Chief Rob Bentley provided the following:

1. REQUEST THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BE PUBLICIZED IN YOUR BASE NEWSPAPER. THIS INFORMATION IS QUOTED FROM THE FEBRUARY 1999 SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOOK, "WHAT EVERY VETERAN SHOULD KNOW".

2. "IMPROVED DEATH BENEFIT INSURANCE: CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAMS, RECENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, NOW ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL VETERANS TO RECEIVE ACCELERATED DEATH BENEFITS. THE VETERANS PROGRAMS ENHANCEMENT ACT ESTABLISHED AN OPTION FOR THE VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) TO PAY THESE BENEFITS UNDER THE SGLI AND VGLI PROGRAMS. THE OPTION ALLOWS TERMINALLY ILL SGLI AND VGLI POLICYHOLDERS TO RECEIVE AS MUCH AS HALF OF THEIR COVERAGE, UP TO $100,000 DURING THEIR LIFETIME." THIS BENEFIT APPLIES TO RETIRED OR SEPARATED VETERANS WHO HOLD SGLI OR VGLI POLICIES. IT DOES NOT APPLY TO ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL. VETERANS WANTING TO CLAIM THIS BENEFIT SHOULD PROVIDE A LETTER TO THE OFFICE OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE FROM THEIR ATTENDING PHYSICIAN STATING THE VETERAN IS TERMINALLY ILL. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS OR OTHER VA BENEFITS CONTACT YOUR NEAREST VA OFFICE.

The following is from Dennis Struck if you are interested in working Civil Service and qualify:

Civilian Careers for Outstanding Scholars

The AF Civilian Personnel Center at Randolph AFB TX is currently recruiting personnel under the Palace Acquire outstanding scholar program for civil Service intern positions at the five (5) Air Logistics Centers (Hill AFB; Tinker AFB; Robins AFB; Kelly AFB; and McClellan AFB). The positions start at GS-07 (one year), promote to GS-09 (one year), and finally to GS-11 through the 3-year intern program, after which they would continue service as GS-11. 

Cheers and Keep in Touch Tommy

When I volunteered to help out with the newsletter I had no idea the address list would grow to be as large as it is. To get a letter out twice a year takes up a lot of my time and sometime my money (we don’t always have enough of it to pay for stamps, envelopes and the cost to publish the newsletter). If we have to mail you a copy of the newsletter then please help us out by donating a book of stamps. One book of stamps from everyone who has not contributed will go a long way.

Welcome Al Wenzelburger, and Bob Utley to the LS Retirees Group. These guys sent in their Life Support History form and are now added to our address list. Some of you out there have not sent in your history form and I’m glad you waited. It’s been a problem finding time to re-type all the information gathered so far. Any volunteers out there?

If you have not sent in your history form please do so by e-mailing it to me in the format suggested on our web page. If you don't have e-mail then put the info (name, address, rank, and a chronological listing of all your life support assignments) in an envelope and mail it to me. My address is Bob McElwain, 17149 Forest Hills Drive, Victorville, CA 92392. The intent is to put all the info in a file and add it to our web page. The file will be password protected so only members can access it. I'm also considering password protecting the address list that's currently on our web page. What do you think? Should I do it? If I do the file will be in Microsoft Excel. Do you have Excel on your computer?

Active duty life supporters are welcome to join us however, your life support history will not be added to the file until you are officially separated or retired.  This is to keep from making changes every time you PCS or get promoted.

Timmy Morrow was in Kadena last month and found another old life supporter, Dave Maguire. Way to go Tim, can you find some more? Thanks TSgt Bechen of the 63^rd FS for sending in the names and phone numbers of three retirees, Bill Baker, Steve Hall, and Eddie Green. All of these new members have been added to our address list, however they need to send in their history form. Do any of you other active duty troops out there know the whereabouts of any retired life supporters?

If you are one of or know any of the original people promoted to CMSgt back in 1959 then be advised that there will be a 40^th anniversary celebration held at Barksdale AFB on 1 Dec 99. If interested contact CMSgt Higging at DSN 781-4447.

* HQ AFSOC: John J. Lewis, 24 STS, Ft Bragg, NC

* HQ AFMC: Our own, Kemper B. Kinchen, 412^th OSS, Edwards AFB, CA

Congratulations to the following new SMS selectees:

Mike Freebury (AMC)

Jeff Bingman (AFMC)

Linda Bloomer (AETC)

Nate Goolsby (USAFE)

Bill Nisbet (AETC)

Steve Wyatt (ACC)

Hi Tommy, this is Ed MacKenzie. My wife Wilma and I have been on the road for the last two years in a motor home. While we enjoyed it very much it is good to finally settle down. We have bought a home in Bunkerville NV. You say where the hell is Bunkerville; well it is just three miles south of Mesquite NV on the Arizona border just off I-15. If you can't find it on a map with my description you are in trouble. Anyway we just wanted you to know where we were and that we are still hanging around. Please keep us in mind when you or someone sends out the invitations to the next reunion. We sure would like to make the next one. You can put my address and phone # as well as e-mail address in the newsletter. Tell every one we said hello and hope to see them all at the reunion. Our mailing address is:

