Mort Freedman Info

This is a tough email to write.

Mort is currently in Mindanao.  I regret to inform you that shortly after our visit about a week ago he was diagnosed with a meningiomain his brain.  Nita has contacted three local neurologists in CDO and all three have refused to perform the surgery to remove this growth due to his age and risk factors.

So at this time Mort is pretty much confined to the bed and most of the time he has no awareness of where he is or who is around him.

The VA in Manila has really been of no assistance.  This coming week we will be recontacting doctors in Cagayan De Oro trying to get someone to agree to do the surgery which we all feel is his last chance for any meaningful life.

We do have a Magic Jack connected in his home, but at this time it is very unlikely that Mort would know who he was talking to, so I suggest holding phone calls until such a time as we can get someone to perform the surgery and get him back home.

Nita is currently with me in Angeles and with the help of Don Hammond we are getting his affairs in order and preparing for his return after a successful surgery.

Morty has not been capable of using email for over a year so please do not send him emails to him at this time as we are cleaning out his inbox so it can be used for important correspondence (VA, IRS, etc).

JC

Reunions of Sewart Discontinued

It is with regret that a decision has been made to discontinue the Biennial Sewart AFB Reunion. Attendance has declined from over 500 to just over 100 at the 2011 reunion. Ages of 2011 attendees were late 70s, 80s and more than a few in their 90s.

For those who wish to attend reunions with other members SAFB Units we have included contact information for groups that are still meeting. Feel free to contact them directly:

Sam McGowan: sammcgowan@troopcarrier.org or www.troopcarrier.org

(281) 778-3206

317^th Veterans Group-Bill Lloyd: lloydwbill@aol.com   (703) 435-6598

Edward Buyniski: edwardbuyniski@gmail.com or www.39thassociation.org

(513) 241-2464

On behalf of the SAFB Reunion Committees, past and present, it has truly been a honor and pleasure to organize and attend the reunions. Feel free to visit our website, www.safbtn.org for information.

I received the above from the SAFB Reunion Committee on 02.22.13.

Chuck

SSgt Timothy P. Davis Memorial Push Ups

Don’t forget your Memorial Push Ups for SSgt Tim Davis. Tim was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Killed in action at Oruzgan, Afghanistan, 20 Feb 09 of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

MSgt (Ret.) Dimitrie (NMI) Milinovich;, has Passed

                I regret to inform you of the death of Dimitrie (NMI) Milinovich; MSgt, USAF Retired Combat Controller who lived at: 497 Madison Ct – San Jose, CA 95123-4333 (408) 629-2342. “Dee” was born on August 10, 1938, and deceased on February 7, 2013 at the age of 74. The cause of his untimely death was a stroke.

                He is survived by his loving wife Joan of 51 years, and devoted sons Dimitrie Milinovich, Jr. and Goyko Milinovich.

                Visitation is on February 15 starting at 7 PM at: Alameda Family Funeral Home; 12341 Saratoga – Sunnyvale Rd; Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 257-6262.

                The Funeral will take place on February 16, 2013 at 11:30 AM at: St Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church: 18870 Allendale Ave; Saratoga, CA 95070. This service shall be conducted by Father Slobodan Jovic.

                The burial will follow the Church service at: Serbian Cemetery at: 1801 Hillside Blvd; Colma CA 94014. A military Honor Guard has been requested. A Docha (reception) will follow at the Pavilion building on the premises.

                In lieu of flowers, Demitrie requested that donations be made to the building fund for the Church as listed above.

                “Dee” was stationed at many military bases during his outstanding service to our great nation: Andrews, Tinker, Donaldson, Colorado Springs, Elmendorf, Okinawa, Forbes, Dyess, Viet Nam until his retirement at Norton during 1979. These AFB,s are not necessarily in order of his assignments because memories do fade with time.

                He was a Life Member of the Combat Control Association, LM-618, and the Masons and America Legion.

                He served as a CCT Radio Maintenance with great distinction. I’d want “Dee” on my side in case of a war!

                May God rest you in Peace and Love.

