Thursday, October 24, 2013

Combat Controller SSgt Johnnie Yellock II Retirement Jump




HURLBURT FIELD — Staff Sgt. Johnnie Yellock II stood on the edge of the platform of a C-130 some 9,000 feet above Santa Rosa Sound, perched to leap into the air.
He couldn’t help but think of the last time he had been aboard a C-130: more than two years ago on his way to a deployment in Afghanistan as combat controller. Not long after, his ankles and feet were shattered when his vehicle rolled over an improvised bomb.


Link to article:

SSgt Yellock retirement jump

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Artist's brush memorializes fallen Combat Controller

Here is the article on the portrait unveiling for SrA Servais --

 Susan Servais gently pressed her forehead against the portrait of her son. His green eyes smiled out at her and the audience of about 200 that gathered to pay respects to a hero and see his portrait unveiled Oct. 19.

The man with the green eyes and kind smile is Senior Airman Adam Servais, an Air Force Special Operations Command combat controller who was killed in action in Afghanistan Aug. 19, 2006.


Link to article:
What a touching tribute!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

In Memory of Carol Lee Pijanowski Sink April 9, 1942 - October 6, 2013

Obituary

Carol Lee Pijanowski Sink, 71, passed away Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013.
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Shannon Rufe Snow Funeral Chapel. Inurnment: at a future date in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Carol was born April 9, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Joseph and Frances Pijanowski. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She was preceded by her parents and one son, Teddy Krsul.
Survivors: Husband, Bill Sink; children, Joseph Krsul and wife, Becky, Linda Wootton and husband, Louis, William and wife, Linda Sink, Kimberly Haywood and husband, Phillip, and Glenn and wife, Beth Sink; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Sue Mance.

CCT Historical Briefs & Hall of Fame Panel

CCT Historical Briefs:  With 2013 being a significant historical year (60th Anniversary) in the history of combat control teams (CCT), the CCA added historical event briefs to the reunion agenda.  This is also the inaugural year of inducting members into the CCT Hall of Fame (HoF).  Therefore, we’ve asked the inductees to sit on a panel and answer your questions and tell their stories.
The briefings begin at 1330 on Friday (18 Oct), in the Sandestin Hilton, Emerald E Room.  The first briefer is SMSgt (Ret.) Jim Donaldson who will brief Operation Eagle Pull.  Operation Eagle Pull was the U.S. evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 12 April 1975.  At the beginning of April 1975, Phnom Penh, the last remaining stronghold of the Khmer Republic, was surrounded by the Khmer Rouge and totally dependent on aerial resupply through Pochentong Airport.  With a Khmer Rouge victory imminent, the United States made contingency plans for the evacuation of US nationals and “at-risk” Cambodians by helicopter to ships in the Gulf of Thailand.  Operation Eagle Pull took place on the morning of 12 April 1975 and was a tactical success carried out without any loss of life. Five days later the Khmer Republic collapsed and the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh.  Jim is the only living member of the 4-man CCT who participated in Eagle Pull.
Directly following Jim’s briefing, MSgt (Ret.) “JD” Burch will brief Operation Frequent Wind.  Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, prior to the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese Army.  Operation Frequent Wind was carried out 29–30 April 1975 during the last days of the Vietnam War.  More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon.  “JD” is, one-of-two, still living from the 4-man CCT who participated in Frequent Wind.  All four were awarded the Silver Star Medal for their heroic actions.  (Note:  A third historical briefing was cancelled due to time constraints.)
CCT Hall of Fame Panel:  The CCT HoF Panel discussion will start directly after the historical briefs at approximately 1430.  The Panel will consist of Col (Ret.) John “Coach” Carney, retired CMSgts Jim Howell, Mike Lampe and Wayne Norrad.  Unfortunately, CMSgt (Ret.) Alcide “Bull” Benini will not arrive in time to sit on the Panel, but he’ll be available later Friday afternoon and throughout Saturday to discuss his memoirs.  “Bull” was the first NCOIC of the first CCT established in 1953.  Previous to joining the Air Force, he enlisted in the Army and served in World War II.  He has an outstanding 30-year military career and storied background including the survival of the Bataan Death March and POW captivity.  He went on to attain the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and served in various leadership positions until his retirement in 1970. 
You’ll have to attend the HoF Panel session to find out more about the other inductees.  So, please join us, ask questions and listen to the history of these CCT combat veterans who spent most of their career building the CCT and Special Tactics enterprise into what it is today.  Some were “First There.”  Please honor them by your presence.

