July - Youngstown Air Reserve Station

910th AW, 934th AW team up as 922nd AEW for ORTP 4Airmen, assigned tothe 922nd AirExpeditionary Wing,conduct a “buddycheck” of theirIndividual ProtectiveEquipment beforeboarding a buscontaminated duringa chemical weaponattack as part ofORTP-4 and theReadinessSafeguard Exerciseheld at Volk Field,Wis., May 15-20. The922nd AEW is madeup of more than 700Airmen from the910th AW and the934th AW, based inMinneapolis.U.S. Air Force illustration/Tech. Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Ed JonesMaster Sgt. David Yukon and Senior Airman Maria Naylor,both 910th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, attack a fireon the simulated C-130 airframe at Volk Field during ORTP-4.U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Ed JonesA member of the 922nd AEW Security Forces watches agroup of protesters from the woodline during ORTP-4 as partof the Readiness Safeguard exercise held at Volk Field.The Airstream is published monthly by:910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs OfficeYoungstown Air Reserve Station3976 King Graves Rd., Unit 12Vienna, OH 44473-5912Voice (330) 609-1236/Fax (330) 609-1022www.youngstown.afrc.af.milpa@youngstown.af.mil910th Airlift Wing CommanderCol. Timothy J. ThomsonPublic Affairs OfficerCapt. Brent J. DavisNCOICMaster Sgt. Bryan S. RipplePublic Affairs StaffTech Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.Senior Airman Ann Wilkins JeffersonPA AssistantMr. Eric M. WhiteThis funded Air Force Reserve newspaper is an authorized publication formembers of the U.S. military services. Contents of The Airstream arenot necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Departmentof Defense, or the Department of the Air Force. The editorial content isedited, prepared, and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 910thAirlift Wing. All photos are Air Force photos, unless otherwise indicated.On the cover...A graphic illustration ofimages commemoratingthe retirement of 910thAirlift wing commanderCol. Tim Thomson. Thismonth’s Airstreamcover was created by910th AW PA AssistantMr. Eric M. White.July 2007 E-Mail us at: pa@youngstown.af.mil 3

The eagle hasn’t landed –he’s just taking off …Col. Tim Thomson looks back at AF past, foward to new adventureSenior Airman Ann Wilkins Jefferson910th AW Public AffairsAs a young boy in Forrest City, Ark., TimThomson dreamed of being an astronaut. Henever imagined that decades later he’dactually pin on the “eagle” insignia of acolonel in the United States Air Force. Whenthe colonel retires from the 910 th Airlift Wingin July 2007, he’ll end a 34-year militarycareer and personal adventure that could fillvolumes.Hearing all the colonel experienced, inhis own words and those of his closestfriends and coworkers, Tim Thomson isSuperman and every Airman at the sametime. He’s the ultimate professional inuniform but quite the comedian behind thescenes. He’s taken a roller coaster ride that’spar for the course as a member of the ArmedServices – the highs and lows of greatachievements and great sacrifice. He’s anofficer, a pilot, a boss; he’s a friend, a familyman, a patriot.As Col. Thomson begins to tell his storyof why he joined the Air Force, he sits backin his office chair in a green flight suit, abeautiful day outside the window behindhim. He talks about what great weather it isfor a motorcycle ride, one of his favoritepastimes back in his early service days. Afrightening incident as a young father hadhim quit the hobby for years until coming toOhio in 2004, when he took a safety courseand obtained a Harley Sportster license.But before he rode his first Harley-Davidson “hog,” Col. Thomson was a“Hog,” aka a Razorback as a student at theUniversity of Arkansas. During his sophomoreyear of college in 1971, Col. Thomsonjoined the Air Force ROTC’s two-yearprogram, choosing it over the other servicessimply because it was the branch he spoke tofirst. In early 1972, his junior year, heentered the Flight Indoctrination Program.