Under the cloak of darkness, members of the 335th Fighter Squadron mounted an unprecedented defense of Israel after an unprecedented aerial attack was launched against the U.S. ally by Iran.
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CONTENTS
4 BOE posts 2025 filing window
Mount Olive, Pikeville, Seven Springs, Walnut Creek, and Eureka residents have three months to decide whether they want to throw their names into the hat for leadership posts.
6 Top three interview dates set
Goldsboro City Council members will, over the next 10 days, come face to face with the three people they plan to choose from to lead City Hall.
8 Our take
In our view, November's elections for Mount Olive and Pikeville leaders might be among the most consequential contests in recent memory, as both towns cope with a number of issues.
10 Cover story
A staggering 31 members of the 4th Fighter Wing were decorated by a four-star general inside a hangar on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base — and details of their role in defending Israel from an unprecedented aerial attack were finally disclosed.
14 The history of the 335th Chiefs
One of the most storied fighter squadrons in the Air Force added another chapter to its legend April 13, 2024.
16 Meet the medal recipients
A complete listing of the 31 members of the 4th Fighter who had decorations pinned to their Air Force blues.
20 Spectator
Hundreds of people converged on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base to witness history.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION AND COVER DESIGN BY
SHAN STUMPF
NEWS + VIEWS
Board of Elections posts 2025 filing dates
Residents of
Pikeville, Mount Olive,
Eureka, Seven Springs, and Walnut Creek will soon decide who will lead them into the future.
BY RENEE CAREY
Come November, residents of Mount Olive, Pikeville, Seven Springs, Eureka, and the Village of Walnut Creek will get the opportunity to elect new leaders — but those interested in serving those communities have only a few months to decide whether to throw their names into the hat.
The Wayne County Board of Elections has released filing information for the 2025 election cycle, and in three months, filing will begin.
Filing is scheduled to begin July 7 at 8 a.m. and would-be candidates have until July 18 at noon to submit their paperwork and pay the filing fee at the Board of Elections headquarters, located in downtown Goldsboro at 309 East Chestnut St.
And while historically, election years that do not coincide with national races see low engagement and turnout, some are expecting 2025 to be different, as turmoil in Pikeville and Mount Olive could very well, they say, result in record filings and vote totals.
PIKEVILLE
Town residents have been discussing the upcoming mayoral contest since last summer, when a conversation between Mayor Garrett Johnston and two people he thought were allies was secretly recorded and shared with town employees and Wayne Week.
And when the details of the hours-long chat were made public, Johnston’s comments started a firestorm.
The mayor, during that meeting, said he planned to change Pikeville’s form of government — a move that would both give him more power and fly in the face of recommendations from the Local Government Commission.
Then, he could get rid of the majority of the town’s employees, including Town Manager Tim Biggerstaff and Police Chief Rodney Jarman, in what he dubbed “Operation Clean Sweep.”
“Just know that there is something called, ‘Operation Clean Sweep,’ that is ready to go into effect,” Johnston said. “We can pick them off one at a time.”
He didn’t stop there.
He made fun of an employee he said was “dyslexic” and therefore could not be trusted to “read meters.”
He claimed another was recovering from can-
cer and was “basically just here for the benefits.”
And he lambasted Biggerstaff, whom he called everything from “dickless” and “spineless” to a “pushover” before inferring there was something inappropriate about the fact that he adopted a 13-year-old boy — all while acknowledging that by doing so, he was breaking the law.
“I’m breaking the law by sharing personnel issues,” Johnston, at one point, said.
The mayor’s personal attacks were also aimed at Jarman, whom he called a “manipulator” who, despite having worked in law enforcement since 2009, was not fit for the position.
“There’s not another agency in Wayne County that will hire him,” Johnston said. “That should say something to you.”
And he also made disparaging remarks about the law enforcement community as a whole.
“The law enforcement crowd, you’re gettin’ guys with daddy issues that need a badge to feel powerful. Knowing that we’re going to be dealing with those kinds of personalities,
we just need strong leadership over them to keep them in line,” Johnston said. “We know they’re coming with issues. … If we leave Jarman too long, he’s going to create a whole lot of trouble. So, he’s gotta go quick.”
Pikeville residents disagreed, showing their ire when more than 100 converged on the Pikeville-Pleasant Grove Fire Department July 8 — most, to demand Johnston’s resignation.
And while the mayor declined to step down, he was officially censured by the Town Board and lost his ability to execute “Operation Clean Sweep” when commissioners voted to reverse its decision to change forms of government.
