Moving out of the way for emergency lights

A light bar on a 673d Security Forces Squadron patrol car demonstrates its emergency lights at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Sept. 26, 2019. The display showcased the importance of yielding to an emergency vehicle’s lights and siren. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES
09.27.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Emily Farsworth
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs   

Drivers on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, need to be aware of the proper measures to take when approached by emergency vehicles displaying flashing emergency lights.
When approached by emergency vehicles with lights flashing, drivers need clear the intersection, pull over to the right side of the road and wait for the vehicles to pass.
“Every second matters,” said Tech. Sgt. Corey Loesch, 673d Civil Engineering Squadron fire and emergency services noncommissioned officer in charge of health and safety. “It affects our response time in a negative way when vehicles don’t yield to emergency vehicles that are using their sirens and lights.”
It’s important to note, flashing emergency lights are typically combined with sirens which serve as another signal to drivers.
“The purpose of sirens is to get the drivers’ attention from streets away,” Loesch said. “This lets them know to be prepared to pull over and stop before they can even see the emergency lights. This is especially important during the winter when there is low visibility.”
The flashing lights are used for public safety to warn motorists they are approaching a potentially hazardous situation together with serving as a way to ensure the safety of emergency responders.
  “According to the FBI Unified Crime Report, 23 law enforcement officers died due to vehicle accidents so far in 2019,” said Tech. Sgt. Larry Head, 673d Security Forces Squadron flight sergeant. “They left behind families who will never see their faces again. Please do everyone a favor, when you see the flashing lights, slow down, give them space and let them go home to their families.”
The 673d SFS Defenders agree the risk is high when people fail to think about the potential consequences of breaking the law.
“Really and truly at the end of the day, I just want to be able to go home to my kids,” said Staff Sgt. Steven Garwood, 673d SFS NCOIC of confinement. “You need to think of the cost of being in too big of a hurry to yield to emergency response vehicles.”
The 673d SFS Defenders who make traffic stops feel the impact of drivers failing to yield to emergency vehicles demonstrating emergency lights.
“You can feel the wind off of vehicles driving past when you are trying to talk to the person who you just pulled over,” Garwood said. “Sometimes we are just trying to help someone who has pulled over alongside the road. It’s not just our safety, but the general public’s safety that comes into question.”
Head notes it doesn’t take long to yield to emergency vehicles but it can make a large difference to emergency responders.
“It is a real and present danger we are exposed to on a routine basis and yielding only requires a little bit of patience and attention on the part of other drivers,” Head added.
Drivers need to practice situational awareness and prepared to yield to emergency vehicles while driving on base.
   “Overall, drivers need to be aware that they need to leave the lane open for medical, fire and police vehicles when they hear sirens or see flashing emergency lights,” Loesch said. “In that situation, emergency vehicles always have the right of way.”

1,871 days of torture. POW/MIA Appreciation Ceremony: Ted Gostas Presentation

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Ted Gostas, prisoner of war guest speaker, shares his story with Airmen Sept. 19, 2019, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Gostas was captured in 1968 by Vietnamese soldiers and held captive for five years, one month and 15 days. He was finally released in March of 1973 and went on to become a renowned Vietnam Conflict POW painter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexi Bosarge)

Link to the speech...POW/MIA Appreciation Ceremony: Ted Gostas Presentation


1,871 days of torture
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KS, UNITED STATES
09.24.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Alexi Myrick
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs 

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.— Five years, one month and 15 days — that is how long Ted Gostas was captive in solitary confinement in North Vietnam. He was tortured and abused as he watched his troops die.

“I had 10 days left in my tour when I was captured in February of 1968,” said retired U.S. Army Maj. Gostas, 80, who was assigned to the 135th Military Intelligence Battalion during the Vietnam War.

For the last time, Gostas discussed his capture and the tragic events that followed to the Airmen of McConnell during a prisoner(s) of war/missing in action remembrance ceremony.

Gostas described the panic of his men as the North Vietnamese soldiers waited outside the house he and his men were in, while operating in Hue City. Gostas made the executive decision to have all of the top-secret documents in the house quickly burned in the fireplace as the whizzing sounds from bullets penetrated the air around them.

He didn’t know then, but the fear he felt in that moment would never leave.

“They came up the stairs, tied our hands behind our back with piano wire and led us off [to the jungle],” said Gostas. “From then on it was absolute hell.”

