News Articles
Staff Sgt. Michelle Fedrick wasn't sure what to think when her best friend sent her a text message congratulating her on winning an Air Force award. "I didn't even believe it was real," Fedrick said with a laugh. She saw a post on Facebook confirming the news, but she still wasn't sold.
Focus
A majority of those working and living on McChord Field don't know exactly what the Retire Activities Office's mission is. Dayle Pieper, the RAO's Volunteer of the Year, wants desperately to help change that. After retiring as a major from the Air Force two years ago, Pieper moved back to her native
Focus
Tommy Wojtala wasn't about to let a deployment to Afghanistan stop him from giving his fans what they want. The I Corps Soldier and driving force behind "T Wo Trick Shots" recently released another Web video of him and his fellow Soldiers making trick basketball shots on their base in Afghanistan. "We
Focus
The drive is going to be bumpy, loud and slow moving. But Olympia resident Bill Gifford could care less; there's no other place he'd rather be than in the driver's seat of his 1944 GMC CCKW 2 1/2 ton vintage Army cargo truck. "The ride is not plush by any means," Gifford
Focus
When a Washington National Guard Soldier or Airman can't pay for an emergency car repair or an unexpected medical or childcare expense, the National Guard Association of Washington's Minuteman Emergency Fund is there to provide some much needed support. "We can usually turn these situations around in a few hours," said
Operation Family Support
McChord Field spouse Teresa Meyers is the type of person who loves organization and hates chaos. But for a couple of weeks prior to Easter last year, she had to stand aside and let her house be taken over by Easter baskets. They filled the living room and some even lined
Focus
Surrounded by their sister and a few cousins, brothers Jeremiah and Caleb Pancake readied themselves for the big blast. In unison, the children shouted, "Fire in the hole!" three times before a large explosion rocked the far end of the flightline on McChord Field. Grins flashed across the excited faces of
Veterans
With so many volunteering commitments on his plate, one might think John Thurber would get burned out. Between grading papers in a fourth-grade classroom at Thompson Elementary in the Bethel School District, being active with the Lion's Club and giving his time to Multicare's Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Thurber is
Focus
If Airmen in the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron ever have questions about how their job in the Air Force translates into the civilian sector, Col. Bob Farkas, the unit's commander, doesn't have far to turn to show them a prime example. Farkas simply picks up the phone and calls Tom Embleton,
Focus
Most little girls are enamored with tutus, fairy costumes, sparkly dresses and fair tale lore. Throw in skilled ballet dancing and some inspiring classical music and you have the recipe for an afternoon of fun for aspiring princesses. The Pacific Northwest Ballet School's performance of "Snow White" at McCaw Hall in Seattle
Kids
When she's on the range lining up her rifle with the target, Washington High School Air Force JROTC cadet Francesca Pratt doesn't think about her competition and what she's up against. It's simply between her and the tiny target. But that's not to say the senior isn't excited to be excelling in
Focus
After officially taking command of the Western Air Defense Sector during a ceremony last March, Col. Peter Stavros turned to the youth sports coach side of his personality to explain his leadership style. "There are three basic rules I tell my players when I'm coaching little league," Stavros said during the
Focus
Airmen, Soldiers and their families living in base housing on McChord Field can now have piece of mind that when there is an emergency, base firefighters and paramedics are going to get to the scene a lot faster. Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fire Department officials, leadership from both installations and firefighters from
Focus
Central Washington University's Army ROTC unit put on a solid performance March 3 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in a competition testing cadets in nine different events. The victory over a cadet team from Gonzaga earned CWU a spot in the ROTC "Super Bowl," next month's prestigious Sandhurst Competition at the United
Focus
If there's an event in the Puget Sound featuring historic military vehicle displays, the chances are good Peter Lahmann is there. Lahmann, a Centralia resident, bought his first military jeep in 1974 and was hooked. His collection is now at seven military vehicles, five of which are in running condition. His
Focus
Aspiring female aviators can get the chance to meet several exceptional women in the aerospace field as part of a two-day event this week at the Museum of Flight. "Women Fly!" is an annual event that gives young women the rare opportunity to meet women in aerospace professions. The two-day program,
Focus
A South Sound resident himself, Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Mack knows how diverse the area is when it comes to supporting Servicemembers in the different military branches. He believes a significant portion of people who show their support for military members don't know specifically about Reservists in the 446th Airlift Wing
Focus
After Airmen in the 10th Airlift Squadron left Feb. 24 for a 75-day deployment to the Middle East, the base welcomed home Airmen from the 7th AS on Wednesday. More than 120 Airmen from the 7th AS returned after a 60-day deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey
Military Life
Spc. John Alcock Jr. is known throughout his shop in the 542nd Maintenance Company on Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a mechanic who can get things done. "I can fix pretty much anything they put in front of me," said the North Bend, Ore., native. The Soldier's got the same reputation at home. "I'm
Military Life
Crystal Brown's body just keeps putting roadblocks in her way. But the Joint Base Lewis-McChord spouse keeps driving right through them. When she was in high school, doctors found a lump on her right breast. Fortunately, it was a cyst and she had it removed. In 1999, another lump appeared on the same