MOUNT OLIVE
Those who do not show up early to Mount Olive Town Board meetings have virtually no chance of finding a seat, as town residents have become among the most politically engaged in Wayne County.
But the anger they have voiced over the fact that after more than a decade, the town remains under a water and sewer moratorium, is only part of the drama that has unfolded in recent months.
From claims that the board is divided along racial lines to a decision to fire Town Manager Jammie Royall during a meeting that was rescheduled at the last minute without Mayor Dr. Jerome Newton’s blessing, the headlines have been aplenty.
And as of today, Mount Olive remains under investigation by both the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor and the State Bureau of Investigation.
The first was announced in late 2023 and, while it remains unclear when it will conclude, the NCOSA seemingly telegraphed that they were probing, “allegations of improper conduct,” regarding the town and requested a series of documents, including:
• The town’s personnel policy.
• The town’s secondary employment policy.
• The town’s procurement policy.
• All open and closed board minutes from June 1, 2020, to the present.
• All of William Carroll Turner’s contract(s) of employment entered into between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023.
ON THE BALLOT
TOWN OF MOUNT OLIVE
• Mayor
• Commissioners (all five seats)
TOWN OF PIKEVILLE
• Mayor
• Commissioner (two full, four-year terms)
• Commissioner (two unexpired terms ending in 2027)
TOWN OF SEVEN SPRINGS
• Mayor
• Commissioner (two seats)
VILLAGE OF WALNUT CREEK
• Councilman (two seats)
TOWN OF EUREKA
• Mayor
• Commissioner (two seats)
BELFAST-PATETOWN SANITARY DISTRICT
• (all five member seats)
EASTERN WAYNE SANITARY DISTRICT
• (all five member seats)
FORK TOWNSHIP SANITARY DISTRICT
• (three member seats held by Braswell, Hartley, and Hope)
SOUTHERN WAYNE SANITARY DISTRICT
• (two member seats held by Walker and Williams)
SOUTHEASTERN WAYNE
SANITARY DISTRICT
• (all five member seats)
• All documents pertaining to the sidewalk construction performed on Church Street in 2022. The latter is more recent and involves alleged misconduct among Water Department employees.
Both have led to residents questioning those who currently represent them — and State Rep. John Bell has even weighed in, calling out members of the board for “mismanagement” of state funds.
“Their issues are a direct result of mismanagement. They have mismanaged millions of dollars,” Bell told Wayne Week in February. “It’s been going on for years.” n
The Town of Pikeville is one of several municipalities that will have a mayoral race on the ballot.
Dates set for Goldsboro manager interviews
Within the next few weeks, members of the Goldsboro City Council could very well make an offer to one of the three finalists for City Hall’s next leader.
BY RENEE CAREY
More than a year after they accepted their city manager’s resignation, members of the Goldsboro City Council will, in the coming days, come face to face with the three candidates the majority of the board decided to formally interview for the position.
Dates have been set for what have been described as “in-person” sessions to be held behind closed doors — April 10, April 14, and April 15 — and while it remains unclear who the two “out-of-state” finalists are, multiple sources have confirmed that Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston is the third.
The process began in February 2024 when Tim Salmon’s tenure as Goldsboro’s chief executive came to an end.
But despite the fact that Mayor Charles Gaylor told the community that he would “share updates about the search process and next steps in the coming weeks,” the process by which Salmon would ultimately be replaced did not begin until eight months later when Councilwoman Jamie Taylor, Councilwoman Hiawatha Jones, Councilwoman Brandi Matthews, and Councilman Roderick White green-lit a formal search.
he did not believe holding off was the prudent path.
“When we first made the swap off of Tim, I was very strong that it was time to go and do a search,” he said. “We had search firms — I had two of them, actually — that had given us some pricing information on what that would look like. I took it to council.”
When that did not happen, Livingston settled into the position — a fact that led Councilman Chris Boyette to challenge the notion of looking for other candidates when the issue came to the fore that fall.
Dates have been set for what have been described as 'in-person' sessions to be held behind closed doors.
“I think it’s a complete waste of tax funds and a complete waste of the city’s funds to initiate a search to find a manager that can be successful when we have a manager in that position that is successful,” he said during the council’s Nov. 4 meeting. “It’s just my opinion. I know I’m just one vote. But I think it’s ridiculous to spend taxpayer money to do a search for that position.”
