Air Force Women

Officers Associated

Web Site: www.afwoa.org                              DECEMBER 2006         President: Pat Murphy, Col, USAF Retired

 

From Pat’s Pen

Three of our Board members attended the meeting of the Institute of Medicine Board on Military and Veterans Health held in San Antonio. Our consensus is that IOM is working very hard to study and create a scientific framework that would justify recognizing disabilities to support presumptive compensation decisions. We were concerned by Congres-sional staffers' views that veterans need to prove they are really sick and provide specific information about how they got sick. We were also concerned by their view that veterans' compensation is expensive and, therefore, should be judged skeptically. We all need to pay attention to how Congress is funding the Veterans' Administration and taking care of our veterans.

We have nominated AFWOA member Barbara A. Goodwin, Brig Gen (ret) as a member of a task force to examine matters relating to the future of military health care. The task force will be have no more than 14 members, divided among Department of Defense representatives and those outside DoD, and one representative from an organization that advocates on behalf of active duty and retired members of the Armed Forces. The Secretary of Defense will make the final selection. We'll keep you updated.

 

Happy holidays from your AFWOA Board.

Pat

 

Reminder
Annual Dues for 2007 are due in January

 

Membership privileges:

Access to the on-line Member Directory at

    http://www.afwoa.org/members/

Continued receipt of the Newsletter

Send $10 to

Air Force Women Officers Associated

P.O. Box 780155
San Antonio, Texas 78278-0155

 

Need to make corrections to our directory?  See Membership Form on page 6.

 

 

Recruiting Initiative

If there was a recruiting e-mail address available, I’d forward it to all the women vets I know to forward to all the AF Women vet Officer’s they knew.     (Ed. Note Karen Rankin is the Vice President for Recruiting KarenRankin@afwoa.org)

A possible source COULD be the AFROTC detachments.

Are there any recruiting aids for AFWOA out there, such as car magnet stickers, banners, flags for the front of the house, etc… )

In the October Newsletter, we asked the membership at large to contribute their thoughts and ideas for expanding the AFWOA Membership.  Here are some of the replies.  Thank you, and Keep those ideas coming!

 

 

Feedback from the Oct Newsletter

Thanks to Carolyn Patrick for her marvelous, gutsy speech to the Tucson VFW. She said that she was "not sure that she was ready to talk about Iraq" when she was asked to speak. No one is ever quite ready to talk about what they have gone through in a war. Her courage and her willingness to share her speech with AFWOA members is greatly appreciated.                             -Vivienne C. Sinclair

 

Thoroughly enjoyed, may not be the right word, but was interested in Carolyn Patrick’s speech. It was really good.  Reading is just not the same as being there and so I just can't EVEN imagine.         -Jackie Collins

 

News from our Members

 

Lisa "Freddy" Kruger writes, “I'm in the intelligence career field and am currently the Division Commander for AF Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (AFTTP) manuals at Nellis AFB, NV.  Something of interest--I wrote a thesis on motivations of females terrorists last year at the Joint Military Intelligence College.

Much of my thesis was recently published in a book by Rosemarie Skaine called, "Female Suicide Bombers." 

Mary Kugelman wrote that she had surgery in April 2004 for colon cancer, then 6 months of chemo.  Since June 15 back on it for enlarged lymph nodes.  She has a 16 year old cat that she’d like to outlive because this is his 3rd home.

http://www.amazon.com/Female-Suicide-Bombers-Rosemarie-Skaine/dp/0786426152/sr=1-1/qid=1163172631/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5295065-7622550?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

Sharon Mullarkey writes: Well, Keith Camara and I were married in Jun 06.   That is my best news.   Things are well. 

    Stepping forward with the season at Palm Beach Int'l Airport (PBI).  We have construction and expansion ongoing.  Putting together the PBI Blood Drives, Chairperson, every 8 weeks for the local community.  Trying to create a PBI Team for the (Breast Cancer Foundation) Race for the Cure to take place on 20 Jan 07.  Also, coordinating with the South Florida Commuters to implement a PBI Carpool Program for employees in the aviation community.  Recently joined on as a poll volunteer too.   Oh yes, we have a new family pet KC (a rescue Rottweiler).

 

 

 

Connie Lutz continues to work part-time at the Ramstein AB, Germany Chapel supporting the contemporary service.  In October, she spent a week touring southern Spain with good friends Bob and Susan Mitchell.  She will finish her Herceptin treatments (52 in all) the end of November.  She praises God for her good health and wonderful doctor and modern medicine!  She will spend Thanksgiving in Portugal!  Life in the Son and in Europe is wonderful.

Holly Allen wrote to tell us Col. Lisa Firmin was the first person she met when she married her husband back in 2005.  She was the MSG Commander at Cannon AFB. Col Firmin is an amazing leader and wonderful woman.   

