The Windsock May 22, 2014

Page 1

Vol. 72, No. 21

May 22, 2014

www.cherrypoint.marines.mil

Obama to award Marine Medal of Honor OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY THE WHITE HOUSE

President Barack Obama will award Retired Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter the Medal of Honor June 19 for conspicuous gallantry. Carpenter will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Carpenter will be the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service. Carpenter was born in Flowood, Miss., Oct. 17, 1989, and graduated from West Wyman King Academy, Batesburg, S.C., in 2008. He enlisted in the Marine Corps February 2009 at Recruiting Station Columbia, S.C., and completed his basic training at Recruit Depot, Parris Island, later that year. At the time of the Nov. 21, 2010, combat engagement in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, then Lance Cpl. Carpenter served as an automatic rifleman with Company F. See HONOR page A7

COURTESY PHOTO

Lance Corporals Kyle Carpenter, left, and Nicholas Eufrazio are pictured in Marjah, Afghanistan, during their 2010 deployment. President Barack Obama will award Carpenter the Medal of Honor June 19 for conspicuous gallantry while serving as an automatic rifleman in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Cherry Point’s largest squadron to welcome new commander

F-35 performs first East Coast public demonstration

CPL. S. T. STEWART MCAS CHERRY POINT

Cherry Point’s largest squadron is scheduled to have a change in leadership as Lt. Col. Charles J. Basham relinquishes his command to Lt. Col. Jeremy L. Gettings here today. Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, comprised of approximately 850 Marines and Sailors, provides a variety of support roles to Cherry Point and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. “We have so many Marines and Sailors doing such a diverse set of capabilities,” said Basham, an AV-8B Harrier pilot by trade. “Anything that is going on here, there is an H&HS Marine or Sailor behind it, making sure things are happening.” Sailors at the Navy Boat Docks ensuring Bombing Target 11 is serviced, Marines at the gates providing security for the station, Marines in the control tower communicating with aircraft and Marines providing fuel to those same aircraft are just a few of the roles the squadron’s service members provide. “I don’t think there is an adjective to describe it,” said Basham, speaking to the performance of the squadron during his time as commanding officer. “Phenomenal, is all I can say. The support they provided, not only to the base but also to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, surpassed my expectations.” As Basham departs the squadron to join the 2nd MAW staff, he described the feeling as bittersweet. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years here,” said Basham. “It has been an honor of a lifetime to command this squadron.” Basham said he has three things he would pass on to every Marine and Sailor in the squadron. “Be a Marine of character … stay mentally and physically fit ... and the last thing I would tell them is, take care of the brothers and sisters to their left and right and their families at home.” Gettings, also a Harrier pilot, comes to the squadron from Marine Attack Squadron 311 out of MCAS Yuma, Az. where he served as the executive officer. “It is a great responsibility and I am looking forward to learning what each Lt. Col. Jeremy L. Gettings

See H&HS page A7

ROB GOLBERG JR.

The F-35B Lightning II leads the formation during the legacy flight at the 2014 Cherry Point “Inspiration to Innovation” Air Show May 17 here. The Joint Strike Fighter will replace the AV-8B Harrier, top right, the F/A-18 Hornet, bottom right, and the EA-6B Prowler.

LANCE CPL. VICTOR A. ARRIAGA MCAS CHERRY POINT

The F-35B Lightning II made its East Coast performing debut May 16 – 18 during the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point “Inspiration to Innovation” Air Show. The F-35B is a joint strike fighter that will replace three of the Marine Corps’ existing airframes (Harrier, F/A-18 and Prowler), said Capt. Ross Fearon, the aviations safety officer and F-35B pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, who was helping man the static display of the aircraft out of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35B contains capabilities from three different aircraft all wrapped up into one. The F-35B is capable of vertical take-off and landing of the Harrier, the supersonic capabilities of the F/A-18 and the electronic warfare capabilities of the Prowler. “We really enjoy showing people the aircraft that will eventually be stationed at their bases because it is

New commanding officer to lead Unmanned aerial vehicle squadron LANCE CPL. UNIQUE B. ROBERTS MCAS CHERRY POINT

Lt. Col. Kristopher Faught will assume command of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 from Lt. Col. Che’ Bolden during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., today. Bolden will continue with his career as a student at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, VA. Bolden said he feels a tremendous sense of pride as he prepares to depart the squadron. “The Night Owl Parliament epitomizes all that is Marine aviation,” said Bolden. “VMU-2 has innovators and leaders, and I have no doubt that Lt. Col. Faught is going to take this squad-

ron to new heights as a centerpiece of the Aviation Combat Element and the Marine Air Ground Task Force as a whole.” Bolden has been a part of VMU-2 since Nov. 16, 2012. He is proud of the squadron’s accomplishments and the pride they have instilled in each other. “My singular goal for the squadron was to focus, train and prepare as a flying squadron ready to fight as a member of the Aviation Combat Element of the MAGTF,” said Bolden. “The ethos of Marine aviation is alive and well in VMU-2, as the Marines of this unit constitute the new version of See VMU2 page A7

important for people to see what their tax dollars are going toward,” said Fearon. “This is the newest fighter in the arsenal so it is important that people can come out here and take a look at the jet.” The F-35B has a user-friendly interface capable of taking a lot of stress off of the pilot, according to Fearon. “The jet is really easy to fly and it is really easy to learn how to fly,” he said. “This jet takes a lot of the workload off of the pilot’s shoulder because it is a very stable and pilot friendly aircraft.” During the air show, pilots showcased the aircraft by answering questions, having a static display and performing a live demonstration of the aircraft. “People were really excited to come out and see something they had never seen before,” said Maj. James T. Bardo, an F-35B pilot with VMFAT-501, who performed in the show. “They certainly haven’t See LIGHTNING page A7

News can also be found online All stories and photos can be found at: • www.cherrypoint.marines.mil • www.dvidshub.net/unit/MCAS-CP Read the Windsock online at: • www.issuu.com/mcascherrypoint Like us on Facebook: • www.facebook.com/mcascherrypoint • www.facebook.com/TheAirShow Follow us on Twitter: • www.twitter.com/mcascherrypoint More photos can be found on Flickr: • www.flickr.com/photos/mcas_cherry_point

Lt. Col. Kristopher Faught

Special photos of 2014 Cherry Point Air Show inside See photos submitted by attendees of the 2014 ‘Inspiration to Innovation’ Air Show in this edition of The Windsock


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.