Gostas ended up spending 1,871 days with North Vietnamese soldiers, who provided him with only two small rice balls and approximately four ounces of water a day. He was kept in a hole in the ground with 35 fellow prisoners in a space meant to house nine people.

During four and a half years of solitary confinement, Gostas was beaten repeatedly. He was told that he was to be sentenced to death, and made to wear a cloth target over his chest. His health began to deteriorate from all of the abuse. At one point he had 18 abscessed teeth, which began to affect his heart.

“Of my 18 abscessed, three were pulled by Doctor Fly Kushner, who had two B-52 door gunners who were also captured. They held me down while he ripped out the teeth along with part of my jaw bone with no anesthetic,” said Gostas.

After five long years, Gostas was finally released in March, 1973. He went through years of shock therapy to help with all of the psychological suffering he endured. After a full recovery, he began painting his emotions and participating in speaking engagements to express to others what it means to be a POW.

Gostas gave his last speech Sept. 19, 2019, at McConnell, giving Airmen from the installation the opportunity to hear his story.

“To hear him speak for the last time was very special, but also sad,” said Chief Master Sgt. Rebecca McNelley, 22nd Security Forces Squadron chief enlisted manager, who attended the remembrance ceremony. “It’s sad because it honestly is a limited time offer and a rare opportunity to meet someone like Ted. His generation is fading fast.”

Gostas said that his love and appreciation for the military still continues to grow. He wants Airmen to learn from his experiences, which is why he chose McConnell to be the last stop for his story.

Although this may be the last time that Gostas tells his story, through his book, “Prisoner,” his story will forever live on and serve as an inspiration to all that have the opportunity to learn about him and all of the trials he has gone through.

“We must never forget our past,” continued McNelley. “It’s heroes like him who bring to light how insignificant our own problems are and give us inspiration and strength for our rainy days.”


Retired U.S. Army Maj. Ted Gostas, Prisoner of War, poses for a photo after returning from Vietnam in 1973. Each year, the third week of September is designated as a national prisoner of war/missing in action recognition week. According to the Department of Defense Prisoner of War Personnel Office, there are still 1,657 people missing from the Vietnam conflict. (Courtesy photo)

FBFD provides support, assistance during tanker fire

Firefighters from Fort Bliss and El Paso worked together to extinguish a fuel-tanker fire during the early morning hours of Sept. 12, near the vicinity of CSM Barreras Gate, located at Sergeant Major Boulevard and Loop 375. (U.S. Army photo by Cliff Hansen, Fort Bliss Fire Department)

EL PASO, TX, UNITED STATES
09.19.2019
Story by Michelle Gordon
Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office 

When the 911 call came in during the early morning hours of Sept. 12, Fort Bliss firefighters were ready to respond to the fuel-tanker truck fire near the vicinity of CSM Barreras Gate, located at Sergeant Major Boulevard and Loop 375.

Fort Bliss Deputy Fire Chief Cliff Hansen said, “The call was cloned to our dispatch from El Paso 911 because they thought it might be closer to us. I had Station 5 respond, which is Ladder 52 and Engine 51.”

Once on the scene, Hansen made contact with the battalion chief from the El Paso Fire Department and they established a unified command, allowing the two departments to work together seamlessly – sharing radio communications and calling in multiple crash trucks to extinguish the blaze.

“I called in for two of our crash trucks from Biggs Field and the battalion chief from El Paso called in one of their crash trucks, because we needed foam,” Hansen said. “There was more than 8,000 gallons of unleaded fuel, so we needed as much foam as we could get.”

Foam is used during fuel fires because it smoothers the oxygen. Hansen explained that fuel fires are so hot, water alone cannot put them out.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Hansen said it appears to have been a rear-brake malfunction. The driver escaped unharmed.

“Fuel tankers are compartmentalized,” Hansen said. “This one was carrying about 8,100 gallons of unleaded fuel in four compartments. The fire started in one of the compartments near the rear, and shortly before we arrived, it compromised one of the other compartments. We let it burn until all of the compartments were compromised because each time one fails, it’s a big explosion.”

He said flames reached 50 to 60 feet in the air.

Hansen estimates the Fort Bliss Fire Department dumped about 70 gallons of foam mixed with 2,800 gallons of water on the fire, and the city did the same amount.

The initial call came in about 3:20 a.m., and Hansen said they had it completely out by around 6:30 a.m.; the northbound lanes of Loop 375 remained closed until mid-day.