“I stumbled into it – it wasn’t something Ithought I could qualify for; I was a businessmajor,” the colonel said.In May 1973, he graduated with aBachelor of Science in Business Administrationand received his commission as asecond lieutenant.He interrupts his personal history to detailwhat was happening on the global scene atthat time: the Vietnam Conflict, the peaceagreements in France and the subsequentwinding down of U.S. involvement inVietnam.“Things were cut way back, includingpilot slots. Although graduating as aDistinguished Graduate from ROTChelped,” he said.Even so, after graduating, the younglieutenant had to wait until almost August togo on active duty. In the meantime heworked for his father, Joseph, at ThomsonT.V. and Radio in Arkansas. The elderThomson was a former staff sergeant, arecording specialist and radio repairman forthe U.S. Army Signal Corps during WorldWar II and the Nuremberg war crimes trials.He and his wife, Virginia, had two sons, Timand his brother G. Brian Thomson.By October 1973, 2nd Lt. Thomson wassent to Columbus Air Force Base (AFB),Miss., for Undergraduate Pilot Training.After one year at UPT, he graduated in thetop 10 percent of his class.“I was selected as a T-37 (a twin-enginejet training aircraft) Instructor Pilot (IP),” thecolonel said, but added that he hoped to beassigned to a fighter and yearned fordeployments.During 1975 and 1976, Lt. Thomsonstayed at Columbus as an IP with a few shortdeployments to Strategic Air Commandbases. His best friend, Bill Short, introducedhim to a co-ed at the Mississippi Universityfor Women. She was a fashion merchandisingmajor named Cheryl Peterson fromBiloxi, Miss. They dated for about 10months and were married in September1977.“He’s a hoot!” Cheryl recalled about whatattracted her to her future husband, “Andhe’s not bad on the eyes.”He also received that deployment he hadbeen eyeing.“About that same time I got an assignmenton the OV-10 (a turboprop-driven lightattack and cargo aircraft) to go to Germany. It stillwasn’t a fighter, but cool,” he said.Cheryl was able to join her husband at SembachAir Base, Germany, once he found a place off base.They lived in an apartment in an old house with aGermany landlady, in a town called Winnweiler, 10minutes north of Sembach.“It was the Cold War time,” Col. Thomsonillustrated with another history milestone, “but wehad an opportunity to travel, get a taste of othercountries.”Jurvis Klovans, a fellow OV-10 pilot and goodfriend of his over in Germany, said at the end of theirtour over there, Thomson put his family before oneof his dreams.“I don’t know if a lot of people know this, but[Tim] was offered an opportunity, to have gone forthe F-4 (jet fighter), possibly the F-15 (jet fighter) orF-16 (jet fighter). He turned it down because hewanted to fly C-130 cargo aircraft in Mississippi tobe closer to family.”“We were ready to come home,” Col. Thomsonsaid. “A lot happened. About a year and a half [afterliving] in Germany, Cheryl got pregnant, so we tooka house on base. Our daughter Sarah was bornAugust 20, 1980.”The colonel stops to point to the history pagesparalleling his career then: U.S. team beat the Sovietteam in Olympic hockey, the space shuttle Columbiawas launched, the Iranian hostage situation.By his request, the then-Capt. Thomson wasreassigned to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., to flyWC-130E/Hs “Hurricane Hunters.” During that tour,he flew all over the Pacific, which he said was greatbecause he was able to fly longer distances. One ofhis more harrowing flights ever involved flying aWC-130 into a nasty super typhoon off the island ofLuzon, which shook the aircraft so violently hecouldn’t read the instruments and felt like he waslosing control of the aircraft, he said.“Luckily, we flew out of this severe turbulence asquickly as we had flown into it. If it would havelasted another minute, I think we could have lost theaircraft and crew.”In 1985, after the captain was promoted to major,he went to the 23rd Air Force as a flight safetyofficer, working in special operations, at Scott AFB,Bellville, Ill. There daughter Shawn was born July21, 1986.continued on page 64 October July 2007 2006