Holly works for the National Military Family Association (NMFA).  As for hobbies, she loves just spending time with her husband and supporting him in what ever way she can. “In Aug of last year my husband was deployed to Balad Iraq.  While he was there, he got orders to the Pentagon. He got back in January of 06 and 3 weeks later we were here in DC.  Right now he is the NCOIC, Information Management for the, Air Force Senior Executive Management Office; AF/DPS, Pentagon.” 

 

Debbie O'Brien Winder wrote:  Hi, I’m a retired Capt - Supply Officer -1993.  I don't recognize anyone's name in the newsletter.  Most of the women officers that I were friends with at Barksdale AFB, RAF Alconbury and RAF Mildenhall have left the AF after 4 years or retired. I'm now working as a management analyst with HQ US Army in Europe in Heidelberg.  In December, I will finally have 15 years with civil service - AF, DLA, and Army and most of the time here in UK, Belgium, and Germany.  I hope to be in Europe for at least another two years.

 

 

 

 

Leta Chappell was featured in the September 2006 edition of NARFE Magazine. Leta is a member of the New Horizons Band at the Levine School of Music in Arlington VA.  The New Horizons band is a national organization which now includes about 5000 members in 32 states.  For more information on New Horizons, go to www.newhorizonsmusic.org

 

Hope Benedict participated in the Arizona Standdown, “For Veterans, By Veterans” Oct 27-29.

“As far as entering the workforce goes…I’m interested in finding something part-time.  I’m available anytime and am flexible enough to be able to go anywhere—as long as once I rack up a certain number of hours and salary I am able to stop for that month.  Any and all ideas and suggestions are welcome.”

 

 

 

Hope is interested in joining a group tour of Europe sometime next year.  If anyone knows/hears of one, please let her know.

 

Elizabeth Libby Haynes wrote, “I'm in my third year now as Commander of American Legion Post 44, The Unknown Soldier Post, Arlington, VA, and am a member of the Honor Society of Women Legionnaires.  Post 44 is an unusual Post.  We have no women's auxiliary.  We meet in homes, so are pretty much the Unknown Post!  Our Post project is keeping the Tomb Guards happy.   There are only twenty-six of them; they're all very young, and we stand ready to serve as grandparents away from home to help out in a pinch.

            I am also Vice-Chairman of our Women in Military Service group here at Greenspring Village.  We have 62 dues-paying resident members and two from the administrative staff.  We also have Margaret Brewer and Gail Reals, the first and second women ever promoted to general in 

the Marine Corps.  They're lovely ladies and VERY competent!   No other retirement community can make this statement.  They are forty percent of the women generals in the Marine Corps and the other three are on active duty.

            I'm also the secretary of the (general Protestant) Village Church council and am active in the Aero Club and the Woodshop, among others.

 

Libby also shares her Air Force Biography with us:

Elizabeth “Libby” Haynes grew up in Alexandria and joined the Cadet Nurse Corps in 1944.  When released after the war, she worked for Veterans Service in D.C., while attending GWU at night.  After graduating (B.S. Math), she enlisted for Air Force OCS, receiving her commission in 1951.  She was first assigned to Base Weather at Kelly AFB, then transferred to Hq. Air Weather Service at Andrews AFB to recruit college graduates for AWS.  After completing the graduate meteorology program at MIT, she became a flight forecaster at Pepperrell AFB, Nfld.  Here she met Major William P. Haynes, a  transport pilot based at Andrews AFB.  .  He was a transport pilot based at Andrews AFB, and courted her by 

bringing her fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, and cottage cheese.   They were married in 1954.   She separated from the Air Force the following year.

      Libby was out of the work force for twenty years raising a son and three daughters, who are now a marine engineer, two teachers, and a nurse.  She has nine delightful grandchildren.

      In 1975 she returned to work as an oceanographer with the National Marine Fisheries Service.  She studied the effects of oceanic climate conditions on the abundance and distributions of commercial fish species and later prepared Fishery Management Plans and federal regulations governing commercial fishing.  She retired from Civil Service in 1988

You can find current addresses and phone numbers in our Website Directory:

http://www.afwoa.org/members/

The AFWOA Member Directory is now on-line in a password-protected "Members Only" area.

Contact the Webmaster (webmaster@afwoa.org) to receive the User ID and Password.

DECEMBER IN the HISTORY of

Air Force Women Officers

1950 The Air Force Nurse Corps was challenged almost immediately upon the start of the Korean War, being called upon to assist in air evacuations of casualties. On Dec. 5, 1950, the Nurse Corps assisted in the evacuation of about 3,900 patients after Chinese intervention in the war.

1975 To more fully integrate women into the Air Force, Air Training Command assigned eight female military training instructors to two male Basic Military Training Squadrons.

1989 Operation Just Cause began in Panama. Several hundred Air Force women were a part of this operation. Air Force women pilots flew cargo and refueling missions under fire. Women also performed in Intelligence, Signal Corps, Finance, and Special Ops. Women made up more than four per cent of the invasion force.