Reunion Update

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE BANQUET!!!!!!!!!!!!
Currently 325 people signed up for the Banquet. This is the one event that we will have stop taking signups this week. So if you think you are going to attend please sign up now. We will honor or first ever Hall of Fame inductees, award the Mark Forester Scholarship, auction off a Sig Sauer 9mm, 60th Anniversary Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrel and much more!!

There will NOT be at the door sign up. The hotel has to order and prepare the food. SIGN UP NOW FOR THE BANQUET!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

ST Spouse Club Golf Tournament

Retirement Ceremony for SMSgt Westley Brooks

The  Commander of the 123d Special Tactics Squadron requests the pleasure of your company

at a Retirement Ceremony

in honor of

Senior Master Sergeant  Westley  Brooks

on Friday, the twenty-fifth of October

at two o'clock

123d Airlift Wing
Standiford Field
Louisville, Kentucky

The Air Crew Briefing Room

Reception immediately following in the Heritage Room

R.s.v.p. by 18 October 2013
POC: CMSgt Tom DeSchane
502-413-4773
Alt POC: MSgt Bryan Hunt
502-413-4018
Military: Uniform of the Day
Civilian: Business Casual
123rd STS Members Service Dress

Monday, October 7, 2013

Combat Control 60th Anniversary Memory Book

SSgt Johnnie Yellock Retirement

Lt Col  Mason R.  Dula
Commander,  23 Special Tactics Squadron

Requests the pleasure of your company
for a ceremony honoring

SSgt  Johnnie O. Yellock II
Combat Controller,  23 Special Tactics Squadron

on the occasion of his retirement
from the United States Air Force

Friday, the  Eighteenth  of October
Two Thousand and Thirteen
1600 Hours

Presiding Officer Lt Col Chris Larkin (ret)
Hilton  Resort, Emerald East Ballroom
Sandestin, Florida



R.s.v.p. by 11 October 2013
Military: Florida Casual
Civilian: Florida Casual

Memorial Pictures of our Combat Fallen

I would like to poll the CCT community for digital pictures of our fallen comrades for the CCA Memorial.  Optimal picture quality would be 8 mega pixels or better to be able to print an 8.5 x 11 picture, but I will be greatly appreciative of any picture offered.  My biggest shortfall area is our brothers from the Vietnam era. 
MSgt Bud Lubben
SUPT, Weapons and Tactics
720th Special Tactics Group
COMM:(850)884-3715
richard.lubben@hurlburt.af.mil 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Dick Brawley's Barrancas Cemetery Ceremony

From Dee Brawley; 

Tom and I are going to the CCT 60th in Florida, but we are also bringing Dick Brawley to Barrancas Cemetery for his full Military Honors Ceremony. We have made arrangements for Tuesday, 22 October 2013, after the reunion. The time of his service will be at 1400 hours. Some of Dick's family will be in attendance with us, but we wanted to let anyone in the area to know that they are invited and welcomed to join us. It was Dick's (" Rick to his family", although we all know there is only ONE Rick in CCT, and that is the Chief, Rick Crutchfield!)) final wish to be taken back to his hometown of Pensacola and Barrancas where his Dad(USMC, Ret) and mother, grandfather and grandfather are all buried. It has been a long time coming since his death in 04/2008 but finally we will accomplish it. I would be proud to see any of his "compadres" there, but I know with the reunion and the Commando reunion the week before CCT's, it is a busy month. I would be amiss if I did not share this information and invite any CCT "family" to join us. Love to all and may God continue to bless us....everyone. 

Best wishes from me, Dee Brawley and my most significant other, Tom Watson..........................