[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 97 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S8552]]
 CONGRATULATING THE 22D AIR REFUELING WING, McCONNELL AFB, WICHITA, KS

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Men and 
Women of the 22d Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in 
Wichita, Kansas. The crew at the 22d won recognition as the top KC-135 
maintenance team in the world at a recent competition known as the Air 
Mobility Rodeo. This is an event sponsored by the Air Mobility Command. 
It is an accomplishment that requires skill, training, leadership, 
teamwork, pride, professionalism and unselfish dedication to the task 
at hand. I take this opportunity to publicly acknowledge their great 
success and professionalism.
  The Air Mobility Rodeo is a binannual, multinational event that is 
designed to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance 
air mobility operations--something that is very crucial in today's 
world. In this year's competition at McCord Air Force Base, the 
participants included more than 2,500 competitors formed in 80 teams 
from over 300 active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve command, Air 
National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and other Allied Nations. 
Winning this award is an important event worthy of real recognition. 
What also makes this such an important win is that for the 22d, it is a 
repeat win for this team. They walked away with the prize in the 1996 
competition as well. And this leads me to say there is no question that 
the KC-135 aircraft at McConnell are the best maintained in the world.
  Let me acknowledge the leadership at Team McConnell because without 
their leadership and guidance, the atmosphere at McConnell would never 
support the effort required to win this competition. The two key 
players are the Wing Commander, Col. Michael C. Gould, and the Senior 
Enlisted Advisor, Chief Master Sergeant Herbert V. Williams, Jr. Anyone 
who has been around the military understands how much the senior 
leadership of an organization sets the tone for the entire command.
  There is one other member of the team whose contribution I want to 
recognize. That member is Lead Crew Chief, Sergeant Jeffery Gass. He 
was singled out for special recognition and was selected as Air 
Mobility Command's Crew Chief of the year.
  It is men and women such as Sgt. Gass who make our military the most 
successful in the world. They are the unsung heroes--quietly working in 
the background, exceptionally professional, dedicated to their service 
and their nation, and serving the communities where they are stationed. 
The award nomination for Sgt. Gass is testimony to his unselfish 
dedication, his professional knowledge, and his service to his country 
and the local community.
  I am particularly proud to recognize this team from McConnell Air 
Force Base and Sgt. Gass not only because they contribute so much to 
the defense of our nation but because they contribute so much to 
Wichita and Kansas. Well done to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and well 
done to Sgt. Gass.

                          ____________________