CCT Reunion 2008

The highlight of the banquet this year was the induction of Major General Robert B. Patterson, USAF, Retired, as the fifth Honorary Life Member of the CCA. A well deserved tribute to a great leader!

CCA President’s Corner Dear CCA Members, Well, another year has passed; they seem to go by faster as I get older. The troops (Airmen) continue to “kick” butt down-range as you can see by the stories involving SSgt Rob Gutierrez, SSgt Zach Rhyner, TSgt Bryan Patten and SSgt David Orvosh. They continue to garner top awards such as the JINSA “Grateful Nation” Award that was presented to SSgt Rhyner in Dec. A new Special Tactics Training Squadron grew out of the Advanced Skills Training Flight and moved under the command of the Air Force Special Operations Training Center. Twelve positions (7-CCT & 5-PJ) are spread out across the nation as Special Tactics Recruiting Liaisons. I was able to work with the 367th TRSS, video production unit, at Hill AFB, Utah, to make a new CCT recruiting DVD. It should enhance recruiting. The reunion was a blast, but still lacked active duty participation. What can we offer to get more active duty involvement? We paid our respects to TSgt William Jefferson (KIA, 22 Mar 2008) and were blessed by the presence of his spouse, Kristy, daughters Tyler and Natalie and his parents Haywood and Linda Jefferson. Many family members of our other deceased comrades where in attendance as well. And we were all inspired by SSgt Shaun Meadows who walked up the path to attend the ceremony on his newly fitted prosthetics… just as he said he would do shortly after arriving at Walter Reed Medical Center. Shaun and spouse Nicole attended most of the reunion events, intermingling among the members, old and young, and had a good time. We wish Shaun the best in the challenges that lie ahead for him. A personal pleasure for me was presenting the “scarlet beret” and Shadow Box to Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bob Patterson. He has championed many causes for CCT and is certainly worthy of this recognition. I also want to thank General (Ret.) Walter Kross, Chairman of the Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA), for attending the CCA Banquet and for allowing me to say a few words at the A/TA Banquet where Gen. Patterson was inducted in the Hall of Fame. By press time, we hoped to announce the location and dates of the 2009 CCA Reunion. Unfortunately, that decision has not been made yet. We’ll definitely publish it in the next edition of the CCA Newsletter and also put it out on the CCA Blog. On 12 January 2009, the Air Force Museum opens a new exhibit featuring “Battlefield Airmen” and specifically the “Anaconda” mission where TSgt John Chapman (CCT) and SrA Jason Cunningham (PJ) were killed in action.

The CCA is having a sculpture made of TSgt John Chapman. Reproductions will be made and presented to the student who earns the Chapman Award at the completion of the Advanced Skills Training Course.

CMSgt (Ret.) Gene Adcock is about 95% complete writing a book on the history of CCT, called “The Eye of the Storm.” Stay tuned for the publication date! I’d like to recognize and offer a personal thanks to Jack Hughes, Terry Chapman (Chappy’s Mom) and Spencer Ernst for significant contributions to the Awards and Memorial Funds. Have a safe, healthy and prosperous 2009! Fraternally, Wayne G. Norrad CMSgt, USAF, Ret. President, Combat Control Association

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excct@mchsi.com CCA Newsletter Contributing Editor (CCA President) Wayne Norrad, LM-065
WayneNorrad@aol.com CCA Newsletter Contributing Editor Allen Hooper, LM-043
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