11-21-2014 The Patriot (Joint Base Charleston)

Page 1

Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Vol. 5, No. 43

Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!

Friday, November 21, 2014

Supporting the fight against Ebola

U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez

Service members unload a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk from a U.S. Air Force C-17 Oct. 30, 2014, during Operation United Assistance. The U.S. Africa Command-led operation provides command and control, logistics, training and engineering support to the U.S. government’s efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. See the story on Page 6.

Born to wave the flag Story and photo by Eric Sesit 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Blaine Yelton was born Aug. 12, 1915, when World War I was in its second bloody year. And if he could have had his way, and if the Army could have found a uniform small enough to fit him, baby Blaine probably would have jumped out of his crib and fought in that war too. After all, this now 99-year old veteran fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and probably would still be in uniform today if he could get an age-limit waiver. "I wouldn't be able to drive though," Yelton said with disappointment in his voice. "They took my driver's license away from me a few years back. Even though I'm a good driver and never had a problem, they still say I shouldn't drive. " That wasn't always the case though. He's the product of a lifetime of hard, back-breaking work. Born in Rutherford County, N.C., about 20 miles from the nearest town, Yelton is the second oldest of 11 children. His father worked hard to support his family in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but it was always tough making ends meet. "It was hard to make a living in that part of the country," Yelton recalls. "We didn't have electricity. Our running water was the creek out back and school was a two-mile walk ... or run through muddy roads."

In order to help his family financially, Yelton left school at 15 and went to work at a logging camp. He didn't stop working for decades. "I worked in a mine, a saw mill, drove a logging truck and even a feed truck in Miami, stacking 100pound bags higher than myself," Yelton said. "Money was tight; it was the beginning of the depression so I would find work where I could and was always sending money home to help the family." And then came Dec. 7, 1941, and with it, a draft notice. "When I got my draft notice, I was 25. I tried to join the Navy, but they turned me down because of my eyesight," Yelton said. "I had traveled all night Retired Chief Master Sgt. Blaine Yelton displays a photo of his crew, Nov. on the railroad and I was tired and bleary eyed 12, 2014, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Yelton, now 99 years old, served in when I took the eye exam. I tried to explain that to first the Army Air Corps and then the U.S. Air Force during World War II, the docs, but they didn't want to hear it. So I said Korea and Vietnam. you [can keep your Navy] and that turned out to be the best day of my life. I went into the Army and then right worry me one bit." Amazingly, his entire crew survived all 55 missions with into the Army Air Corps." He trained at Great Falls, Texas, and became a gunner on a only one injury; Yelton himself was hit by a 20 mm round B-24 home based in Guadalcanal. From there, the 10 men from a Japanese Zero, a wound he doesn't talk about much, or assigned to his aircraft flew 55 missions against the Japanese. one that slowed him down. When World War II ended, Yelton decided to stay in the "In Europe, the crews flew 25 missions before they could go home," Yelton said. "In the Pacific, our tour of duty was Army and in 1947, transitioned to the newly formed Air one full year. So we just kept flying. I knew the dangers ... I Force. See Born To Wave The Flag, Page 4 knew the risks we were taking, but for some reason, it didn't

Computer problems? Try this new fix

By Senior Airman Jared Trimarchi 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

To assist computer users with Information Technology related problems and to transition from telephone help desk reporting, the Air Force is installing self-help software on

DUI CONDITION:

RED! 369 TOTAL SAVES FOR 2014

963 -

AADD

# of Days Since Last JB Charleston DUI - 14 (Nov. 7, 2014 - 437 APS)

Total # of DUIs for JB Charleston 2014 - 20

Airmen Against Drunk Driving: Wingmen Saving Lives

Joint Base Charleston’s Airmen Against Drunk Driving offers free, confidential rides home.

INSIDE

To volunteer, email AADD.charleston@charleston.af.mil The JB Charleston DUI Battle Plan: https://eim.amc.af.mil/org/628ABW/JBCharlestonDUIBattlePlan/default.aspx

Team Charleston gives back

DAY OF CARING Pages 2 & 3

users desktops. The Virtual Enterprise Service Desk or vESD, will roll-out Nov. 24, 2014 at Joint Base Charleston. The vESD tool, installed as an icon on network computer desktops, is a client-based program that allows users to solve common issues and self-initiate trouble tickets for e-mail, desktop, laptop and mobile devices. “The vESD application will eliminate the need for waiting on the phone for nearly 45 minutes just to tell someone you have a computer related problem,” said Capt. Helen Cruz, 628th Communications Squadron Cyber Operations Flight commander. “The program was designed to save the user time and to reduce the Communications Focal Point resources and man hours.” With a customer base of more than 650,000 people, the Air Force ESD's automated phone system had been significantly overburdened. Technical Sgt. Charles White, Joint Base Charleston Communications Focal Point NCOIC, said not only is the program faster to use, it is also more user friendly. “The program will automatically collect computer information and run self-diagnostics to determine if your internet, email

PAX terminal goes virtual

ROLL CALL Page 7

THANKSGIVING

The Patriot will not publish next week. We will return Dec. 5, 2014. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

and other programs are currently working,” White said. “There is no longer a need to find your computer’s MAC address which can be a daunting task to someone who is not familiar with computers. The program will give us that information automatically and will even create a work ticket for you.” According to White, the ESD is not closing, it is transforming its business processes on more proactive tasks. “Like anything new it takes time to get used to change, but with the help of users and the reduced time spent on the phone on both ends, IT related problems will be streamlined through the vESD,” White said. To access the program, click on the vESD icon on the desktop which will provide step-by-step instructions to identify an issue. If necessary vESD will create a trouble ticket to have the issue fixed. The tool will automatically open an electronic ticket containing account and computer information, a computer diagnostics report and a description of your issue. Users will still have the ability to check ticket status by accessing the ESD portal at https://esd.us.af.mil//esdportal/MyTickets.aspx. Please direct any questions to the Communications Focal Point at 628cs.cfp@us.af.mil.

WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Sunny Friday, Nov. 21

(0% precip)

High 60º Low 37º

Mostly Sunny

Saturday, Nov. 22

(0% precip)

High 65º Low 53º

See Joint Base Charleston on Facebook! - Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base! CYAN-AOOO

MAGENTA-OAOO

YELLOW-OOAO

BLACK 01/29/08

Thunder Storms

Sunday, Nov. 23

(100% precip)

High 69º Low 66º


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