 

1993 Air National Guard Has First Black Female General: Brigadier General Irene Trawell-Harris.

 

1997 USAF Brigadier General Leslie Kenne was named to head the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. Kenne was both the first non-pilot and the first woman to head a major US aircraft program.

 

 

Address Corrections

New Members

 

Diana Flack

852 FM 3132

Klondike, TX 75448

 

Isabella T. Lynn

663 North Hall Rd.

Dahlonega, GA

30533-0615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth D. Haynes 

7418 Spring Village Dr.

Apt. CS 422

Springfield, VA

22150-4931

edhaynes@erols.com

703-569-4282

 

Rebecca (Hitchcock) Nelson  

14885 W Columbine Dr

Surprise, AZ 85379

 

 

Dottie G. Crouch, Col, Ret

Maiden Name:  Griffin

Husband’s Name:  Major General (Ret)  Thomas H. Crouch

Served 1945 - 1973

1500  John D. Ryan Blvd.  #2709 San Antonio, TX 78245

 

Colleen J. Shnaklin, LtCol, Ret

Maiden Name:  Wheeler

Husband’s Name:  Dr. Kenneth D. Shanklin, LtCol, Ret

Served:  1956-58 and 1966-1984

5100 John D. Ryan Dr.  #2211

San Antonio, TX 78245

677-2211

210-677-0323

 

 

 

 

 

Sheri Wolfson, LtCol, Ret

14022 Cougar Rock

San Antonio, TX 78230

210-699-0551

AFWOA Board

President:  Patricia Murphy

Executive Vice President:  Carol Habgood

Vice President, Recruiting:  Karen Rankin

Treasurer:  Patsy Hughes

Executive Secretary:  Wanda Seals

Newsletter Editor:  Ellen Staley

Webmaster: Linda Allen

 

Director:  Beverly LaFond

Director:  Gina M. McGuiness

Director:  Marianne Rogers

Director:  Clara "Chris" Johnson

Air Force Academy Liaison:  Bonnie O'Leary

The Military Coalition Representatives: 

Elizabeth Bustamante

Rosalyn Knapp

Anne Farrer

 

 

Wild Blue Yonder

 

Patricia A. Hayes   

 

Pat Hayes was truly a true blue person.   Sunny disposition and fun to be with.

She was my sponsor when I arrived in England to be Executive Officer to the Base Commander at High Wycombe.  As such it was soon apparent to me that she was a most considerate and caring person, unselfish, non-judgmental, and very principled.   She knew all the best places for a 'proper tea' and scones and we enjoyed local excursions together.   She was a great guide and introduced me to the beauty of England.     I was lucky to have her as a true friend.      From Marty Stanton

 

                                                                         Submitted by Carol Bessette

Wild Blue Yonder

Retired Lt. Col Kathy Gaudet passed away Friday 27 Oct 2006. Kathy enjoyed a 20 year career as a Personnel Officer with assignments all over the world. Since her retirement Kathy was involved in volunteer activities with numerous organizations in San Antonio. To name a few of these, she was involved in childrens soccer clinics, golf clinics, developing an outdoor classroom for use by the young naturalist club at Timberwild Elementary School. After becoming a Master Naturalist she taught classes, led hikes as well as helping in the development of new natural parks in the area.

In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehab (WRR), P.O. Box 369, Kendalia, TX 78027 or on line www.wildlife-rescue.org. http://obits.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?type=0&id=57891

Dorothy M. 'Dottie' Moses, a retired Air Force Major, died Thursday September 28, 2006 after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 77. Dottie enlisted in the Air Force in 1950. During her 5 years of enlisted service, she was a basic training Master Instructor at Lackland AFB. She graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1956 and became a Personnel Officer. During her 20 year career, she served in Germany and Alaska and at Eglin AFB, Fla., Chanute AFB, Ill., McChord AFB, Wash., and Amarillo AFB, Tex, which she called 'Fort Courage.' She was also the selection officer for women entering the Air Force. Following her retirement, she moved to San Antonio. Dottie was devoted to her cats and supported the Humane Society. She was a member of the Air Force Women Officers Association.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Wildlife Animal Sanctuary in Boerne, TX, or any no kill animal shelter.

http://obits.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?type=0&id=57150

 

Rose Panowski died earlier this year. President Pat Murphy asks our members to send in any info/memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership Form

To join AFWOA, complete all applicable sections below and mail with check for $10 dues to:  

AFWOA, PO Box 780155, San Antonio, TX 78278-0155

 

Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial

 

Maiden Name (if applicable)

 

Rank/Status (Active Duty, Retired, Guard, Reserve or Separated)       

 

Dates of Service     

 

Address  

 

City, State, Zip Code (nine digit, please)   

 

Telephone Number and E-mail Address       

 

Husband's Name (if applicable)