Later that month, Councilwoman Beverly Weeks and Gaylor publicly agreed — and tried one last time to convince their fellow council members to forgo a search and instead, execute a contract with Livingston.
It did not happen until then, Taylor said, because several council members were reluctant to call for applicants out of fear that the search pool would be limited as a result of “a mess” inside City Hall that included a Finance Department that was still not caught up on its audits.
“Personally, I didn’t want to interview people saying, ‘Your first job is going to be cleaning up our mess,’” Taylor told Wayne Week late last year. “I mean, who would want to do that?”
And Gaylor confirmed that the majority of the council balked at the idea to launch a formal search immediately following what was characterized as a “mutual” decision for Salmon and the city to part ways — and that
The majority, however, decided to do the opposite, executing a contract with Developmental Associates, a North Carolina firm responsible for helping the city find and hire several of its current department heads with Gaylor’s stipulation that the fee “not exceed $26,000” in place.
And while the mayor voted the other way, he said he was confident the organization would deliver “exceptional candidates.”
Since that time, dozens of applications have come in and members of the council have held numerous closed-session discussions about the candidates.
But now, as only three remain, they seem poised to make a final decision in the near future. n
Congratulations to the BEST team in NORTH CAROLINA!
The Wayne County Clerk’s Office was one of only six offices in the state to achieve an “Effective” audit opinion for our internal audit — the highest opinion given, which indicates excellence in minimizing potential risks.
I feel so blessed to work with all of you.
Thank you for helping Wayne County shine!
Sending you love and best wishes as we take on this new year together as a community!
Julie Whitfield, Wayne County Clerk of Court
{ our TAKE }
YES. 2025 MATTERS.
We talk a lot about how to effect change.
Sometimes it feels like it’s ALL we talk about.
But we have these discussions because they are necessary — especially now.
We can’t afford to sit out even one important decision, to let even one more bad leader get ensconced in office because we couldn’t take the time to cast a vote or to throw our own hat in the ring.
Because time after time, we have missed the chance to really make a difference.
And it’s hurt our community.
We get it.
It’s easy to get excited about the big elections — when there is a chance to choose the president of the United States or a senator or governor.
But when the smaller votes happen — the ballots that decide who will make some of the most important decisions and the ones that really affect our day-to-day lives — we make excuses.
We’re too busy.
The race is not important enough.
My one vote won’t make a difference.
And that is how we end up with the problems that we have been dealing with in Wayne County — the ones you have been reading about since our Wayne Week journey began.
The good news?
That call to action is ringing again — and this time, the residents of Pikeville and Mount Olive are among those being asked to answer.
And it’s important to note that several recent municipal elections for significant positions have been decided by less than
200 votes.
Some of them even came down to single-digit margins.
The turnout in those races was awful. So, a very small percentage of voters were making the choices — and, if we’re being honest, they did not, in many cases, hit a homerun.
There are other problems, too, of course. Poor candidates who have no challengers and entitled incumbents who think they answer to no one have slowed us down. Bad leaders who made bad choices set
us back and kept this county from living up to its potential.
And yes, it is very difficult to get them out once they are in.
Want some proof?
Just take a good hard look at the Register of Deeds Office debacle we all just lived through.
That is exactly what happens when everyone sits back, assumes an election has been decided, or doesn’t bother to cast a ballot.
It took years to get that mess cleaned up and to put someone in office who could straighten it out.
For too long, too many people have let the mess get messier because they did not want to get involved.
But now, things are different.
From a standing-room-only crowd at a Pikeville fire station to let a mayor know he just can’t say and do whatever he wants without consequences to a group of citizens in Mount Olive who are making sure that a light shines on every decision made in their community, residents are not just sitting around anymore.
They are taking their community’s future into their own hands and the work they are doing is paying off.
And then there are those who are no longer sitting on the sidelines — those who have decided to quit complaining and to be part of the solution.
We have made some major progress because they have stepped up.
But we need more.
And that’s why we are talking about the municipal elections coming up for Pikeville and Mount Olive — and significant races in other communities as well — three months before the filing deadline.
But that is not bad news.
It means we have time to do it right.
So, let’s start with a challenge.
We need new leaders in Pikeville and Mount Olive.
We have seen — and you have read — why it matters.
In Goldsboro, changing the personnel has set the city on a much better course.
Tough decisions are being made and many of those who sit on the City Council and in positions of authority are now being held accountable.
We are expecting more — and getting it.
And much like the changes that have been made in Wayne County Public Schools, that new, responsible, results-oriented leadership is attracting attention and confidence.