                Chuck

Det-K The First 50 Years

Combat Control Association Hall of Fame Nomination Criteria

The Combat Control Association (CCA) Board of Directors (BoD) will administer the CCA Hall of Fame (HoF) with the following guidelines. The CCA President, with the approval of the BoD, appoints a CCA HoF Committee of a minimum of five and no more than seven members, of which no fewer than two members will be active duty. All HoF committee members will be Life Members of the CCA.

The CCA will publish requests for HoF nominations in the April CCA Newsletter and post on the CCA website. The CCA will accept nominations at any time, but no later than 31 July of the year to be considered. Nominations received after the deadline will be held for following year’s selection process. Nominations that fall short of the HoF Committees selection criteria will be returned to the nominator with an appropriate letter of explanation. The committee will review nominations and finalize their selections in sufficient time to present their recommendations to the CCA BoD at the August meeting. Once approved by the CCA BoD , the CCA President will then send a letter to the selectees as soon as possible to provide sufficient time for the selectees to plan their attendance at the annual reunion where the final presentation will be made. A courtesy copy of the selection letter will be sent to the person who submitted the nomination.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. All nominees must be eligible for membership in the CCA.

2. Nominees must have served no less than four (4) years as a combat controller.

3. No nominee shall be selected based upon a singular circumstance of bravery or heroics. Exception: This restriction does not apply to Medal of Honor awardees.

4. Nominees must have served honorably and met the demands of selfless service, excellence, and remarkable accomplishments throughout their military tenure.

5. The justification for the nominee shall clearly reflect significant contributions to the betterment of CCT/ST forces.

6. To be eligible for selection to the HoF, a person must have been separated from military service for at least three (3) years at the time of nomination.

NOMINATION PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Anyone may nominate any CCT/ST member who meets the criteria for selection to the HoF.

2. Self-initiated nominations will not be accepted.

3. Nomination packages will include:

a. Verifiable and detailed information describing military operational and training accomplishments and significant leadership/followership duty performance throughout CCT/ST assignments and deployments, to include a complete justification for selection. Each nomination package will include a cover letter (Maximum One Page), and a biography of career highlights describing achievements (Maximum Five Pages) including support material. Nomination package must be submitted in single space, Times New Roman 12, and with one inch margins. The CCA BoD will preview all packages to insure they have met timeliness and published criteria before being passed on to the committee for evaluation.

b. A copy of the of the nominee’s DD 214 or equivalent documentation to verify service, awards, decorations, POW status and or other significant military, government or fraternal achievements. It is incumbent on the nominator to verify the accuracy and credibility of the information to the HoF Committee.

c. A detailed and comprehensive citation of no more than 250 words for presentation at the induction ceremony.

d. Photo of the nominee if available.

e. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of two professional references.

f. Nominations packages must be signed by the originator and will include contact information for both the nominator and the nominee.

g. Nomination packages will be sent to the CCA HOF Committee, P.O. Box 432 , Mary Esther, FL 32566-0432 to arrive no later than 31 July of each year.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

1. The HoF Committee will process and validate the nomination packages and return to the originator those that do not meet both the eligibility criteria and the nomination procedures and requirements criteria. The Chairman of the HoF Committee will provide a letter of explanation to the originator.

2. The HoF Committee will only recommend those individuals who meet the basic criteria and have made significant individual and unique contributions to Air Force CCT/ST operations. In order to be considered for selection, an individual package must score higher than 40 points based on average scoring criteria from all board members.

3. The Hof Committee Chairman or his designated committee representative will present the list of recommended nominees to the CCA BoD for their approval.

4. The HoF Committee will not recommend more than five nominations for selection to the HoF in any given year.

INDUCTION Procedures

1. The CCA BoD will provide final approval authority of the selectees.

2. The selectees will be inducted into the HoF at the annual reunion, normally at the banquet.

3. A certificate and special plaque will be presented during the induction ceremony.

4. A special recognition citation will be mounted on the Hall of Fame Wall at the Combat Control School Heritage Hall.