I could do it so well and would send messages fast and receive them first. It kept me busy and in the know.”

The code helped keep the POWs safe and sane, and enabled them to share which lies they would tell their torturers. If they all said the same thing, then there was more chance of being believed.

All the while, the prisoners were on the lookout for the Vietnamese guards. If caught communicating, they were subjected to severe punishment. One prisoner would be down on his

hands and knees looking through the gap under the door, keeping watch for the boots of their captors.

“I don’t think they ever figured out the extent of our communications,” said Nasmyth, as he laughed. “They’d have probably just cut our heads off. They just didn’t have a dream that we were as clever as we were. We could get a message through the 14 cells in the Zoo in three days. Even though it was caveman-primitive how we did it, we did it pretty cleverly.”

Free at last

As B-52 Stratofortresses attacked Hanoi during Operation Linebacker II from Dec. 18-29, 1972, Nasmyth recalled how the men at the Zoo endured a very violent two weeks that ended as quickly as they had begun.

“Then everything stopped. The Paris peace talks were happening and after we bombed Hanoi, the Vietnamese decided they’d had enough of that, so they signed the Paris Peace Accords Jan. 3, 1973,” he said.

One of the stipulations of the accord was that it had to be read to all the prisoners, so they were marched outside the Hanoi Hilton, where someone read the whole thing to them -- in Vietnamese.

“None of us understood two words of it and it took them about an hour to read,” he recalled, adding that an interpreter eventually read it in English.

Approximately 300 men were released. For most, this was the first chance they’d had to see each other. Inside the prison, they’d never been allowed to all be together.

“My big worry the whole time was that I’d wake up from a dream.

Even the day I was released, I kept poking my-

self, saying ‘don’t wake up, man.’” Nasmyth said.

“When I was on that American plane — a C-141 Starlifter — and flew out of there, I was still thinking it was a dream. But it wasn’t.”

From past to present

As the Vietnam veteran arrived at RAF Mildenhall on his way to talk to Airmen July 8, he saw KC-135 Stratotankers lined up on the flightline and reminisced about the memories they brought back.

A KC-135 was the last aircraft he saw before getting hit by the missile. It had just refueled his F-4, and he was full of praise for them.

“It was exhilarating and amazing to see them (on RAF Mildenhall). I thought, ‘my God — how old are they?’” Nasmyth said.

“We loved the tankers, because they saved our bacon,” he recalled. “They would deviate (from their route) and come north to get us if we were really short on fuel. They did it regularly, and I’m sure it was against orders, but they just did it. They were good guys.”

Hearing war stories from the past aids in keeping history alive and can help give Airmen of today a clearer picture of the struggles of those who served before them.

“Heritage is important to the 100th Air Refueling Wing and it should be for every Airman,” said Col. Thomas D. Torkelson, the 100th ARW commander. “To hear such incredible stories of service and sacrifice from a true hero of the Vietnam era is an amazing honor. Spike Nasmyth and his fellow POWs are an inspiration that motivates each of us to give a little more every day.”

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Andrews Gazette

Friday, July 24, 2015

Military appreciation night at Bowie Baysox

Team Andrews members participate in pre-game events for the Bowie Baysox baseball game in Bowie, July 17.

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SENIOR AIRMAN JOSHUA R. M. DEWBERRY

Col. Bradley Hoagland, Joint Base Andrews/11th Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Vance Kondon, 11th WG command chief, pose for a photo with the 89th Airlift Wing mascot, SAMFOX, at the Bowie Baysox baseball game at Bowie, Md., on July 17. Military members were invited to participate in pre-game events in honor of military appreciation night.

SONG, from page 3 that.”

Her eureka moment — that singing was what she was born to do — arrived in elementary school, where she participated in the plays that were mostly musicals. “I was always placed in the position to exercise what was in me. From there I began to love it rather than just ‘everyone in my family sings so I’m going to sing.’”

Her song writing sprung forth from the poetry she had indulged in all along. “I realized it could go hand and hand when I started looking at my poetry and realized I could put it to a melody and grew from there.”

Hadiya recognizes that pursuing a love can have its challenges especially while raising five kids, ranging in ages 4 to 11, with her husband.

“I’m a mommy first. I stop everything for my children, and, for me, I think that is what creates the balance of me be in able to do the music. I take care of my responsibilities that God gave me first.

“I put a lot into being a mother and a lot of time when ‘I’m giving lessons to my children — when they’re in trouble or just trying to teach them — I create

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9

a song. It just comes to me.”

Later her music continued to be a family affair as it was music that brought her to her husband — meeting in church. He is a bass player with the praise team and is now her producer and band mate. “ We a l way s, a s friends, worked on mu-

“If one person takes away something that makes them feel blessed and makes them feel they have a purpose, then I’m good. ” sic. We communicated musically before the romance,” Hadiya shared.