“We work with El Paso a lot, but I’ve been here 26 years and I think this unified command was one of the best we’ve had at a major incident like this,” Hansen said. “We worked hand-in-hand and no one got hurt. We came together and eliminated the hazard.”

A fire erupted during the early morning hours of Sept. 12, near the vicinity of CSM Barreras Gate, located at Sergeant Major Boulevard and Loop 375. Although flames reached 50 to 60 feet in the air, the driver of the truck escaped unharmed. Firefighters from Fort Bliss and El Paso worked together to extinguish the blaze. (U.S. Army photo by Cliff Hansen, Fort Bliss Fire Department)

USS Boxer (LHD 4) flight operations

ARABIAN SEA
09.19.2019
Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Alexander Kubitza
USS Boxer (LHD 4) 

190919-N-PM193-2062
ARABIAN SEA (Sept. 19, 2019) Sailors of the crash-and-salvage team aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) observe flight operations as the ship transits the Arabian Sea. Boxer is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander C. Kubitza/Released)


ARABIAN SEA (Sept. 19, 2019) Cpl. Regan O’Connor, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), observes flight operations as a crash-and-salvage team member aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). Boxer is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander C. Kubitza/Released)

Memories of 9/11, 18 years later

Airman 1st Class William Lemon, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief, served 18 years as a volunteer firefighter at the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department in Long Island, New York, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 2017. (Courtesy Photo)

KUNSAN AIR BASE, SOUTH KOREA
09.20.2019
Story by Staff Sgt. Mackenzie Mendez
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 

The morning of September 11, 2001, was beautiful and clear, a picture-perfect day, not a cloud in sight. New Yorkers made their way to work, filling the sidewalks of Manhattan, horns honking, birds chirping. For Americans across the country, it was a Tuesday like any other.

Little did anyone know, Sept. 11, 2001, would become one of the most remembered days in American history. The devastating terrorist attacks that morning in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania would shake America to its core, leaving thousands of families to mourn for their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters for years to come.

For Airman 1st Class William Lemon, September 11, 2001, would be forever engrained in his mind as one of the hardest days in his 18-year career as a volunteer firefighter.

“It seems like yesterday,” said Lemon. “It’s easily the saddest, most difficult call I have ever had to respond to. It’s taught me to treasure life and live every moment as if it’s my last.”

William Lemon: The First Responder

Lemon was born and raised in Long Island, New York. Adopted as an infant, Lemon joined a growing family with five new siblings, three girls and two boys. His relationship with his family has always been solid, giving him the support and confidence to grow into a volunteer firefighter, and later, an American Airman.

A year after graduating high school, Lemon joined his neighborhood volunteer fire department in October 1999, where he dedicated his time away from his full-time job. Although he joined out of sheer curiosity, his reason for fighting fire evolved as he reported to his first structure fire; a two-story residence being engulfed in flames.

“You name a spot on the second floor, flames were there,” said Lemon. “As I started pulling hose, preparing to fight the growing flames, I knew firefighting was in my blood. It was something I really wanted and needed to do.”

It was the first time Lemon was ever thanked for his service. The fire department slowly became Lemon’s home away from home, as he grew closer to the men and women of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department.

“The fire service is a brotherhood,” said Lemon. “When I go into a fire, the person next to me and the person behind me will always do whatever it takes to ensure we all make it out and go home at the end of the day.”

September 11, 2001
8:46 a.m.

The time was 8:46 a.m. and American Airlines Flight 11, traveling from Boston to Los Angeles, had just struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Lemon was fast asleep after working a long night shift as a security guard. His dad ran down the stairs and began shaking Lemon awake. Disoriented and confused, Lemon stared at his father, not quite comprehending the unbelievable information he was hearing. Then his pager began to sound.

“My pager goes off, tones sound over the radio and finally the dispatcher’s voice,” said Lemon. “First, signal one, second was signal 24 and then the code every firefighter never hopes to hear, signal 27.”

Signal one was a code for a disaster emergency, signal 24 indicated assistance was needed within city limits and signal 27 indicated an aircraft emergency landing or crash. All Brentwood Fire Department companies were instructed to respond. By the time the dispatcher began repeating the emergency codes, Lemon was heading out the door with his pager and radio in hand.