U.S. Air Force photoCol. Thomsonassumed the dutiesof wing commanderof the 910th AirliftWing here in June2004. Just prior tothat, he was wingcommander at the913th Airlift Wing inWillow Grove, Pa.Courtesy photoForeshadowing? TimThomson in a cub scoutuniform from ForrestCity, Ark., his hometown.Courtesy photoA self-taught motorcyclistsince his earlydays at ColumbusAFB, Col. Thomsonstill enjoys riding hisbike today.Courtesy photoOn his wedding day in Sept. 1977 toCheryl Peterson of Biloxi, Miss.Courtesy photoCol. Thomson, as a secondlieutenant, leaning on thefuselage of a T-37 training jet,at his first assignment afterundergraduate pilot training, aT-37 Instructor Pilot atColumbus AFB, Miss.Courtesy photoBackgroundphoto:Maj. TimThomsoncompletes apre-flightinspection onan aircraft tire.Courtesy photoThomson as a young father with his and Cheryl’stwo daughters, Shawn (now 20) and Sarah (now 26).U.S. Air Force PhotoThe colonel will trade his green flight suit for a blueone in his new career as a civilian instructor pilot.July 2007 5

Col. Thomson completes command, career at 910thcontinued from page 4“I checked out the C-21 (a small jet-poweredcargo/passenger aircraft) doing staff flying. Itwas good to get away from the office,” he said.After special ops moved its headquarters toFlorida, he opted to stay at Scott as a C-130systems safety officer for Headquarters MilitaryAirlift Command for flight safety, non-flying forabout one and a half years.A few years later, he came to a crossroads inhis career and was unsure about his next bigstep. At this key moment, Maj. Thomson ranacross Col. Max Hegler, a senior officer he hadknown on active duty from years past. Col.Hegler had moved to the reserve componenthimself and within three months offered hisformer IP a job in the Reserve at Maxwell AFB.So in August 1989, Maj. Thomson moved toMontgomery, Ala., to join Col. Hegler’s staff,working as a C-130H2 instructor pilot andOperations Officer (Air Reserve Technician) forthe 357th Airlift Squadron. In 1993, the majorwas promoted to lieutenant colonel.Col. Thomson inserts what was playing outon the world stage in the early 1990s: DesertShield was mobilized, the Bosnia War andSarajevo.In August of 1996, he was hired as OperationsGroup Commander at the 913th AW,Willow Grove Air Reserve Station (ARS), Pa.The lieutenant colonel was promoted to colonelin 1997. Three years later, Col. Thomsonassumed command of the 913th.One of the most infamous days in U.S.history happened while Col. Thomson was incharge at Willow Grove: September 11, 2001.The base was sandwiched in between the twoprimary terrorist targets, New York City andWashington, D.C. He led the wing in a variety ofdeployments and operations associated withthe subsequent Operations Enduring Freedomand Iraqi Freedom.Finally, on June 26, 2004, Col. Thomsonassumed command of the 910 th Airlift Wing here.Three years later and on the eve of his retirement,he said during his time at the 910th, one ofthe shining moments was seeing the recentgroundbreaking for the new lodging facility atYoungstown ARS; a low point will be missingthe Operational Readiness Inspection in 2008.Chief Master Sergeant Bob Glus, 910thCommand Chief, said, that in the close to twoyears he worked with Col. Thomson on a dailybasis, “What I really enjoyed about him on aprofessional level was that even though we haddifferent opinions on things and disagreed, healways explained why. And as soon as wewalked out the door, the business was done.We’d go have a beer. He made you feelimportant, that he valued your opinion.”Chief Glus continued, “The colonel alwaysput himself second, he was concerned abouteveryone else … he never threw his rankaround … he is down to earth, humble. That’sone positive aspect he brought to the base –plus I think I got a friend for life.”This sentiment was echoed by severalothers, such as Lisa List, the colonel’s civiliansecretary during the week and also a mastersergeant in the Judge Advocate General officehere as a Reservist.“You can tell that he really cares aboutpeople on base,” List said, saying he puts a lot“I’m going to take off this greenflight suit and put on a blue one --the coolest thing in the world.”Col. Timothy Thomsonof careful thought into decisions that will affectsomeone’s career.List also pointed out what she felt was ahigh point for her boss’s tenure inYoungstown:”When he came into this job, wewere under review for BRAC (Base Realignmentand Closure) and what a way to start. Ithink he’s proud of that (that the 910th wassaved).”Yet she also knows the lighter side of Col.Thomson’s personality. “He has a great senseof humor, and he’s a James Brown fanatic!”Maj. Larry Murphy, the wing executiveofficer, seconded that and added, “He likes jazz,rhythm and blues. His musical taste is whatwould be hip with the young crowd today.”One of those young people today is thecolonel’s daughter Shawn, now 20. She saidalthough he’s very professional, her dad isreally easy going and enjoys having a goodtime. She also said regarding his deploymentsand time away, “I was pretty lucky … most ofhis big deployments were when I was reallylittle.”Shawn also credits her mother, saying shewas always very good about being a militaryspouse. And Col. Thomson said, “Cheryl hasbeen a mother and homemaker for my entire AirForce career … endured all the family separationsand extensive TDYs.”Cheryl said the most difficult time to recallwas easily, “When he got off active duty andhe went into the Reserve, we were in twodifferent parts of the country with two littlegirls, for about a year. Everybody was stressedat that time,” she remembered.Specific events that Col. Thomson saidmade him homesick were when, “I missed bothmy 20 th and 30 th high school reunions becauseof UTAs.”Now that her husband is retiring from the AirForce Mrs. Thomson is looking forward togoing down south to be by family and for himhaving his weekends free, whether it meansthey can travel a little or just be together. Sheadded, “I’m so proud of him for his whole AirForce career. He’s a wonderful man. A couple ofpeople said they are where they are todaybecause he helped them.”Col. Thomson credits some of those whohelped him, too: “Capt. Mike Johnson, my T-37IP and my Buddy IP when I returned for IP dutyat Columbus AFB, also Brig. Gen. Rich Moss,for giving me the opportunity for command ofthe Operations Group at Willow Grove.”Col. Hegler, now retired, said of Col.Thomson’s character, “Tim is one of my bestfriends, ever. He’s totally dependable, totallyhonest. One of the most outstanding officersI’ve ever met … and he’s hilarious. He is andalways has been a great American.”Even though his official Air Force career iscomplete, Col. Thomson is still crossing intothe blue – a blue flight suit, that is. He will workas a civilian instructor pilot for Lear Siegler Inc.(LSI) down at Columbus AFB. An old UPTfriend, retired Lt. Col. Ron Vaughn, who worksfor LSI informed him of the position.The colonel pulls up a picture on hiscomputer monitor of a training jet he’ll be flyingfor LSI. He beams as if he’s a new fathershowing off a photo of his newborn. But he iseven more enthusiastic about the kicker of hisstory.“Here’s the best part: I’m going back towhere my career started. Cheryl and I will becelebrating our 30 th anniversary out there. I’mgoing to take off this green flight suit,” he saidas he tugs lightly on his collar, “and put on ablue one – the coolest thing in the world. I’mexcited about it.”And as he looks back on a career he says henever imagined for himself, the man whosedream as a boy was to fly into space can see heleft his mark in service to his country not far offfrom his childhood ambition. But now he moveson to a new adventure. The eagle has notlanded – he’s just taking off …6 July 2007

This is only a test!910th adds to the familyMaj. Gary W. O’Connor, 76th Aerial Port Sq.Capt. Jeremy M. Matyas, 773rd Airlift Sq.Master Sgt. James A. Stoakes, 910th Civil Engineer Sq.Tech. Sgt. William N. Jarman, 773rd Airlift Sq.Tech. Sgt. James A. Shutt, 773rd Airlift Sq.Staff Sgt. Richard E. Cunningham, 773rd Airlift Sq.Staff Sgt. Clyde W. Miranda Jr., 910th Maintenance Sq.Staff Sgt. Jackie M. Nichols, 910th Security Forces Sq.Staff Sgt. Michael P. Price, 773rd Airlift Sq.Staff Sgt. Brian S. Taylor, 910th Services Sq.Senior Airman Steven M. Haines, 910th Logistics Readiness Sq.Senior Airman Anthony B. Lewis, 910th Logistics Readiness Sq.Senior Airman Latrece M. Nesbit, 910th Medical Sq.Senior Airman Dustin S. Thorton, 773rd Airlift Sq.Airman 1st Class Edgar Miller III, 76th Aerial Port Sq.Airman 1st Class Holliane M. Palcic, 910th Operations Support Sq.Jeannette D. Holland, 773rd Airlift Sq.John C. Jones, 910th Maintenance Sq.Thomas A. Torrence, 773rd Airlift Sq.Brian P. Barrett, 76th Aerial Port Sq.Robert C. Moore, 910th Logistics Readiness Sq.Robert H. Plant, 910th Security Forces Sq.U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.Firefighters, assigned to the 910th Civil Engineer FireDepartment, lower Senior Airman Adam Schatschneiderfrom the wing of a C-130 during a confined space/aircraftextraction exercise held here Sunday of the June UTA.Senior Airmen Eric Porth (far left) and Ed Carter (far right)watch from the aircraft wing as other firefighters also lookon. The three Airmen are fuel systems technicians assignedto the 910th Maintenance Squadron.The 910th Maintenance Squadron and the 910th Civil EngineerFire Department conducted a confined space/aircraft extractionexercise Sunday during the June UTA. The exercise, an annual safetyrequirement to maintain the effectiveness of their emergency rescueplan, used the scenario of a technician, or an entrant, working insidethe wing of a C-130, becoming unrepsonsive yet still breathing. Atechnician stationed on the wing, or an attendant, notifies a technicianstanding by, or a runner, to call the CEF via 911. After the call isplaced, the attendant and runner carefully work to lift theunrepsonsive entrant from out of the wing. Within moments,members of the CEF enter the hangar and work quickly to stabilizethe “patient,” transport him off of the wing, out of the hangar and tomedical attention. “This is an annual requirement but we conduct theexercise twice a year, one for each of the CEF shifts,” said Michael J.Norris, the Ground Safety Manager here.Sarah L. Currie, 910th Airlift WingPhillip Golden, 910th Services Sq.Douglas A. Lindh, 910th Civil Engineer Sq.Peter L. Schultz, 910th Maintenance Sq.Maria E. Reckzin, 76th Aerial Port Sq.Timothy D. Vial, 910th Maintenance Sq.Daniel R. Yates, 76th Aerial Port Sq.REMEMBER!OUTDOOR RECREATIONTIONALEQUIPMENT RENTALIS NOW OPEN!CALL THE FITNESS CENTERAT EXT. 1281 TO GET IN ONTHE SUMMER FUN!Items for rent include gear for fishing, hiking, biking,camping, cookouts, outdoor team sports and more.July 2007 7

U.S. senator talks YARS with local TV mediaU.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Ohio, visited the Youngstown AirReserve Station, May 30. During the freshman senator’swhirlwind 90-minute YARS tour, he met with the seniorleadership here, received briefings on the 910th Airlift Wing’smission, enjoyed some Mahoning Valley hospitality providedby the Base Community Council and talked with some of theReservists and technicians here. Senator Brown also had theU.S. Air Force Photo/Tech Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.opportunity to get an up close view of the the Modular AerialSpray System utilized in the 910th’s aerial spray missions. Healso was given a guided tour of the exterior, interior and flightdeck of a C-130 by 910th wing commander Col. Tim Thomson.Senator Brown concluded his brief stay at the base with aninterview session, held on the flight line, with reporters fromthe local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliate television stations.Make aNOTE !The nextAIRMENCOUNCIL MEETINGwill be held:Date: JULY 14, 2007Time: 3 PMLocation:BASE SUPPLY’S BOARDROOM, BUILDING 208910 AW/PAYOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STA3976 KING GRAVES RD UNIT 12VIENNA OH 44473-5912OFFICIAL BUSINESSPRESORTEDSTANDARDU.S. POSTAGEPAID8 July 2007