Ed & Wilma MacKenzie

4012 S.Rainbow K 731

Las Vegas NV. 89103

Tel (702) 346-4980

Cell # (702) 682-6485

E-mail: 2macks@sisna.com

Let me introduce myself to you. I'm now 65 years old and am proud to say that. I was in the second class of the Rescue & Survival School at Chanute AFB in the fall of 1953. We went there to be aircraft mechanics but they came around recruiting guys for the new school that was starting up. After graduation and leave, we were loaded into a C-46 and taken to Stead AFB, NV for 15 days of E&E field survival training. We had two and a half days of rations (anything else that was needed was taken from land). The snow in the mountains was waist deep. After graduation we were transported back to Stead AFB in a convoy. I returned to Chanute AFB in a C-46, then I received orders for O'Hare Field. Other assignments include Tyndall AFB, Greenland, McCoy AFB, Griffis AFB, and Udorn Royal AFB, Thailand. I retired 31 July 1973 and since then have been a Teamster for over 20 years. I enjoy the newsletter very much and was glad to see that John Wesson moved up in the ranks. He and I worked together at McCoy. I am proud of my time in the Air Force and in Life Support. I saw many changes take place and I know that many more have been made since I left. I would love to go to a Life support shop today and see how they operate. However, since there are none close by I will just have to remember. The history of life support is great! I think you all are on the right track by trying to get as much past info as possible. I know there are a lot of great stories out there. James Jennings

Oscar E. Norberg and myself started as Parachute Rigger Course Instructors in 1949 and then went through the 594 MOS / 922xx conversion. I also assisted with the development of the initial and follow on P.E. Survival Training Officer Course (S510420 / 0ZR1515A) and was the initial instructor for those courses. I left the arena of instructing in the officer course in June 1958 and served as the civilian instructor supervisor for the 3ABR92230 P.E. Specialist course (Jun '58 - Aug '67).  Don Bock

I was playing around on the internet and ran across the Life Support site. Couldn't believe my eyes. I looked down the address list and saw a few names that brought back long ago memories. Those days as a 922X0 were some of the best I had in the Air Force. The work was hard on the trash haulers but it was rewarding. I have always thought it prepared me for what came later. After my back got screwed up so that lifting was out of the question I had to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. That's when I retrained in to Management Engineering. I went back to school. Completed a Masters and …well as they say the rest is history. When I looked down your list and saw names like Mike Saint (he and I worked together at Charleston), Paul Swindell from USAFE and Jack Parkhurst, I knew I had to get back to my roots. So, please add me to your membership. Al Wenzelburger

I'm 100% retired and enjoying life in Spain. I retired after 26 years in the AF, then taught school and worked in the office of a DoDDS school in Madrid for 13 years. When they closed the base I got a job with DLA in Getafe, Spain. When they offered some of us old folks an early retirement I took it. We have a 52' fishing boat that I have crewed out, not much money in this but all the fish I can eat. We enjoy sailing, and touring lighthouses, or just sitting on the terrace with a good glass of white wine looking at the sea. Brad Fielding

As you might know I came down with Parkinson's and MS a few years ago and missed last year's reunion due to health problems. However, I recently had a brain operation called a palidotomy where they go in with a small probe and burn out a tiny piece of your brain. This controlled the shaking and joint stiffness. The operation was a 100% unqualified success! I am almost as good as new. I still have the diseases of course, but the side effects such as shaking have gone. In fact, my golf game has come back and as always the fish are still hitting. Mike Hampton

I've had the honor to work with some legends in our career field such as Otis Jackson, Wendell Sanders, Tom Prezelski, and John Wesson just to name a few. I look forward to future correspondence from both retired and active life support members I have served with. Last but not least, thank you for everything you have done and are continuing to do for our wonderful career field and people. SMSgt(s) Stephen Wyatt, HQ ACC/IG

Another letter came from Andy Graves who is on his way to Vilnius, Lithuania working for the Department of State as a General Services Officer. Andy sends a big thank you to all for the support, letters, phone calls, prayers, flowers, "survival kits" and e-mails sent in support of his wife's 6 months of chemotherapy treatments.

Jeff Worsham e-mailed me and stated that he retired four years ago, returned to college and got his BS in Criminal Justice. He is currently working for State Farm Insurance as a claim's representative.

As usual the reunion will be held in Laughlin, NV on 27 - 30 Sept 99. We are switching hotels this year to the Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino located at the north end of Casino Drive. We invite you to come meet old friends and to see and hear what’s new in life support. Remember that reservations must be made with KB and he will not mail out confirmation of your reservation unless asked for. See the reunion registration form on this web site for additional information.

Past support from civilian contractors for the hospitality room at the reunion has been great. This year promises to be even better so don’t miss it! Those of you who fail to come will not be there to protect yourself from all the bad things that will be said about you.

Former Staff Sgt Diana D. Makar, of Sedro Woolley, Wash., died Sept. 4, 1998. Her assignments include RAF Lakenheath, England; Blytheville AFB, Ark. and Loring AFB, Main.

A Note from Chief Gale Bradish to Tommy follows:

A while back I heard that Saul Valardi had died of a heart attack. Paul Cramer sent me an email today confirming that he did. Saul was at McClellen AFB, CA for several years in charge of the "Connie" Life Support Shop. He retired because of medical reasons and lived in Sacramento.

All active duty life support personnel are requested to extend a personal welcome to the retired and former life supporters in your local area. Let’s make reunion week (27-30 Sep 99) " Life Support Retirees Week". Put an ad in your base and local newspapers inviting ex-life support personnel in your community out to your shop. Show them around; let them see how a shop of today operates. To help them feel at home, put away the computer and break out the old status board and grease pencil. Have the floors highly buffed (I know you all have janitorial service and no longer do this yourselves) and leave the buffer in the corner so they can see it and get a feel of what it used to be like. If they can’t attend the reunion and be with their old family, let’s invite them out so they can be with their new family.

If any of you retired or ex-life supporters don't see an invitation in your local paper late this summer, call the public affairs office at your nearest base, tell them you want to visit life support. You'll be surprise at the attention you'll get.

Hopefully, I'll see you at the reunion,

Chili