Greetings to all. For starters we are highlighting
several Life Supporters. The first two are senior NCO’s, MSgt Mike Sedillo and
MSgt Brian Gratten, who are assigned at Wright Patterson and are working with
the lab to insure that future equipment, as it is developed and tested, is
ready for operational use. To my knowledge it has been a long time since we
have had active duty Life Supporters in positions such as this and in my
opinion it’s about time. Below is what their jobs entail.
First Brian Gratten:
The Bio-dynamics and Acceleration Branch mission is
to conduct research to define crew responses to tolerances and stresses
encountered during aircraft emergency escape, survivable crashes and
maneuvering accelerations, and to develop technologies for protection and
performance enhancement. It is
currently the only DoD facility conducting research to evaluate the biodynamic
response of volunteer human subjects.
This testing capability combined with our world-class modeling program
provides a unique work environment that is unparalleled.
As the assigned Life Support Craftsman and facility
superintendent, I provide maintenance and technical assistance relative to the
research and development of personal protection and life support equipment and
procedures to improve and sustain war fighter performance, protection and
survivability. Our ultimate goal is to
provide safe escape for the aircrew.
I also act as a test conductor or safety monitor supporting
human and manikin impact testing. The principle investigator uses the data
collected during these impact tests to verify test hypothesis. Additional I volunteer as a human test
subject for impact, vibration and acceleration experiments.
We are currently evaluating or testing the following
areas: We are working with the new helmet mounted displays and Panoramic NVG’s
to study the applicability of current helmet mass property limits to the torso
retraction environment. We are using
humans and manikins on our inertia reel simulator to study and validate
performance criteria of powered inertia reels with added helmet weight.
Our vertical drop tower is being used to quantify
the strength, size, and density differences in lumbar and cervical vertebral bodies
between males and females of diverse sizes.
In the past we didn't have women in high performance aircraft so we have
relatively little data. The vertebral
data will be used to study biodynamic responses during impact. This will provide safe ejection criteria for
all occupants, and to enhance models.
We are also doing a helmet pull study that will
determine correlation between chinstrap failure loads and manikin neck
loads. Our goal of this test is to find
differences between the Integrated Chin and Nape Strap (ICNS) and the Separate
Chin and Nape Straps
We are developing test methods for objective seat
cushion and aircrew comfort study. The
study will be used to develop and test cushions to determine pilot comfort and
performance during extended flight.
Now to Mike
Sedillo:
MSgt Mike Sedillo’s works at the Air Force Research
Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB where he apply’s his is experience in night
vision goggle maintenance. He has
worked on both laboratory and field test evaluations of the Panoramic Night
Vision Goggles (PNVG) that will provide flyers with 160% increase in their
field of view. Mike championed Life
Support-friendly maintenance concepts for the PNVG’s that will dramatically improve
the ease of maintaining the PNVGs. His
idea of a purge-free system that can be repaired using snap-on solder-free
modular components will certainly ease the workload burden on Life Support
troops world-wide. Mike recently
engaged in helping to develop new helmet fitting procedures for the Joint
Helmet Mounted Cuing System. He will be working with the Navy to ensure the new
targeting helmet can be fit with minimal effort to the Life Support technicians
and with the best effects for the pilots. Mikes duties at the LAB are to review
and edit Operational Requirements Documents (ORDs) to ensure new equipment
acquisitions align with Life Support maintenance management practices. To
review/edit Statement of Work (SOWs) and to ensure contractors deliver items
compatible with current and near-future equipment items. He ensures items align
with basic Life Support safety/integration concerns. Also he reviews Panoramic
Night Vision Goggle design developments and provides input to ensure PNVG's
align with Life Support maintenance/management practices and to provide input
on experimental items in area of safety, integration and design modifications
to ensure items are maintainable and user friendly. Mike has also written
technical papers on in-house and field experiments for the SAFE Journal.
Mike also provides expertise to field units and
MAJCOM's on issues pertaining to fielded NVG's, attends conferences to display
lab equipment and assists as a test subject in laboratory experiments. Mike is
currently working two Joint Programs the Integrated Panoramic NVG and the
Helmet Mounted Cueing System as well as the STRIKE Helmet 21.
Thanks to Chief Larry Cuffee for his help in putting
the above together. Both of these troops work for Larry.
These are two outstanding troops and I have been
privileged to be able to work some with them on new projects. We have come a
long way since we “PE” troops were issuing helmets and masks and parachutes
over the counter after a pre flight and checking the altitude and time setting
and winding the timer while working for my first stateside boss TSgt Jimmie Cartwright. I had the
opportunity to talk at some length recently with retired Chief Cartwright
discussing the first HGU-2/P Helmets that were put into service in the early
60’s. Mr. Lou Abraham, who was the Director while the SPO/Depot was still at
Olmstead AFB PA (Harrisburg PA) and he supplied Jim’s whole wing with the new
helmets. At Eglin we had been part of the “operational test” of the new helmet.
