United We Roll at Stardust Radio

I was one of the lucky daughters. My Dad came home. But too many of my friends' Dads did not make their final trip home to family. Many of my school mates who signed up to serve immediately after high school graduation did not make it to their 19th or 20th birthdays. Each time I read about Heroes of Freedom finally coming home after so many years of being lost to combat, my heart feels heavy. Heavy with feelings for the family who has waited so many years. Heavy because we are not seeing the acknowledgements in our press and on our TV's that Heroes have returned home after giving the ultimate sacrifice for their families, your families and mine.
To Col William Mason and his 8 crew members who were buried in Arlington on June 10th, we offer a long overdue, Welcome Home! Only 1,719 more missing Heroes are left to bring home from the Viet Nam "conflict" (I thought it was a war). Thank You - You will NOT be forgotten!

Release No. 06-05-10
June 11, 2010

Airmen missing from Vietnam War identified

WASHINGTON (AFRNS) -- The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced June 8 that the remains of nine U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been accounted-for and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Air Force Col. William H. Mason, Camden, Ark.; Lt. Col. Jerry L. Chambers, Muskogee, Okla.; Maj. William T. McPhail, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Maj. Thomas B. Mitchell, Littleton, Colo.; Chief Master Sgt. John Q. Adam, Bethel, Kan.; Chief Master Sgt. Calvin C. Glover, Steubenville, Ohio; Chief Master Sgt. Thomas E. Knebel, Midway, Ark.; Chief Master Sgt. Melvin D. Rash, Yorktown, Va.; and Master Sgt. Gary Pate, Brooks, Ga., were buried as a group June 10 in Arlington National Cemetery. The individually identified remains of each airman were previously returned to their families for burial.

On May 22, 1968, these men were aboard a C-130A Hercules on an evening flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. Fifteen minutes after the aircraft made a radio call, the crew of another U.S. aircraft observed a large ground fire near the last known location of Colonel Mason's aircraft. Search and rescue attempts were not initiated because of heavy antiaircraft fire in the area.

Analysts from DPMO developed case leads with information spanning more than 40 years. Through interviews with eyewitnesses and research in the National Archives, several locations in Laos and South Vietnam were pinpointed as potential crash sites. Between 1989 and 2008, teams from Laos People's Democratic Republic and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, pursued leads, interviewed villagers, and conducted 10 field investigations and four excavations in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. They recovered aircraft wreckage, human remains, crew-related equipment and personal effects.

Scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA -- which matched that of the crewmembers' families -- as well as dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

Since late 1973, the remains of 927 Americans killed in the Vietnam War have been accounted-for and returned to their families. With the accounting of these airmen, 1,719 servicemembers still remain missing from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.

Looks like the next group of Technical Sergeants for the Air Force will be able to go online June 17th to see if they have made the promotion list. Another sign as to how technology has changed things. This reminds me more of checking a college test grade than receiving a promotion, but I know the hand shake and the formal change of insignia will still follow and allow the family & friends to beam with pride at their loved one's accomplishment. From the Stardust Family to all who will receive their promotion to TSGT, we say a heartfelt Congratulations and Thank You for your service!

Welcome to USAF Manpower, Personnel and Services News

Release No: 099
June 10, 2010

Air Force to release technical sergeant promotion list

Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Air Force officials selected 7,752 of 37,185 eligible staff sergeants for promotion to technical sergeant for a selection rate of 20.85 percent.

The average score for those selected was 317.63, with an average time in grade of 5.65 years and an average time in service of 10.69 years, respectively. The average score was based on the following point averages: 133.11 for enlisted performance reports, 5.32 for decorations, 71.24 for the promotion fitness examination and 56.56 for the specialty knowledge test.

The technical sergeant promotion list will be released publicly June 17 at 8 a.m. CDT on the Air Force Personnel Center's public website. Airmen also can access their score notices at the same time on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight and Air Force Portal.

Those selected for technical sergeant will be promoted according to their promotion sequence number beginning in August 2010.

As a reminder, selections are tentative until the data verification process is complete, which is no later than 10 days after the promotion release date. AFPC officials will notify Airmen through their military personnel sections if their selection is in question.

