Enjoy pics from Christmas 2011 at the 438th. Thanks Sherri.
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Nice to see some of our Airmen enjoying themselves at the 438th. They've had a rough stretch. Thanks for the pics Sonya!
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Thanks to our Special Friends at Bryan Cave Law in New York City, the 438th was able to enjoy a special Halloween holiday. Decorations, candy and all sorts of costumes and goodies were sent to our Adoptees there. They've had a rough stretch and it's great to see them enjoying themselves. Thanks to Anne and the Angels for making the 438th's Halloween EXTRA SPECIAL!
Recently, a large American flag flown by the 438th AEW over Kabul Int'l Airport in AFG, was presented to Unilever to fly at its headquarters in Englewood Cliff, NJ. Accepting the flag, certificate and letter were Maurice Segar (L), head of Security; and Marketing VP, Michael Faherty (R). Alan Krutchkoff (Center), AaSP President, made the presentation. Unilever has been one of Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon's most outstanding benefactors and supporters of all of its programs.
We will NEVER FORGET the ultimate sacrifice made by Eight American Airmen and One American Contractor on 27 April 2011.
Scroll below to read the thank you's from the unit...
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438 Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW)
Afghanistan
Our Adoptee Contacts:
1Sgt Dan B
MSG Sonya C
Current Supporters: Wanaque, NJ, Police Dept.; Bryan Cave Law Firm; GS Troop 20613 of Nutley, NJ; Boy Scout Troop 132 of Wanaque, NJ; Bergenfield (NJ) High School; US Tennis Assoc.
These days Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon is supplying 1SG Dan B. with school supplies, clothing and toys and recreational gear to the 438th AEW for the children of the Afghan Air Force. The 438th is training the AAF for the future and our donations go a long way to building relationships with their Afghan partners and local populace. Thanks to everyone who is supporting 1SG B.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Tragedy struck the 438th on 27 April, 2011, when an Afghan pilot turned
on his trainers and killed eight American Airmen and one American
contractor. We are treating this unit as a Special Case and providing as
much love and attention we can. If you would like to help let us know.
We received a number of touching thank you's for paying for the KIA Bracelets that were delivered to the unit. Here are some of them:
9 June 2011
I'd like to take a moment to thank you for your generous contribution. I was not here for the tragic events of 27 April 11, but I have been witness to this organization as it struggles to find the strength to pick itself up, and continue its important mission. Your thoughtful act resulted in giving my fellow Airmen a memento with which to carry the memories of their fallen brothers and sister. The impact of this gesture is difficult to capture in words, but you should rest assured that it has been a critical step in the healing process for this team. It is efforts like yours that make me so very proud to be an American. God Bless you, and God Bless America. Respectfully, Lt Col Chris S, Director of Staff, 438 AEW/NATC-A - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I wanted to personally thank you for the time, effort, and money you put into the development of these bracelets. Mine will remain with me and I will now be able to proudly tell the story, of these airmen, when people ask about why I wear it! V/r Brian R. M., Maj (OF-3) USAF / NATC-A/438 AEW Strategist - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Greetings from Kabul, I just wanted to take a few moments to say "Thank You" for making the NATC-A Nine memorial bracelets possible. It is truly an honor to wear the bracelet on a daily basis in order to recognize the sacrifices made by our fellow friends in the line of duty. Again, Thank You! Respectfully, Kevin J. S. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
My sincerest thanks for your generosity purchasing the bracelets. I worked very closely with the 9 individuals and we were on the phone with their office (conducting command and control) and heard shooting through the phone receiver. I will remember April 27 for the rest of my life as a reminder of the many sacrifices that have been made. You are a big part of that. Lt Col Mike J. USAF pilot C141/B2/T38/T6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
Wanted to pass on a sincere thank you for sponsoring our NATC-A Nine Bracelets. Maj Ambard was my boss, MSgt Brown was my colleague, and Maj Brodeur was my workout partner. They will forever be remembered and your bracelet will be a solemn reminder. May God Bless and Keep You and your family. With sincere appreciation, Gabe / GABRIEL I. B., MSgt, USAF Afghan Communication Squadron Mentor / NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan / 439 AEAS/COMM Flight - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I would just like to say a HUGE thank you for funding the production of our “NATC-A Nine” bracelets. They are superb and will be a treasured memory from my time in Afghanistan. I am a British Royal Air Force Officer serving alongside my US colleagues within NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan - I personally knew a majority of those Killed in Action on that tragic day on 27 Apr 2011. Your generosity has made it possible for all of us who were here to forever remember those 9 brave souls who lost their lives on that day – the NATC-A Nine who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Fight for Freedom. Lest we Forget… Thank you so much. All the very best. Adrian H., Gp Capt (OF-5) UK RAF Deputy Commander / NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan
10 June 2011
On behalf of the men and women of the 440th Air Expeditionary
Advisory Squadron, we thank you for your support and contributions as we
continue to recover from the loss of our nine fallen comrades. These
friends weren’t just faces and names in a newspaper, they were sons, a
daughter, husbands, a wife, brothers and a sister. The represented our
nation’s best and we pray that their loved ones and friends they left
behind will find comfort in dealing with these difficult times. It
is hard to put into words the feelings and emotions that come with
getting back work and continuing on with our mission. As military
advisors, all members of our unit fully interact with our Afghan
counterparts and share in the struggles of building an Air Force from
the ground up. However, the events of April 27th make us more keenly
aware of the sacrifices that are endured as we support the Afghan people
get on their feet and defend themselves from insurgency. After an
event like this it would be easy to circle the wagons, pull everyone
back and break the bonds we, and others before us, have worked so hard
to forge. Allowing this to happen would play into the enemy’s hands.
We cannot and will not allow them to gain the advantage in this fight.