While talking with some of the early Life Supporters
and trying to determine when our “career field” was officially established we
have determined that using the first 92210 graduating class at Chanute Field as
the starting point that we will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary
in 2003. A lot of our attendees at the Reunions have been “Life Supporters”
back to the 1947 start of the AF and some even beyond that. Working with
Emmett “Jim” Jennings who provided a
copy of the PAM/Orders for the ‘second” graduating class that he was in which
was in early 1954. Also Marty Stage is working with the folks down at Maxwell to
get some of the original course syllabus and Special Training Standards. More
on this subject in the next newsletter but lets all start planning on making
this 50th Anniversary Special and all plan to attend the reunion for
sure in 2003!
Some new contacts have come in this recently. Heard from Russ Terrell, Dave Swinson and Tony Magnall. Tony is working at the SPO as the tester on the new Joint Service Aircrew Mask Project. SSgt Eli Huertas, who is the current NCOIC of the 8FW Life Support Training at Kunsan Korea, sent a nice note in response his request for the Life Support Web address and my request to find out if my old “shop” was still in operation on Kunsan.
contamination. I feel as if the Air Force leaders are starting to take
care of us guys now. I work at the wing along with the superintendent so
if you need anything please let me know. Once again I just want to thank
you for trying to keep us united and for being one of the guys before me that
keeps me motivated to carry the torch into the future. Thanks from
"DA KUN"
eliezer.huertas@kunsan.af.mil
MSgt Bill Beckett moved into the retired ranks in
May and is still active in our business and is working for Wel-Fab, Inc. Bill is the sales & marketing person for
the Collapsible Container Series @ Wel-Fab Inc. They provide collapsible containers for all branches of the
military, civilian transportation and the emergency management system. Bill sells and markets
Also had talks with SMSgt Rick Murray who is the
Super at Little Rock and was writing an article for the Airlift/Tanker Magazine
about the aircrew life support profession. We provided some background on
the history of aircrew life support and the development of the career field. We
hope to add a copy to the next newsletter!
That’s about it for this issue. Please keep in touch
and I hope to see more and more at the reunions.
Cheers, Tommy
PERSONAL SPOTLIGHT
This edition’s Personal
Spotlight is CMSgt Leaster
Williamson, USAF (Ret.)
The spring/summer of 1945 was a very fast-paced time
in America’s history. The war in Europe
was ending, however the war in the Pacific continued. It was during this time that future Air Force Chief Master
Sergeant Leaster Williamson was drafted into the Army. Originally, he was sent to Fort Riley,
Kansas for armor training to be a tank gunner.
Luckily the war in the Pacific ended and the Army decided that they
didn’t have as great a need for tank gunners as they just had. So, as the Army so often does, decided that
Private Williamson could retrain into one of the following career fields:
Quartermaster Corps, Ordnance, or the Chemical Corp. So, and luckily for our career field, he chose the Quartermaster
Corps which at that time had the parachute shop under it.
After his training, Chief Williamson got himself
stationed at Fairfield/Suisun Army Air Field in Personal Equipment. That base still exists as Travis AFB,
California. In November 1946, Chief put
on his snowshoes and PCSed up to Great Falls Army Air Station (East Base),
Montana (still in business as Malmstrom AFB).
With the war behind us, the base’s operations had been scaled back until
there were only about 110 troops on the base as a housekeeping unit. Chief Williamson showed his versatility by
accepting (getting volunteered”) the responsibility of being placed in charge
of Quartermaster Clothing, P.E. Clothing, P.E. Kits,’ Chutes, and the Snack Bar
(was he the first SNACKO?)
In 1947, we saw the birth of the United States Air
Force and Chief Williamson wisely chose to hook up his wagon with the
“blue.” With the onset of the Berlin
Crisis in 1948, Malmstrom was again “ramped” up and Chief Williamson was placed
in charge of the parachute shop. This
lasted until July ’52, when Chief was sent up to Ladd AFB, Alaska to test items
as varied as tents to parkas in cold climates.
Then it was back to the “lower 48” in March 1953 where Chief Williamson
was assigned to a Psychological Warfare unit at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. Throughout the ensuing years Chief
Williamson had many other assignments to locations like: Bad Tolz, Germany (Apr
’55), Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana in 1958, Malmstrom (again), and HQ Strategic
Air Command at Offutt AFB, Nebraska where he made Chief Master Sergeant. In 1968, Chief Williamson was sent to Kadena
AB, Okinawa where he had to set up a sea survival school for PACAF to meet the
requirements of the increasing tempo in South East Asia. Then it was back to HQ SAC in January of
1970 where he remained until his retirement in 1975. Chief Williamson worked
with life support equipment for aircraft as varied as: C-54s, F-89s, C-47s, C-131s, B-47s, and
KC-97s, and probably many, many more that I didn’t list.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Chief
worked for the Rainbird Corporation for approximately 15 years until he really
retired. Currently Chief Williamson
lives with his wife of 53 years, the former Irene Moroz, in Gulf Breeze,
Florida. They have three children: Dan,
Susan, and Charles, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Chief, for your dedication, professionalism, and
with the other professionals of your era, for helping lay the foundation of our
career field, a tip of the hat and a well deserved salute from we who came
after you. Thanks!