“A four minute response time to the firehouse took me 90 seconds,” recalled Lemon. “None of us knew what was really happening. We all grabbed our turnout gear, hopped on the truck and headed for the parkway. On our way into the city was when the second tower was hit.”

9:03 a.m.

The time was 9:03 a.m. and United Airlines Flight 175, traveling from Boston to Los Angeles, had just struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

“Dispatch comes over the air with so much panic and urgency in his voice, calling for all Brentwood units to respond, stating the other tower had just been hit by a second passenger aircraft,” said Lemon. “At this point, we knew it wasn’t an accident. How could it be? We knew it was a terrorist attack and everything changed in that moment.”

Nearly 230 miles away, in Washington D.C., American Airlines Flight 77, traveling from Dulles, Virginia, to Los Angeles, struck the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. All 184 people lost their lives in the crash, including 125 Pentagon employees and 59 passengers on Flight 77.

9:59 a.m.

As Lemon and his company cautiously made their way into the city, weaving in and out of the panicked New Yorkers fleeing the island, they received the first notification; the South Tower had just collapsed. It took only 10 seconds for the entirety of the 110-floor building to come down.

“I don’t think we were prepared for the magnitude of damage that waited for us. All I could think about was the New York City first responders on-scene and the fact they were going in to help people who were trapped without giving it a second thought,” said Lemon.

At 10:03 a.m, outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, fought off four hijackers and tried to reclaim control before crashing the aircraft. All 40 passengers lost their lives.

10:28 a.m.

As Lemon and his company continued to make their way across the bridge into Manhattan, the driver slammed on his brakes, causing confusion amongst the crew.

“We were ready to get in there and help in any way we could, there was no time to waste. I asked the driver, why we were stopping and his face was pale and stunned,” recalled Lemon. “There in the distance the North Tower began to collapse. The antenna tower started to tilt, then the building righted itself, flames grew and then nothing but a huge cloud of dust. The towers were gone.”

Lemon’s company finally made it into the city, parking within 100 yards of what became known as “Ground Zero.” Hundreds of first responders filled the hazy area, helping citizens, covered in dust and debris, to safety. He compared Ground Zero to a warzone, a devastating image of tragedy. Aircraft and building parts littered the area, reaching two to three miles out from the impact site.

Later, after meeting the on-scene commander, Lemon’s company would learn of their assignment. Prior to the North Tower collapsing, Lemon’s company was assigned to work forcible entry and search and rescue within the tower.

“I could’ve been one of those names people remember on the anniversary,” said Lemon. “Being here, it makes me grateful, but extremely sad. It’s the toughest part of surviving, knowing I’m here when so many of my brothers and sisters aren’t.”

On that Tuesday, 343 New York Fire Department firefighters, 23 New York Police Department officers and 37 members of Port Authority lost their lives.

Lemon and his company were staged at a nearby firehouse for 18 hours following the attacks on September 11, 2001. They responded to more than 200 calls while on standby, helping with the aftermath of the most devastating attack on American soil since the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

William Lemon: The American Airman

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, America mourned and the rest of the world looked on in solemn support. New Yorkers returned to lower Manhattan, airline ticket sales maintained a record low and Lemon found a new sense of duty and purpose.

“To honor those we lost, we had to continue to do our jobs and continue to serve and protect our community,” said Lemon. “I knew plenty of people who passed away both in and out of the line of duty. It continues to have such a big impact on me because these first responders were my family. I’m grateful for their service and dedication and know they’re watching over me.”

Lemon continued to work full time, balancing his regular paying jobs while dedicating the majority of his off time to the fire service.

In December 2017, Lemon chose to take his service a step further and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Today, Lemon is an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief with the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. He’s responsible for the maintaining, servicing and inspecting F-16s and ensuring they are prepared to fly in support of missions in and around the Pacific.

Lemon often reflects on his 18 years as a volunteer firefighter and looks forward to one day returning to the fire service to serve alongside his brothers and sisters of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department. For now, Lemon will enjoy his time abroad, heading for Osan Air Base this month and then Japan next year.

September 11, 2001, will always remain as one of the most tragic days in America’s history and will continue to define many of the men and women who responded to the scene that Tuesday.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the men and women of the NYFD and NYPD who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for complete strangers,” said Lemon. “I’m surrounded by people who would lay down their lives for others if the call came. But these first responders answered their final alarm on the most chaotic and stressful day without ever looking back, they will always be my heroes.”


Photo by Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez


Photo by Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez


Photo by Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez