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July 7, 2021
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Wabash officials push for KC-46As at Grissom
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Bicycle group pedals through Miami County By Michelle Boswell mboswell@thepaperofmiami.com
make Grissom ARB the best choice for basing the new tanker.” It continued, “Our region is proud to serve as home to Grissom ARB and the servicemembers who lend the base its prestige. The talented members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom have acquired several accolades in recognition of their diligence and success, such as the Air Force eReserve Command Maintenance Effectiveness Award and six Air Force Outstanding Unit awards. Central to the success of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nations, the 434th ARW has engaged in U.S. military efforts, including Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.” While the base’s merits are part of the decision making process, the letter notes, “a high quality of life for active duty servicemembers and their families” also is important. “Therefore, we have taken inventory of the many opportunities and advantages that our region has to offer,” the letter says. “From housing, childcare, utility infrastructure, economic development and education, our community is well suited to embrace
A group of bicyclists recently pedaled through Miami County via the Nickle Plate Trail going from Washington D.C. to Washington State. The men are using the route, “The Great American Rail-Trail.” Jay Waters, aka “Muddy,” along with other riders are a part of an organization called Warrior Expeditions. Their message is: “In 1948, Earl Shaffer told a friend he was going to “walk off the war” to work out the sights, sounds, and losses of World War II. Four months later, Earl Shaffer became the first person to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Following Earl Shaffer’s footsteps and in recognizing the therapeutic effects of long-distance outdoor expeditions, Warrior Expeditions created the Warrior Hike, Warrior Bike, and Warrior Paddle programs which are designed to help combat veterans’ transition from their military service.” Waters lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and is a retired 30-year Army veteran. How he became involved in the organization was because of his desire to be involved in long-distance biking. “I personally wanted to walk the Appalachian trail and found this organization through research. I applied for the program and was accepted. I hiked the Arizona trail with these guys two years ago. Waters said he does not have a lot of biking experience and the trail is 3,800 miles. He prepared for the journey by getting out and “banging out the miles everyday” to ready himself mentally and physically, While on the trail, the group camps quite a bit but also has an opportunity to meet people, stay in their homes and sometimes stay in hotels. “We met some great people in Peru and at their VFW. With permission from the city, we were
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A KC-46A Pegasus refuels an F-15E. U.S. Air Force photo By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com The Wabash City Council, on June 28, endorsed a letter to Acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth asking him to consider Grissom Air Reserve Base as the home for the new KC-46A Main Operating Base. In May, the Department of the Air Force named Grissom and five other bases as potential locations for the KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. Mayor Scott Long said he attended a recent meeting at Grissom on the subject. “They’ve done a lot of work over the years on their fuel system at Grissom on how they deliver fuel to the aircraft in preparation to try to land a wing of these new tankers,” he said. During the meeting, he was asked to prepare a letter of support from the City of Wabash, the City Council and himself. “If Grissom is chosen, it will be 2025, second quarter, I believe, before any aircraft is stationed at this base,” Long continued. “As leaders in the region,” the letter reads in part, we feel that Grissom’s unique defense assets alongside the region’s robust quality of life offerings
Vol. 2, No. 20
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