It is humbling to know we have support back home from Americans who we
have never met, but nonetheless share in the common value of protecting
and promoting freedom. Please pass on our appreciation to the others
who have not received this. We understand you, your families and your
communities have other things that need to be tended to, matters that
need to be addressed and time to devote to others. We are thankful you
have thought of us. It is an honor to be serving you and the United
States of America. Again, thank you for your support, contributions and time. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. V/r, ERIK L. H., SMSgt, USAF / 440 AEAS Squadron Superintendent - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I
just wanted to send a huge THANK YOU for making it possible for so many
of us left behind to maintain a piece of each one of our NATC-A 9 that
were KIA on 27 Apr. They will never be forgotten. So many individuals
that are here are wearing the bracelets as a constant reminder to never
forget their sacrifice and a way to hold on to their memory. Without
your generosity, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for
helping us get through this difficult period by reaching out to our
organization. Your generosity will not be forgotten. Thank you. Respectfully, Kim / Capt Kim T. NATC-A, 438 AEW/J1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Thank you very much for what you did for us, this is something I'll have for the rest of my life, Thank you. V/R Kasey B., PFC, USA / 438th Air Expeditionary Wing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thank you for the NATC-A Nine bracelets. A treasured item for the rest of my life and it will always remain on my wrist. V/R Brandon C., COL, USAF, MC, SFS 438 AEW/NATC-A Afghan Air Surgeon Advisor
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I just wanted to send out my thanks for organizing and donating the "NATC-A NINE" bracelets. We just recently received them and they look great. I appreciate all the support you and anyone else gave to make this happen. Gestures like this are why I love the military and our country. Again thank you very much. TSgt Adam B., C-27 Air Advisor/KSPAN2 BUilding Custodian 440th AEAS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The 438 AEW recently received free KIA bracelets commemorating the 9
individuals we lost on 27 April 2011. Thank you for your generosity,
time, and effort to provide these. We are a relatively small
organization and most of us can say we knew most, if not all, of the
fallen heroes personally. What you provided means a lot. I will
tell you that personally it took some time to get to the point where I
could put the bracelet on. When I finally did I felt like I’d taken
another step in the healing process, and your kindness helped enable
that. I’ve heard of similar instances from others I’ve talked to. Thank you once again for making a difference. Sincerely, Pat PATRICK W. D., Lt Col, USAF AAF OSS/CC Advisor 438 AEAG, Ops Team Lead - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Our adoptee has been nominated by the USAF for the prestigious Spirit of Bob Hope Award (click on image to read more).
Former Mission -- School supplies for Afghan children
Our first adoptee at the 438th had a special mission, which involved getting school supplies for Afghan children visiting his base as well as the ongoing process of taking care of Afghan school children throughout its deployment. Two schools (1000 and 700 students, respectively) were developed locally and our job (AaSP) was to get them as many school supplies as we could for the open house and beyond. We were very successful and we were a good part of their success.
The mission of the 438th AEW includes not only training Afghan National Army Air Corps personnel to be self-sufficient, but it also includes community outreach to the families and children of the nearby villages. Here USAF helicopters are unloaded by villagers bringing school supplies, clothing and other necessary items for a new future for the people there.
A small fraction of supplies arrive at Bagram AB for the Afghan children, that will be distributed by our adoptee MSG Bubba B. and his team through the local elders.
This mission is also part of our Operation Children Care since our aim is to help our warriors with Counter Insurgency in AFG by getting local Afghan schools operating safely and providing clothing and food and personal care items to the local children in both AFG and IRQ.
The support of 438 has been ongoing from our Special Friends. As recently as the Holiday Season of 2010, packages have been sent to these brave men and women.
As early as March 2010, we packed up cartons of
supplies, toys and snacks for the children courtesy of Wanaque, NJ,
Police, Boy Scout Troop 132 and the Midvale
Methodist Church of Wanaque. Additionally, our Special Friends from Bryan Cave law firm also
dropped off several cartons of supplies. We sent scores of other gear and supplies, including routers and sanders, from which the team built furniture.
For more information on MSgt B, read the information on his nomination for the Spirit of Bob Hope Award.
Supplies needed for the Afghan school children:
Nazo Ana High School, located in Macroyan Kona (1000 students) and Omid High School, located in Wazir Akbar Khan (700 students), require the following:
Notebooks
Pencils
Erasers
Ball point
pens
Paper
Compasses
Rulers
Pencil
Sharpeners
Crayons
Book bags
Please help us help them. Contact us on how to ship to the schools through the 438th AEW. Thanks.
On Friday, March 25, 2010, officers from the Wanaque, NJ, Police Dept. brough a police van loaded with 28 cartons of school supplies, toys, soccer balls, kites and snacks for the children being supported by the 438 AEW. Pictured here (L to R): Tad, Matt, Alan K and Ken. Great job guys!
History of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing
The lineage if the 438th
Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) dates back to June 1943 when the 438th Troop
Carrier Group was first established. The group led the D-Day invasion,
delivering 1,430 men of the US 101st Airborne Division's 502d
Parachute Infantry Regiment into Normandy and earning a Distinguished Unit
Citation. The group went on to support General Patton's push across France,
deliver much needed supplies to the encircled 101st Airborne Battling Bastards of Bastogne, and
brought home American troops held as prisoners of war.
Over the course of the
next 60 years, the wing supported combat operations from Vietnam to Iraq and
delivered humanitarian supplies around the world before its current activation as the 438
AEW in November 2008. Today, the Wing, headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan, has
three Air Advisory Groups -- stationed at the Kabul International Airport,
Kandahar Air Base, and Shindand Air Base, as well as numerous detachments
across Afghanistan. The Wing motto clearly depicts its mission, "Building Air Power for Afghanistan."
(c) 2013 Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Inc. All rights reserved.