Like it or not, without the assurances that there is stability and a sense of direction in a public body, residential and business investment looks elsewhere.
No one is going to drop a multi-million-dollar investment of any kind in a community where dysfunction and incompetence are what is all over the internet and social media.
Who you have representing your community matters — big time.
And that is even more true as the growth in Raleigh-Durham spreads east and new opportunities are on the horizon.
By the way, it also doesn’t hurt when you are trying to make sure an Air Force base stays in your community.
Make no mistake. A strong network of communities in Wayne County is very attractive as the Pentagon maps out where to go and, most importantly, where to stay.
So, with all that said, let’s get into why these upcoming races matter.
Pikeville, which has been facing some significant embarrassment at the actions of its current mayor, is the first place where the future will depend on 2025 voters.
Garrett Johnston’s scheme to change the town’s form of government and fire its employees — and his vile characterization of the town manager and police chief — are more than disqualifying.
So, we need a couple of good candidates for mayor and for some challengers with their community’s best interest at heart to join the Board of Commissioners.
And yes, that means one of you.
Many people do not get involved in local politics because they don’t think they have the time or anything to offer.
“Why would anyone vote for me?” they think.
So, rather than take the risk, they sit it out.
And those who are already entrenched in the political system want you to believe that no newcomer could possibly have the resources or the support to challenge them.
Not true.
We have seen what happens when people assume that an incumbent cannot be beaten.
Good old boy politics and making entitled decisions like hiring your family members and not making tough personnel decisions when they are absolutely necessary is the result.
We have had some pretty good newcomers answer the call in communities around the area.
We need more.
So, what does it take to serve? Interest. Integrity. Commitment.
It takes understanding that when you swear the oath to serve that you are pledging to act in the best interest of your fellow citizens, not looking for a personal payout — like the chance to order people to call your
wife “the first lady” or set up your daughter’s soccer coach with a job funded by taxpayers.
And in Pikeville, there are a whole lot of people who can represent the town in the fashion it deserves.
There are many people there who manage businesses and families.
They love their community and churches and they volunteer for events and service projects.
Well, this is just another way to serve.
The same is true in Mount Olive — ineffective leadership and a crew of politicians who seem to be making some really bad choices, and whose actions seem a little bit like their priorities might not be the town’s best interest, have made a mess of things.
But there are plenty of people who have already stepped up and demanded accountability.
Any one of them would make a great town commissioner — and among them might even be a great mayoral candidate.
And yes, you don’t have to have extensive experience in how to run a town.
That’s why you hire the professionals.
But if you have run a business or retired from a long career, you have the skills to be part of a public body.
And, we say again, now more than ever, we need you to stand up and to answer the call to serve.
If you can’t take on public office?
If you just don’t have time to do it right?
Then research the people who are running, educate yourself on what they are offering your community, make a reasonable decision, and VOTE.
That’s right.
The people who hold candidates accountable and who take the time to become informed voters are as important as the leaders they choose.
An engaged community keeps its leaders on their toes, and when residents let their governing boards know that they aren’t going to take it anymore, they change the course of their town.
So, yes, the filing period doesn’t open up until July.
But in our view, there is no better time than now to start exploring.
This county is full of people with the talent and seat-of-the-pants wisdom that is so needed right now.
All we have to do is have the courage to take a chance.
Sitting on the sidelines is just not an option anymore.
We look forward to seeing who is ready to accept the challenge and to help create a Wayne County that is even stronger and with a brighter future. n
IT’S TIME FOR
BOLDER BONDING
“Let it RIDE ”
Under the cloak of darkness, members of the 335th Fighter Squadron mounted an unprecedented defense of Israel after an unprecedented aerial attack was launched against the U.S. ally by Iran.
335 th FS Capt. Greg Liquori
Somebody had to take the first shot — to begin an aerial defense campaign that many have since argued prevented an “escalation” in the Middle East that, in the worst-case scenario, could have seen the destruction of one of the United States’ most significant allies.
Hundreds of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were bound for Israel — an arsenal that brought with it the potential to kill countless innocents and, as a result, pit the nations that support it against Iran.
So, when, from the cockpit of his F-15E, 335th Fighter Squadron Capt. Gregory Liquori’s status check was met with radio silence, he did what he was trained to do.
“I was like, ‘Hey. We’re targeted.’ Nobody said anything,” he said. “And I was like … ‘Let it ride.’”
