SSgt Nicholas F. Rau; 7th MUNS / Dyess AFB, Texas
Category Archives: General Information
Posts related to General Information to the public
Chief to receive Medal of Honor posthumously for ’68 actions
9/3/2010 – WASHINGTON (AFNS) — An Air Force Chief Master Seageant who was killed 42 years ago will receive the Medal of Honor for actions he took after enemy forces overran a clandestine U.S. radar site in Laos.
Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. “Dick” Etchberger, 35, died March 11, 1968, after being shot following an overnight battle on Mount Phou Pha Thi at Lima Site 85, as the radar location was known to Americans, where he helped maintain equipment that aided the U.S. bombing campaign of North Vietnam.
Despite having received little or no combat training, Chief Etchberger single-handedly held off the enemy with an M-16, while simultaneously directing air strikes into the area and calling for air rescue. Because of his fierce defense and heroic and selfless actions, he was able to deny the enemy access to his position and save the lives of some of his crew.
Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. “Dick” Etchberger, was killed after saving the lives of some of his crew during a fierce battle at a radar site in Laos 42 years ago, will receive the Medal of Honor Sept. 21 in a White House ceremony. (Courtesy photo)
With the arrival of the rescue aircraft, Chief Etchberger, without hesitation, once again deliberately risked his own life numerous times, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire in order to place his three surviving wounded comrades into rescue slings hanging from the hovering helicopter waiting to airlift them to safety.
With his remaining crew safely aboard, Chief Etchberger finally climbed into an evacuation sling himself, only to be fatally wounded by enemy ground fire as he was being raised into the aircraft.
“He should have a 55-gallon drum full of medals,” said retired Tech Sgt. John G. Daniel, 71, of La Junta, Colo. Sergeant Daniel was one of the three rescued. “I wouldn’t be alive without him.”
Following a 2008 personnel board of review of the chief’s actions, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley nominated the Hamburg, Pa., native for the U.S. military’s highest decoration, which is awarded “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.” President Obama approved the Medal of Honor, which will be presented in a White House ceremony on Sept. 21. The following day, an induction ceremony of Chief Etchberger into The Hall of Heroes will take place in the Pentagon.
Retroactive Stop Loss
Please pass on this summary of information regarding “stop loss pay” that the DoD is offering. This pay is a “thank you” for those individuals who had an approved retirement or separation in the system but were kept in the service due to stop loss as a result of post 9/11 surge requirements.
Here are the main points:
– $500/month for each month Stop Lossed
– Not eligible if received a bonus
– AF Stop Loss Periods are 2 Oct 2001-31 Jan 2003 & 2 May – 31 Dec 2003
– Last day to apply is 21 Oct 10
DOD Stop Loss Link: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/
Since these individuals have probably since retired or separated and are no longer active duty, we’re still passing the word out through active duty channels in case anyone knows anyone that would benefit from this pay and could contact them–“tell a friend” method. So please pass this out to your functional communities to help spread the word. AF/A1PPS is using civilian/social networking advertising methods as well to try and get the word out.
If you have any questions, please contact Maj Eries Gibson, Chief, Separations and Retirements Branch, HQ USAF/A1PPS, DSN 222-4532 / COMM (703) 692-4532 eries.gibson@pentagon.af.mil
7TH RAF WELFORD REUNION
Just a reminder that the 7TH RAF WELFORD REUNION is in SAN ANTONIO TX the 19th thru 23rd OCTOBER 2010. Reservations have to be made at the hotel by SEPTEMBER 19th 2010 to receive the group rate. I also need to get some idea of the numbers as to the folks interested in the bus trip to Fredricksburg to see if it is a viable option. I will be out of the loop for a few weeks as I am scheduled for surgery the 2nd July and will in hospital for 7-10 days. You can contact me on my other email of engspee@comcast.net as my earthlink box gets full rather quickly. You can also contact me either on my cellphone#707-484-2813 or 503-458-6001 after the 15th July 2010. Please don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
Take care, Tina Speer
Chief Gauvin Ammo Troop Memorial Fund
To apply for a scholarship with the Chief Master Sergeant Gauvin Ammo Troop Memorial Fund please request an application from AFCOMAC. The application is due back to AFCOMAC no later than 1 June 2011 for the 2011/12 school year. Point of Contact is CMSgt Kevin B. Hryniewiecki at kevin.hryniewiecki@beale.af.mil or DSN: 368-3685/2400 Comm: 530-634-3685/2400
MSgt (ret’d) Dave Crute, Ammo
From our Vice President, Rich Pennington:
To ACA membership: Talked with retired MSgt Dave Crute over the weekend about his recovery from cancer surgery and chemo treatments. He’s in very good spirits and thinks in a few more weeks he’ll be back ready for action. Dave retired out of Langley some years ago and stayed in the Hampton Roads area where he has a auto repair shop that him and his son run to serve the local community.
He has a daughter that’s serving aboard the USN George Bush aircraft carrier. The Navy had a family day aboard the carrier and sailed out to open waters for the day a few weeks ago and Dave was able to go out and enjoyed the day.
Dave is a veteran of Vietnam and I had the pleasure of serving with him in the 80’s at Davis Monthan and Langley. Dave always did his best to take care of the troops.
I’m sure he would appreciate a card from old friends and the Ammo community.
Dave Crute, 8 Evelyn Drive, Newport News VA 23602