The promotion release using the Web is one of the many technological initiatives AFPC has taken to effectively deliver personnel services, allowing Airmen around the world 24-hour access.

For more information, visit the AFPC public website or contact the 24-hour Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102.

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Yup, this is one of those days when Live Radio takes charge and we are just along for the ride But, if the bull does not knock us off before the buzzer goes off, we will have our United We Roll show running with just a brief delay. We have some outstanding visits for you all, so stand by - here we goooooooo (hopefully)!

United We Roll World Tour Show
Stardust Radio www.stardustradio.com
Tuesday 6/08/10 2:00pm – 4:00pm Central (Live)
Wednesday 6/09/10 6:30pm – 8:30pm Central (Repeat)

Welcome Stardust Listeners and thank you for joining us on United We Roll this Tuesday, the 8th day of June, 2010 as we take time to honor those who serve our country and who protect our freedom!!

We have three great visits with 4 guests who are currently serving in Iraq and Kyrgzystan. The show will stay within our normal 2 hour period, ending at 4:00pm. Remember, if you are not able to stay with us through the show this afternoon, it will repeat again tomorrow evening, Wednesday, June 9th at 6:30pm Central. In addition, an MP3 copy will be placed on our show archive site for listening and downloading. You can reach our archive site at www.stardustradio.info or on the United We Roll page at www.stardustradio.com.

(2:07pm) During our first visit today, we will be talking with Army PFC Paul Montis who is currently deployed with the HHC 2-7 IN 3ID (2-7 Infantry of the 3rd Infantry Division). Having reached almost the halfway point in his 12 month deployment, PFC Montis just returned from his 2 week RnR (vacation) and faces the rest of his tour of duty as his unit will participate in the draw down process in Iraq. Trained to be in the driver seat of a Bradley, but working in radio transmissions because the Bradley had not arrived, PFC Montis had not received a day off since his arrival last December. This young Iowa native has a lot to share with us today, and we thank him for protecting our freedom.

(2:31pm) During our visits with members who are deployed to Transit Center Manas, we have learned about a variety of the jobs that are there in conjunction with the services for the members who travel through the base on their way into and out of Afghanistan. Today we are going to have a much closer look at this area as we visit with MSgt Jerry Molina and TSgt Juan DeJesus of the 376th ELRS/ETDC (Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Sqdn/Exp Theater Distribution Center). Both of these airmen work in an area that requires a strong but very caring heart, as they provide equipment to those men and women going into Afghanistan and receive the equipment back from those who are on their way home. This is a visit that clearly shows how our members in uniform look after each other.

(3:24) Our third and final visit for today is with Col James "Lindy" Linder, who is currently deployed as the commander of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group at Ali Base in Iraq. Col Linder is very involved in the draw down process, especially as it effects Ali Base, and he shares a wealth of information that will help us to understand more about the draw down, the changeover of bases to the Iraqi government and some of the steps that are being taken even as we speak. This is an incredibly informational visit and we do hope to visit with Col Linder again before he heads home, time permitting.

We would like to thank some folks without whom these visits would not be possible. Our deepest appreciation goes to SrA White, SSG Viss, MSgt Habisch, Mr Conning & CPT Schultheiss. We also want to wish a Happy Homecoming to SMSgt Alford and to Maj Conway, both of whom were instrumental in bringing us wonderful visits with many of our deployed Heroes of Freedom. We thank you for everything you did to help us, and for everything that you and your families do on behalf of our country and freedom.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we wish to thank all of you for joining us today and we hope that you will be with us again next week when we will have more great visits from our Heroes of Freedom.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all of our military members, families, Veterans and to all of our first responders & their families - everyone who puts their lives on hold and on the line for us and our families.

We would like to remind our Veterans, active duty members, family members and anyone who is interested in health and legislative issues that affect those who protect our freedom to tune in to our other broadcasts – OFFE with Gene Simes and Jere Berry at 8pm Central on Tuesday nights and also with Rick Townsend and Firebase Network Sundays at 6:00pm Central.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL & MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!