Other Items

John Achelpohl received this from someone and sent it in, "The Airman's Pocket Guide" (1958)

Extract of letter from Linda Cobb regarding our July 06 reunion. (Parts of a personal nature edited) Referenced photos are the last image on the reunion page and Final Honors supplement.

Living Legends Presentations and Peacekeeper Deactivation Ceremony

(One of our members, MSgt Brooke (Shaw) Cushing, participated in a ceremony in September 2005, at F.E. Warren AFB, that included her wearing a SAC Elite Guard uniform. Her comments follow.)
I just wanted to let you know that everything went superbly with the Living Legends presentations. We participated in the POW/MIA ceremony at the base flagpole, marched the 24-hr vigil at the base flagpole and at the capitol building downtown, made a special appearance at the club to celebrate the Air Force birthday, and were selected as ushers and stanchion guards for the Peacekeeper Deactivation ceremony. The response that I received when people saw the uniform was amazing…and surprisingly enough, some of them actually knew what the uniform was. I even discovered a fellow former Guardsman, Chief Schmitz; we spoke at the club for 20-30 minutes about the uniforms, the job, and the people. It was very cool.
The Peacekeeper Deactivation ceremony was quite an experience—seeing the end of a nearly 20-year era that was so much a part of the cold war and SAC. They actually deactivated the last site during the ceremony, and notified the crowd via radio link. Our guest speaker was the Undersecretary of the Air Force, Dr. Sega. They invited the President and the VP, but I guess their schedules wouldn’t allow it. The Base Photographer took lots of pictures during the events. As soon as we get our copies, I’ll be sure forward them to you. For the time being, I’ve attached a couple of pictures of me that were taken in my Squadron. We have three crests on the wall in head shed for the three major commands that we’ve been attached to: SAC, ACC, and finally Space Command. I wanted my picture taken by the SAC crest, naturally. :o) You’ll see in the picture that I’m wearing a large silver tag above my nametag. It’s our F.E. Warren Living Legends badge and it authorized us to wear our “garb” for the entire duty day—headgear included…the only thing missing was my gun!

Special Correspondence

From: Jane Lodge
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:42 AM
To: SAC Elite Guard Association
Subject: Message from Jane LeMay Lodge

Dear Mr. Marshall:

I have had your e-mail to the LeMay Foundation on my desk since October meaning to write to you. I certainly apologize for being so late in doing so. What a wonderful idea to form your Elite Guard organization. Lots of interesting stories to remember and share among members. I grew up at Offutt moving there in Nov. '48 and leaving in June '57. When one mentions their tour of duty there they always mention the cold winters and bad weather but for the most part it is a special part of the country and I know my parents liked it the best of all their stations, made many lasting friendships. My husband and I later spent 13 years in Lincoln so Nebraska will always have a special place in my heart. I do remember some of the guards that use to walk around our quarters. We always had a cookie jar full of chocolate chip cookies One summer my Father put up a huge tepee that my friends and I use to sleep out in. Once in the middle of the night it began to rain and the guard was so kind to help us move everything to the front porch.

I am glad my parents are still so well thought of. They both respected everyone and the jobs they did. Thank you for writing our Foundation. I am sure you have visited our web-site, www.afvw.com/lemay.html I am especially proud of the work we do helping both enlisted and officer widows. At present we are helping on a monthly basis 75 widows in 27 states to remain independent and in their homes. We also help many on a one time grant as well. Thank you for your offer to assist us. The best way you can help is to spread the word of our Foundation and if you know of any Air Force widows in need to let us know. Individual membership are always welcome as well.

Thank you again for writing. Please wish everyone a Happy Holiday season and New Year.

Sincerely,
Janie (LeMay) Lodge

Associate Members

Correspondence from our Associate Members:

Thank you for my certificate as Associate Member of the SAC Elite Guard Association. I will forever cherish it. I will appreciate any correspondence from the organization.

Sincerely,

Alma Williams

Our Cover

SAC Elite Guard Web Site Awards

That Blue Beret

I still have dad’s photo on the wall
He standing so proud and tall
Dressed smartly in his uniform
Wearing that blue Beret
He was so proud of
And I was too I must admit

Still makes my eyes water
When I look upon that image
And recall
As he bent
To lace up his boots
In the front hall

How I would watch in awe
As he straightened that beret
In front of the mirror
So it sat just perfect on his brow

What a treat it was
When mom took us along
To watch when he was on parade
When the soldiers were turn in step
And salute the crowd
My heart would beat faster
When I saw dad wink in our direction
As he saluted and I would think with great pride
That’s my dad in that blue beret…

By …Audrey LeBlanc

The Blue Beret

The Army has it's claim to fame;
The Airborne Rangers, the Green Berets.

The world knows the Navy Seals;
Life of Danger, Men of Steel.

The Corps have their elite too;
Recon Patrol, the Proud, the Few.

But when it comes to us, not much is heard;
We're just the Cops who guard the birds.

In Vietnam, through toil and strife,
We gave it all, our hearts, our life.
A page in history, a chapter in time;

We fought for freedom, yours and mine.
We stayed vigilant through cold and rain,
and bear the fatigue, hardship, and pain.

This piece of ground, we will defend,
Side by side `til the bitter end.

So fear not pilot, you can fly all day,
This base is guarded by the Blue Beret.

Author Unknown

The Air Force Song

Off we go into the wild blue yonder
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At'em boys, giv'er the gun!
Down we dive spouting our flames from under,
Off with one hell-uv-a roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame,
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they live God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore,
Nothing can stop the US Air Force!

Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the US Air Force.

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more,
In echelon we carry on! Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

Notes:
by Captain Robert Crawford, 1939.
Crawford didn't write "Hey!"; he actually wrote "SHOUT!" without specifying the word to be shouted.
Wherever they appear, the words "U.S. Air Force" have been changed from the original "Army Air Corps."
Words in parentheses are spoken, not sung.

The Air Force Blue

We take the blue from the skies,
And some pretty blue eyes,
And a touch of Old Glory’s hue
And fervently declare
We’re proud to wear
The U.S. Air Force Blue!

To put the drive and the dream
In America’s Team,
We’re a rugged and ready crew
And you can bet your boots
The world looks up
To the U.S. Air Force Blue!

We know where we’re going
We set our course
The Sky’s no limit in the Air Force!
The Sky’s no limit in the Air Force!

And when the blue from the skies
Meets the gleam in our eyes,
And, a touch of Old Glory’s hue
We fervently declare,
(We know it then and there)
We’re proud to wear
The U.S. Air Force Blue!

HIGH FLIGHT

by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.

Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds and...done a hundred things.

You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soured and swung.

High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod,

The high untresspassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Code of Conduct

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

II

I will never surrender of my own free will.
If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

III

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available.
I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape.
I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

IV

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners.
I will give no information, nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades.
If I am senior, I will take command.
If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me, and will back them up in every way.

V

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability.
I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

VI

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free.
I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

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