What he didn’t know when he launched that first missile from his Strike Eagle was that by night’s end, he would record seven “kills” — that other members of the 335th would rack up dozens more and come home from their 2024 deployment as members of the world’s premier “drone killers.
And he had no way of knowing that he, and a staggering seven other 4th Fighter Wing officers, would, just less than a year later, have a Distinguished Flying Cross pinned to his Air Force blues by a four-star general — or that the story of what unfolded after Iran launched its attack would provide politicians with an “opening” to ensure the planned divestment of a chunk of the nation’s F-15E fleet was scrapped.
Hundreds of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base airmen — and Wayne County leaders, a U.S. congressman, North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, family members, and friends — converge on a hangar located next to the Goldsboro installation’s flight line.
A military band plays patriotic songs.
Officers deliver remarks and the crowd, every so often, erupts into a mixture of cheers and applause.
But those in the hangar fell silent for a seven-minute stretch of the hour-long ceremony that saw 31 airmen receive honors for valor in the
"I was like, 'Hey. We're targeted.' Nobody said anything. And I was like ... 'Let it ride.'"
face of the most brazen attack on Israel in recent history — when they were asked to direct their attention to a large screen set up to the right of the stage.
A video began to play — a documentary of sorts that gave those in attendance a hint of what the 335th was up against less than 24 hours after they arrived in their “area of responsibility.”
And the accounts delivered by those who experienced the events of what one of them characterized as “a day we will never forget” were, as one attendee put it later that day, “undeniably powerful.”
There was the sound of “air raid sirens” and the image of the “purple plasma” that signified an F-15E missile destroying a drone.
There was the picture painted of Strike Eagle pilots having to “dodge multiple pieces of red-hot shrapnel as they were falling from the sky” after a target had been hit.
“You could just see … above you something exploded into a million pieces and gravity is obviously going to take that into your flight path,” one said.
Continued on page 12
Members of the 4th Fighter Wing, after being decorated, listed to their former commander, Col. Lucas Teel, speak to the crowd.
Continued from page 11
A weapon systems officer described looking over his shoulder to see “it just looked like Iran was glowing red,” and a fighter pilot said he had to stop counting the weapons that were being launched because “they were coming up so quick.”
There was praise handed out to the men and women who ensured the jets were ready for battle, with one calling their efforts “truly a miracle” and another noting that “time was not on their side” but they “busted their asses and made it happen.”
There was even time for reflection — and a realization that “we got to be part of a thing that was meaningful and had an impact.”
And when the film ended, the crowd, again, erupted.
But they would find there was still much to be said.
Former 4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Lucas Teel walks past an American flag that, every few moments during the ceremony, took a ride on the wind that blew into the hangar’s entrance.
He noted that it felt good to be back at Seymour Johnson “among friends,” but shortly after he began his remarks, his tone became more serious.
He talked about delivering the intelligence to officers just hours before Iran launched its attack — that “things were heatin’ up” — and how they never flinched but, instead, had a look on their faces that gave him peace.
“It was … ‘I got this. We got this,’” he said. “It was a look of determination and purpose.”
KILLS
He talked about the professionalism of the men and women who ensured Strike Eagle crews were ready to carry out what was, ultimately, a successful mission.
“They knew what they were doing mattered,” Teel said. “It was a thing of beauty. … That team did nothing short of a miracle.”
And he recalled watching, as the F-15Es were returning to the base, “stuff fall out of the sky” that signified success.
“We’re watching this purple plasma above us,” he said. “Maybe it was the kid in me, I was just thinking, ‘Holy cow. This is cool. That’s pretty awesome that our team is doing this right now.’”
But what seemed to strike him the most was how, despite the chaos, his mind was at ease knowing that it was members of the 4th who had been, once again, called upon to lead its nation from the front.
“It was actually a feeling of peace and comfort,” Teel said. “What I mean by that is, I knew this team was the best that there was on Earth.”
So, when he looked out at the crowd, he made it a point to tell every person involved in the April 13 campaign — not simply those who had received decorations — that they mattered.
“Every one of you are heroes. I think in today’s society, that’s something that’s either overused or underappreciated,” the colonel said. “But if you want to look up what the definition of a hero is, I think it’s these people who did their job. They were called upon to do something hard, maybe wicked hard … and they did something historic. And they put their lives on the line.”
As if their successful defense of Israel were not enough of a reason to celebrate, the members of the 335th who led the charge April 13 might very well have altered the course of Seymour Johnson’s future.
After the mission, then-President Joe Biden would praise the squadron — and every Strike Eagle aviator who took to the skies April 13 — and post a video of him doing so to social media.
“Hey, you guys are the best in the whole damn world, man. The whole world,” he said. “That’s not hyperbole. Both of these squadrons, you’re incredible.”
He told them they had made “an enormous difference” for one of the U.S.’s key allies — that they had potentially saved “a lot of lives.”
He championed their “enormous skills” and said he was in awe of their “remarkable” execution of the mission.
And he asked them to “keep it going,” as Continued on page 14
THE DEFENSE OF ISRAEL
When Iran and its affliates launched an attack on Israel the night of April 13-14, 2024, it was able to intercept 99% of incoming fire with assistance from the United States, Britain, and other allies. The U.S was particularly effective in Israel's defense, with 31 members of the 4th Fighter Wing's 335th Fighter Squadron receiving high honors for their efforts.
Two U.S. Navy Destroyers with air defense capability were positioned in an undisclosed location in the Mediterranean Sea.
including the Pavah 351 that has a range of 1,025 miles.
Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq launched attacks.
Hezbollah launched 40 rockets from Lebanon on the night of April 13
SOURCES: IDF, Institute for the Study of War, news reports
U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group was deployed in the Red Sea.
Nearly 300 missiles and drones were launched by Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
Attacks were launched from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Dokuh
Amman
SOMALIA
ETHIOPIA
DJIBOUTI
ERITREA
Dubai
Baghdad
JORDAN
GRAPHIC BY SHAN STUMPF
HISTORY OF THE 335 th FIGHTER SQUADRON
• The 335th traces its ancestry back to the Royal Air Force 121 Squadron, which was formed on May 14, 1941, as the second of three Royal Air Force “Eagle Squadrons.”
• Following the United States’ entry into World War II, the three Eagle Squadrons were transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces as the 334th, 335th, and 336th Fighter Squadrons — and became members of the newly-formed 4th Fighter Group.
tensions in the Middle East remained.
“Let me tell you, you make me proud, and I’m not just saying that,” Biden said. “I swear to God. You’re incredible.”
Millions of people would end up watching that video, including Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) and Congressman Don Davis, who used the 335th’s defense of Israel as an opportunity to ramp up their advocacy for the Goldsboro installation they had deployed from — a base the men believed was “unfairly” under attack via legislation that would change the 4th Fighter Wing’s mission and deplete its fleet.
Budd and Davis would publicly challenge those who saw to it that F-15Es, including some stationed at SJAFB, would be divested as spelled out in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act — a plan would also have seen the 4th FW’s 333rd Lancers deactivated, and the Chiefs transitioned into a training unit.
More locally, State Rep. John Bell did the same — vowing to bring then-Gov. Roy Cooper and other state leaders into the fight.
“Our fighter squadron, the 335th from Seymour Johnson, is the one that put on an epic display of defending freedom, not just for Americans, but also shooting down missiles that were attacking our closest ally,
• During World War II, the 335th destroyed 262 enemy aircraft — 165 in the air and 97 on the ground.
• After V-E Day, on Nov. 10, 1945, the 335th was deactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
• On Sept. 9, 1946, the 335th was reactivated at Selfridge Field, Michigan.
• On Nov. 10, 1950, the 335th deployed to participate in the Korean War. During their time in theater, the Chiefs led all squadrons with 218.5 kills and 12 members of the squadron earned “ace” status.
• On Dec. 8, 1957, the Chiefs moved to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
• On December 27, 1990, the 335th deployed 24 F-15Es to Al Kharj Air Base in central Saudi Arabia.
• On Jan. 16, 1991, the Chiefs participated in the initial assault on Iraq.
P-51 Mustang used in WWII.
• On Feb. 13, 1991, a 335th crew recorded the first air-to-air kill in an F-15E when they shot down an Iraqi helicopter with a laserguided bomb.
• During the Iraq conflict, the Chiefs flew 1,097 combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait, dropping more than 4.8 million pounds of ordinance.
• In January 2002, the Chiefs deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom, where the squadron flew 500, dropped nearly 300 laser-guided and dumb bombs, and
expended 1,200 rounds of 20mm ammunition. Four members of the squadron received Silver Stars and seven received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their efforts during the campaign.
• In February of 2003, the Chiefs deployed to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. During those campaigns, the 335th flew 1,500 sorties, and dropped more than 1 million pounds of precision and non-precision munitions.
• On April 13 and April 14, 2024, the Chiefs — alongside the 494th Fighter Squadron — engaged and destroyed more than 80 oneway attack unmanned aerial vehicles and at least six ballistic missiles fired at Israel by Iran and Houthi-controlled Yemen. As a result of the heroism they displayed, 31 335th airmen were decorated at Seymour Johnson March 28 — with eight receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Israel. There is no more important fighter squadron in this country that can put on that kind of display of force than the 335th,” he said. “And it’s sad that folks in the Air Force want to (change the mission) of its wing and move the 335th into a training status. When you have the premier aircraft and the premier personnel that showed exactly what American airpower is all about, you celebrate it.”
Congress was listening, and over the next several months, Budd and Davis were able to convince their respective colleagues in the House and Senate to prohibit divestment of American F-15Es through the end of 2027 — a stunning turn of events that also saw the 333rd spared and the 4th Fighter Wing safeguarded from transitioning from its operational status to a training-only mission.
Talking to Lt. Col. Brian Leitzke, it becomes clear that he is not willing to celebrate recording seven “kills.”
The way he sees it, he was just another American airman doing his job.
“Once the drones started coming, it was continuous, so we just kept shooting them down until we were out of ordinance,” he said. Continued on page 16
Master Sgt. Luke Howell moments after he received the Bronze Star.
“This is what we all signed up for — an opportunity to contribute if the time comes.”
And on multiple occasions, he answered questions about his personal accomplishments with his comrades in arms in mind.
“It’s not about any one of us. This was a giant team event,” he told Wayne Week a half-hour before he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. “Both on the ground and once we got airborne.”
A hero? An ace? Those words, he insisted, are not what will define his career.
“I really don’t care what we label it,” Leitzke said. “We won and nobody died and that was a giant team effort. I don’t care what they call me or anybody else who got to be airborne.”
But former 4th Fighter Wing Historian Dr. Roy Heidicker has no problem calling Leitzke and other members of the Chiefs “the best.”
And he had no qualms about taking an opportunity to remind the world that, in his view, the 4th Fighter Wing is, truly, the greatest Air Force unit of all time.
“It’s not just what they accomplished in World War II. It’s World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the wars on terror, and today. This unit is consistently the tip of the spear,” Heidicker said. “Other famous, great Air Force wings and groups and squadrons have accomplished amazing things. But to accomplish so much over so many years is unprecedented.” n
Airman 1st Class Frankie Perez, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron
2025 PROPERTY REVALUATION
Wayne County is conducting a property revaluation to ensure tax assessments reflect current market values, as required by North Carolina law.
Revaluation does NOT determine your tax bill. The Board of Commissioners will set the tax rate later. Property values are assessed fairly based on real market conditions.
LEARN MORE AT WAYNEGOV.COM/REVALUATION
NOTICES
NOTICE OF MEETINGS OF THE WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW
Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 105-322, the Wayne County Board of Equalization and Review will meet as required by law.
PURPOSE OF MEETINGS:
To hear upon request, any and all taxpayers who own or control taxable property assessed for taxation in Wayne County, with respect to the valuation of such property, or the property of others, and such business as required by law.
PLACE OF MEETINGS:
Commissioners meeting room on the fourth (4th) floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
TIME OF MEETINGS:
The Board will convene for its first meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 8:30 a.m. The Board will adjourn for the purpose of accepting requests on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
Appeals must be received no later than 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025 the advertised date for adjournment.
In the event of earlier or later adjournment, notice to that effect will be published in this newspaper.
Please contact the Wayne County Tax Department for appointments.
Alan Lumpkin, Clerk Wayne County Board of Equalization and Review Room 137, Courthouse Annex P.O. Box 227, Goldsboro, N.C. 27533-0227 Telephone (919) 731-1461 Published April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025
NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 23 CVD 516
WAYNE COUNTY and the CITY OF GOLDSBORO, Plantiffs vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SABRINA MCINTYRE; VIVICA MCINTYRE and SPOUSE, if any; ALEASA SAPPINGTON and SPOUSE, if any; SEAM MCINTYRE and SPOUSE, if any, Defendants & TIME INVESTMENT CORPORATION, Defendant Lienholder
TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SABRINA MCINTYRE
TAKE NOTICE THAT:
A pleading seeking relief has been filed in the above-entitled action and notice of service of process by publication will begin on March 30, 2025.
The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on real property located in Wayne County, North Carolina and described as 147 Woods Mill Road, Goldsboro, NC (PIN:3529980546) and 1912 Elton Drive, Goldsboro, NC (PIN: 3600056694), which is more completely described in the complaint; to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes. Plaintiffs seek to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you or others may have in said property. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than (40) days after the date of the first publication of notice, March 30, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 21st day of March, 2025.
Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 202, and April 13, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF HELEN CARLTON
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Helen Carlton, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 6th day of March, 2025.
Marsha King Executor of the Estate of Helen Carlton 507 Durham Lake Road Dudley, NC 28333
Published March 16, 2025, March. 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, and April 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF THOMAS W. SCALES
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Thomas W. Scales deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 30th day of March, 2025.
Thomas W. Scales II, Executor of the Estate of Thomas W. Scales 605 Willowwind Drive Loganville, GA 30052
Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Vickie Marie Waters, deceased, late of Wayne County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 11th day of March, 2025.
Tiffany Maddox, Administrator for the Estate of Vickie Marie Waters, 304 Carew Drive, Goldsboro, North Carolina, 27530
Published March 16, 2025, March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, and April 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF SANDRA GINN PARKS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Sandra Ginn Parks, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 13th day of March, 2025.
Pamela Parks Creech, Executor of the Estate of Sandra Ginn Parks
c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616
Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF WILL R. SULLIVAN
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Will R. Sullivan, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 13th day of March, 2025.
Rhonda Sullivan Taylor, Executor of the Estate of Will R. Sullivan c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616
Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF ALFONZO MANLEY, SR.
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Alfonzo Manley, Sr., late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims
against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 18th day of March, 2025.
Alfonzo Manley, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Alfonzo Manley, Sr. c/o Caroline Taylor Phillips, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616
Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF DONALD VINCENT TUCKSON
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Donald Vincent Tuckson, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 18th day of March, 2025.
Tonya Bell Ferrell, Executor of the Estate of Donald Vincent Tuckson c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, T aylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616
Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF REBECCA S. MANLEY
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Rebecca S. Manley, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons,
firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 18th day of March, 2025.
Alfonzo Manley, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Rebecca S. Manley c/o Caroline Taylor Phillips, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616
Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF PAMELA ROSE WOOD
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Pamela Rose Wood, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 30, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 26th day of March, 2025.
Gary Fenton Barefoot, Executor of the Estate of Pamela Rose Wood c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P.O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616
Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF EMMA G. OVERCASH
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Emma G. Overcash, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 30th day of March, 2025.
Ginger A. Carvalho and Jack W. Overcash, Jr., Co-Executors of the Estate of Emma G. Overcash
c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr., Attorneys for Estate Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C. P.O. Box 916
Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275
Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JAMES WESLEY BRITT
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against James Wesley Britt deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 30th day of March, 2025.
Stephanie Wright, Executor of the Estate of James Wesley Britt 454 Charleston Place Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESSIE W. CARLISLE
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Essie W. Carlisle deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 30th day of March, 2025.
Darlene A. Elam, Executor of the Estate of Essie W. Carlisle 101 Ellis Drive Goldsboro, NC 27534
Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Junior Micah Pate Jr., deceased, late of Wayne County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 27th day of March, 2025.
George Timothy Pate, Administrator for the Estate of Junior Micah Pate Jr., 1 417 Alexander Lane, Trent Woods, North Carolina, 28562 March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025 and April 20, 2025
Wayne County is pleased to announce a new Request for Applications (RFA) for opioid settlement funds has now been officially released. This initiative aims to extend support to organizations committed to mitigating the adverse effects resulting from the opioid overdose epidemic.
Please share this announcement broadly with your networks.
Important Dates:
• Application Due Date:
May 15, 2025, by 2 p.m.
• Q&A Period Deadline: April 30, 2025, by 5 p.m.
• Pre Bid Meeting: April 16, 2025, at 2 p.m.
The RFA document, available at https://www.waynegov.com/ bids.aspx?bidID=175 outlines comprehensive guidelines and procedures for interested agencies to participate in this crucial opportunity. Additionally, the specified dates for the application submission, Q&A period, and the Pre-Bid Meeting are noted above for your reference.
We encourage your agency's active involvement in this process to further our collective goal of creating healthier, more supportive communities in North Carolina. Your commitment to this cause is invaluable, and we eagerly anticipate your engagement.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mandy Trujillo at amanda.trujillo@waynegov.com.
the SPECTATOR
Witnesses to history
Hundreds of people converged on a Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hangar to honor those who defended Israel April 13, 2024.
PHOTOS by KEN FINE
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