“It’s always a living breathing part of our relationship. We always connected musically.”

“I think sometimes when I get mad I sing it.

Even when he says I’m nagging, I start singing and the next thing he is creating a beat and asking, ‘Wait a minute what did you just say?’

We’re just always creating,” she laughed.

It is that use of mu-

sic to understand and bridge that Hadiya wants to continue to share.

“You can’t live long enough to experience everything. A lot of what you learn comes from the experiences of others. Because some people, when they are going through something, they feel like they are the only one that has ever gone through this — ever.

It’s a relief to know that you are not the only one and it is a relief to know the possibility of seeing that light at the end of the tunnel. If I feel I can be that hope for somebody then I fulfill my purpose.”

“If one person takes away something that makes them feel blessed and makes them feel they have a purpose, then I’m good,” Hadiya said. “It can be a room full of people and if it is just one person then I feel I fulfilled my purpose.”

She can be seen at numerous venues throughout the metropolitan area, including Blues Alley, Twins Jazz Club and Howard Theater.

Hadiya can be found on Facebook, Amazon, CD baby, iTunes or her website www.lahlahadiya.com.

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Andrews Gazette

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Friday, July 24, 2015

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SENIOR AIRMAN HAILEY HAUX

Gen. Paul J. Selva, the nominee for vice chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Darren W. McDew, the nominee for U.S. Transportation Command commander, sit before Congress to testify for their future positions during their nomination hearing July 14, 2015. The generals testified of threats to the U.S. Issues such as suicide, readiness, sequestration and mental health were also brought up during the hearing.

FUTURE, from page 1 our nation,” said Gen. Paul J. Selva, the nominee for vice chairman to the Joint Chiefs. “We are increasingly at risk in space, across the networks of cyberspace and face competitors who are fielding increasingly sophisticated, conventional and nuclear arsenals.”

During the course of the hearing, the generals testified of threats to the U.S., such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

Cybersecurity was not left out of the equation.

“There is always that threat adversarial nations can shut down our nation, and as we go forward, the threat only gets worse,” said Gen. Darren W. McDew, the nominee for USTRANSCOM commander. “Our ability to deal with it must evolve and we have to find ways to do better going forward.”

With discussions of the threats from outside the U.S., Selva testified to the threat on the homefront ... sequestration.

“Sequestration presents a direct threat to the morale of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines,” said Selva, the current USTRANSCOM com-

POLICE, from page 3 individual from bringing on illegal drugs. The individual was apprehended, charged accordingly and barred from the installation.

1051499

July 17, 6:04 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a shoplifting at the Main Exchange. An individual walked out of the Main Exchange without

mander. “We deserve the best maintained and best equipment available to fight the threats that face this nation.”

Sequestration has impacts on readiness, the ability to maintain a force and the ability to sustain the morale of the men and women who have committed to defending the freedom and liberty around the world, Selva continued.

“Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen truly are the heart and soul of our competitive advantage and they are far more effective when the full weight of our country’s power is working in unison,” Selva said. “If confirmed, I look forward to being an advocate for those men and women who wear the uniform of our nation and their civilian counterparts in our department.”

McDew listed readiness as the number one priority for the USTRANSCOM enterprise in his written testimony.

“If confirmed, I will continue the focus on preserving readiness and aligning resources for mission success and to further enhance USTRANSCOMS’s operational resiliency,”

McDew stated. “USTRANSCOM has made great strides in improving economies and efficiencies.

I will continue this work by managing readiness, cost, and time variables to deliver effective and efficient deployment and distribution solutions commensurate with assigned authorities and available resources.”

As the hearing continued, the generals discussed opening up more dialogue with senior military leaders across the globe on suicide rates and the stigma put on mental health.

“I think the greatest lesson I carry forward into any job is the dedication of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and all of their civilian counterparts, both in and out of government, to get the job done,” Selva said. “They depend on us for sound leadership and for advocacy. What I will (bring) into the position as vice chairman, if confirmed, is that undying obligation to be an advocate for (servicemen and women) who lay their lives on the line for us every day.”

rendering payment for various items. The individual was apprehended and charged accordingly.

emergencies please feel free to utilize the “LiveSafe” App. “LiveSafe” is an anonymous reporting app that can be downloaded for free on your smart device.

There has been an increase of personnel attempting to shoplift.

Any person attempting to shoplift will be caught and will lose their AAFES privileges.

July 18, 11:26 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a vehicle parked in a designated parking spot at the Presidential Inn. The vehicle was moved and cited accordingly.

As a reminder

For reporting any emergencies or non-

Friday, July 24, 2015

Andrews Gazette

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Andrews Gazette

Friday, July 24, 2015