Sparky Helps Promote Fire Prevention to Military Children

Children from the Child Development Center and Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron firedog, stand in front of the 97th CES fire truck for a photo during Fire Prevention Week, Sept. 24, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. During this visit, the children were greeted by Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department firedog, followed by a tour of the fire truck. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

ALTUS AFB, OK, UNITED STATES
09.26.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs 

This week is Fire Prevention Week and the Altus Air Force Base fire department is turning up the heat by spreading awareness to military members and their families. On Sept. 24, 2019, the Altus AFB fire department took a special trip to the Child Development Center and offered children the opportunity to meet first responders while learning about the importance of fire safety. The children were greeted by Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department firedog, followed by a tour of the fire truck. Fire prevention week is held annually to promote fire safety through interactive activities and demonstrations. The 2019 theme is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape – Plan and Practice Your Escape!” which recognizes the everyday people who motivate their households to develop and practice a fire escape plan. These seemingly basic behaviors can have lifesaving impacts on families everywhere. Throughout the week the 97th CES will continue to demonstrate and promote the importance of fire safety.


Sparky, the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron firedog, high fives a child from Child Development Center, Sept. 24, 2019, at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The Altus AFB fire department visited the children from the CDC and will continue to demonstrate and promote the importance of fire safety throughout the week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm)

Offutt Fire Department, Fire Prevention Week stirs up heroes

Photo By Charles Haymond | Corey Harrison, 55th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, inspects water and foam fire extinguishers Sept. 19, 2019, inside the main fire station at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The Offutt Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign held Oct. 6-12, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles J. Haymond)

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NE, UNITED STATES
09.26.2019
Story by Charles Haymond
55th Wing Public Affairs 

In an effort to encourage Offutt community awareness of fire prevention, the Offutt Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign held Oct. 6-12, 2019.

Fire Prevention Week originated as a result of a massive Chicago fire that occurred on Oct. 8, 1871. This horrific tragedy claimed the lives of more than 250 people. It also left 100, 000 people homeless, ruined 174,000 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

This prompted public officials and firefighters to disseminate information about the importance of fire safety to the public on the anniversary of this massacre. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson declared a proclamation that observes the Sunday prior to October 9 through the following Saturday as Fire Prevention Week.

“From 2012-2016 U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 8,200 home structure fires that were started by candles per year,” said David Eblin, 55th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. “These fires caused an annual average of 80 deaths, 770 injuries and 264 million in direct property damage.”

This year’s theme is “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!”

Eblin emphasized that it is imperative for families to develop escape plans in case of house fires.

“The time to discuss fires in the home is before they happen,” Eblin said. Once a fire breaks out it is not uncommon for people to panic, escape is all about preplanning and frank discussion prior to the fire event.”

Many events are planned for this year’s Fire Prevention Week. Offutt Exchange will have static displays with brochures and demonstrations Oct. 7-11. There will also be tours at local elementary schools, fire drills the child, and youth development centers. The Fire department will host an Open House at the main fire house Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The NFPA website provides the following advice to help protect your family in the event of a house fire:

• Draw a map of your home. Show all doors and windows.
• Visit each room. Find two ways out.
• All windows and doors should open easily. You should be able to use them to get outside.
• Make sure your home has smoke alarms. Push the test button to make sure each alarm is working.
• Pick a meeting place outside. It should be in front of your home. Everyone will meet at the meeting place.
• Make sure your house or building number can be seen from the street.
• Talk about your plan with everyone in your home.
• Learn the emergency phone number for your fire department.
• Practice your home fire drill!
• Make your own home fire escape plan

Eblin added that fire prevention is something that should be practiced year round.

“Do a monthly inspection of your home, and keep a critical eye open for any hazards, such as combustibles too close to heat producing appliances/devices,” Eblin said. “Check and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”

Colonel Fredrick Lewis signs Fire Prevention Proclamation

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Fredrick Lewis, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni commanding officer, and John Neville, installation fire chief, sign the fire prevention proclamation on MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 27, 2019. Fire Prevention Week's purpose is to prepare MCAS Iwakuni residents for potential fires. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)

IWAKUNI, JAPAN
09.27.2019
Story by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni 

U.S Marine Corps Col. Fredrick Lewis, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, and John Neville, installation fire chief, announced the week of October 6-12 to be fire prevention week at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 27, 2019. Lewis and Neville inducted fire prevention week by signing a fire prevention proclamation together for the first time.
With the proclamation, Fire Prevention Week is set to take place October 6-12. With fires killing more than 2,630 people in the United States in 2018, according to the National Fire Protection Association and the always-present danger of fires anywhere in the world, Lewis and Neville introduced this prevention week to bring about awareness for residents of MCAS Iwakuni.
Fire prevention and safety is important because of the potential for great amounts of damage to an affected person’s life and possessions caused by a fire. Lewis urges everyone to practice fire safety by the following advice: have an evacuation plan or two, know how to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency and practice a fire escape plan at least once a month.
Fire Prevention Week consists of several events, including; information booths, live fire, extrication and rescue demonstrations, station tours and parent safety tips by the Red Cross. Each of these events will further inform MCAS Iwakuni residents of fire, fire hazards and fire prevention.
The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape.” It serves to remind us that we need to be aware of smoke alarms, the sounds they make, and to have two ways to evacuate all rooms safely.
The fire prevention week will kick off with information booths in Crossroads and the Commissary, October 6-11 from 1100-1230. Then, on Saturday, October 12 activities and demonstrations will begin at Building 6119 from 1030-1500.


U.S. Marine Corps Col. Fredrick Lewis, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni commanding officer, and John Neville, installation fire chief, sign the fire prevention proclamation on MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, September 27, 2019. Fire Prevention Week's purpose is to prepare MCAS Iwakuni residents for potential fires. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Trista Whited)

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)