(Fast’s Note: I could have probably
used up half the newsletter on Chief Williamson’s spotlight and still wouldn’t
have done it justice. Chief recounted
that he and his wife have attended every one of the Life Support reunions and
plan on attending this year’s. If you’d
like to hear more stories about the early days of our career field from someone
who was there, make your plans to attend.
As I said in the opening paragraph of my December 2000 article about my former Life Support Officer making
flag rank and saying, “…if he wasn’t the first, he was one of the first.” This can also be said of Chief
Williamson. If he wasn’t the first Life
Supporter, he was surely one of the first.
It was my privilege and honor to talk to Chief Williamson about his
distinguished career.)
Ed “Fast” Chewning
CHILI SEZ
Hi everybody!
Sorry about all the problems with the web site. After updating the assignment history file,
I was not able to get back on to correct a problem some of you had
reported. I’m happy to say that all is
well and the file has been replaced.
As you all know we lost Richard Traufield back in
January of this year. Richard was a
veteran of World War 11 and the Korean and Vietnam wars. His contributions to the career field from
the beginning when it had a MOS instead of an AFSC paved the way for what is
now called Aircrew Life Support. It’s
people like Richard Traufield that we should never forget. Richard was a true
pioneer in the business of saving aircrew lives. His battle with cancer is
over, may he rest in peace.
We are a little late with this one, but according to
his dad, SMSgt (ret) Ben Gillespie died January 8, 1998 suddenly at the Shaw
AFB hospital.
ACC AWARDS
If you have not visited our web site lately then you probably don’t know the following. CMS Dave Chitwood and the life support staff at HQ ACC took action to honor CMS John Shields by having the special trophies and awards regulation officially changed from the “ACC Aircrew Life Support Awards” to the “Chief John Shields ACC Aircrew Life Support Awards”. This is great news especially since we were not having any success getting a good bust made of John. The contributions towards the bust will be returned unless the contributors instruct me to do something else with the money.
MAIL CALL
Had the opportunity to dine with the MAJCOM “boys”
which included “special appearances” by Chris Bush and Steve Culbreth. Chris and Steve made it a very special
“family” get together that included Tim Morrow and Bill Wood. Tried to get Rex Robnett there but he was
out of town.
Chris is a semester away from completing his
Information Technology Program studies through Christopher Newport
University. He, Vivian and the children
are all doing well. You can reach Chris
via email at: Bush.Rod@worldnet.att.net.
Steve still works at Langley in the HQ ACC Human
Systems Integration Division as a Civil Servant and was just appointed the
Division’s Deputy Chief. Steve’s wife,
Windy, joined us for a short visit. The
Culbreth family is also doing well.
CMS Walt Horseman is now in-place at the Air
National Guard Readiness Center replacing CMS J.B. Watsabaugh who returned to
his home unit. Walt has “hit the
ground” running on a number of life support issues.
CMS Tommy Marshall, AETC (formally ATC), Command
Manager, is about two months from retirement.
CMS Bill Pressley, USAFE Command manager, is slated into AETC around
July/August.
I’m fairly sure you guys know that CMS Dave Chitwood
is moving back to the ACC/IG and CMS Brian “Beetle” Bailey, PACAF Command
Manager, is slated into ACC in June/July.
Al Loving
My wife and I accepted a transfer from Atlanta to
New Smyrna Beach, FL about a year ago.
Construction of our home was completed in February, but we are still
very busy between our jobs and school trying to get settled. I am not sure when I’ll get the chance to
make it to one of the reunions. The two
moves in four years with my company haven’t left us with a lot of time for visiting
anyone except our immediate families.
Even so, I enjoy reading and hearing about the fun times shared by those
that do attend. There are not many days
when I don’t have thoughts about my Life Support family.
We bought a couple of acres of swampland, put our
home in the middle of it and here is where we eventually plan to retire. I continue to work for Coronado Paint as the
Environmental Safety and Health manager.
I got to spend a week with James Calloway and his
family during a business trip to San Antonio back in December. Also, I ran into Joe Lynch in the Dallas
airport last summer. Tim Morrow and I
talk occasionally and are going to try and hook in a few months in Orlando.
Please pass my regards to the rest of the gang and
let them know to give me a call if they are ever in the area.
Joe Roberts
Note: Joe’s phone numbers are:
WP: (800) 883-6461, ext 158 / HP:
(904) 428-2123
I thought I’d share the following email from an
active duty life supporter (and personal friend) that is lucky to be with us
today.
I was involved in a motorcycle accident that nearly
took my life on Nov 19. Busted myself
up pretty good. I was out for a leisurely ride at about 45-mph in a right hand
turn and my bike did something crazy.
Don't know if I hit some gravel, fluid or a road indicator, but I found
myself heading for a ditch
and no way to save myself. From there things went south. My friends who were with me say I
hit an
embankment at the end of the ditch and was launched off the bike into a 6 point
fence post, and if that wasn't enough I landed in covert. I spent a month in ICU. I was rushed to a local hospital where after
so many hours the doctors knew they couldn't care for all my injuries so I was
air lifted to the base hospital. Spent December - February on convalescent
leave. Here is the list of broken
parts: my collarbone, fractured my wrist; completely snap my humors bone (big
bone in the arm) in half, 5 broken ribs (multiple breaks), fractured scapula,
broken sternum, lacerated liver, collapsed the left lung and punctured the
right. Last but not least my most
severe injury was to my pericardium, the sack the protects the heart from
injuries. Well it burst and doctors had to go in and surgical repair it. The
heart injury was the most difficult to hear about because not too many people
survive that injury. My doctor told
very few people have lived through this and that someone must have been
watching over me. After five surgeries
and lots of praying from family and friends, my faith in God has allowed me to
be here. I will tell you in all honesty,
the stories you here about people just before passing on to next life and
seeing a bright light is very true. One
thing about this accident I do remember is seeing a bright, tranquil light and
two hands reaching out to push me away from the light. When I looked up and saw who it was it was my
sister Betty who passed away in Mar of 98.
You talk about a significant change in someone's life! I will tell you I
don't know why I was allowed to remain on this earth, but I now know who my
Guardian Angel is. Last but not least,
to the men and women at David Grant Medical Center, St. Helena Medical Center,
Fairfield Breakfast Riders and all that sent cards and their prayers, I would
like to say THANK YOU! Without your help I might not have made it.
MSgt Maurice Henderson, 60 OSS OSL, TRAVIS AFB, CA
Note: Moe, as he is more commonly known by all you life supporters that
know him goes to therapy everyday and is currently working half days. I encourage all of his friends to give him a
call and wish him well. He can be
reached at DSN: 837-4381 or commercial: 707-424-4381.
CROSS TRAINEES
I’ve been hearing about a few of our active duty brothers and sisters being forced to cross train. Well this isn’t new, as a matter of fact, I remember back in the mid to late ‘80s when the AF had two retraining programs going on at the same time. One program was forcing people out of life support and another one was forcing people in! For those of you who were forced out, remember once a life supporter always a life supporter! You are still welcome to send in your assignment history and get your name on our mailing list.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
When the newsletter is mailed out some of them are returned because people have moved. Do us a favor and send in a change of address when you move. A lot of us have a computer now, so to help reduce the cost of mailing the newsletter, I would appreciate it if everyone who receives this newsletter in the mail would let me know if I can e-mail it to you. Remember, if you choose this option, you must have MS Word 5.0 (not MS Works) or greater on your computer. Another option is to go to our web site and download/read the newsletter. As you respond I will indicate your preference on the address list. If I don’t hear from you by the end of the year, then I will have to delete your name from the list.
CHIEF OF POLICE RETIRES
Another life supporter has given up a second
career. Chief Willard (Will) Oost of
the Parker, FL Police Department has retired again! The city, his employees and friends paid tribute to him in a
standing room only retirement ceremony back in January of this year. Will was hired as an auxiliary officer in
1975, while he was still in charge of life support at Tyndall AFB. When Oost retired in 1975, the former police
chief decided to hire him full-time.
Willard attends our reunions every year and is full
of stories. The most memorable one is
of the DWI arrest he made of a young airman from the Tyndall AFB one
night. The airman did not know of
Will’s military background and when asked what kind of work he did, the airman
said “I’d tell you but you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about.” Will told him to tell him anyway. The airman answered, “I work in life
support!” Will thought for a minute and
said, “Oh, you work on those MBU-5/Ps and LPUs don’t you? The astounded airman said, “How did you know
that?” Will said he looked the airman
straight in the eyes and said, “It’s the chief of police’s job to know
everything!”
Will’s retirement ceremony was attended by fellow life
supporters Leaster Williamson, Bob Duren, Ed Foust, and Bob Burris (who with
his bride, Virginia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this
year).
To hear more of the best stories ever told by a life
supporter, come meet the retired police chief at our annual reunion this
September. I promise you will enjoy
being around Will.
Take care of yourselves and I’ll see you at the
Flamingo Hilton.
Bob