March 25, 2009

Maintaining a career after 30 years

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA. — Second in a seriesAfter two years of working as a civilian, Chief Master Sgt. Carolyn Forester, 2d Maintenance Group, quality assurance superintendent, knew she wanted more out of life. She arranged a meeting with an Air Force recruiter and five possible jobs were presented to her. All five options were in the maintenance field, not afraid to get

March 12, 2009

Barksdale recognizes female Airmen throughout Women’s History Month

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — First in a seriesBarksdale Airmen are a reflection of Women's History Month celebrated during the month of March. Although Women's History Month is recognized nation-wide, it takes on a different importance for the women who serve in the armed forces. President Harry S. Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act June 12, 1948. This

March 12, 2009

20th BS helps cancer patient become Pilot For a Day

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — Seventeen year old Sarahann Creech is now a pilot; at least for one day. Members of the 20th Bomb Squadron participated in the Pilot For a Day program Feb. 18 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The B-52 flightcrew, which was made up of seven Barksdale officers, flew an hour to meet with the military's newest pilot. Sarahann is a cancer

March 12, 2009

Today’s mission: Operation Hero

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — It all started with a phone call. More than 200 children and their parents were told to pack their bags and report to Hoban Hall. The mission: Operation Hero. Hosted by 2d Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center, Operation Hero is a program designed to give military children the opportunity to see first hand what their parents go

March 11, 2009

Airmen ambassadors: Barksdale EWO brings gifts to Afghan children

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — When Maj. Diana Delatorre, an electronic warfare officer working for the 2d Bomb Wing's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, left Barksdale for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008, her goal was to provide more than daily expertise on how to employ airborne electronic warfare assets in theater to the unit commander. A native of San Jose,

March 11, 2009

Governor, state recognizes Louisiana veterans

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — More than 250 veterans from all branches of the military were awarded the new Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in a ceremony held March 10 at Hoban Hall. The governor was present along with Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Lane Carlson, joined Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, 8th Air Force vice commander, Col. Robert

Feb. 26, 2009

Stratotanker, bomber train in teamwork

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — A KC-135 Stratotanker arrived from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., Feb. 8 to train with Barksdale's B-52 squadrons. The KC-135 Stratotanker has the capability to provide midflight refueling, transport personnel during evacuations, and carrying pallets of cargo. The KC-135, has a crew consisting of two pilots, one

Feb. 24, 2009

Barksdale gone fishing: Airmen participate in 2009 ESPN Bassmaster Classic

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — The 2009 ESPN Bassmaster Classic allowed several Barksdale Airmen to reel-in a piece of the action Feb. 20 - 22. Several bass enthusiasts and the Barksdale Hawgherders bass club participated in the classic, which brought 137,700 people to the Shreveport area for what is referred to as the Super Bowl of fishing. On the afternoon of Feb. 20, 20

Feb. 13, 2009

For the Love of country

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — In the early 1950s, at the age of 17, a young African-American male decided to join the United States Air Force. John Love, a Columbia, S.C., native, was use to racism growing up in the South, but nothing could prepare him for what he was about to experience. His first day at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Mr. Love arrived to a flight made up of

Feb. 5, 2009

HAP House provides hope

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — The Handicap are Producers House, more commonly known as HAP House, is a non-profit organization on Barksdale that provides mentally and physically disabled adults the opportunity to work and earn a paycheck. Barksdale is the only military installation that allows a program like this to operate on base. Ever since the HAP House opened on Barksdale