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  • Oregon Air National Guard Recruiting: 1973 through 1977

    The Vietnam conflict was winding down in 1973, so the "all volunteer force" became a new challenge for the armed forces, including the Air National Guard. Up until then, the Oregon Air National Guard remained near the 100 percent manning goal because of the selective service draft.Maj. Gen. I.G.

  • Keeping an attitude for fitness

    It's a hot July afternoon at the Portland Air National Guard Base, in Portland, Ore., as the 142nd Fighter Wing Vice Commander Col. Matthew Schuster and Executive Officer Maj. Frank Page take off for an afternoon run. It would be easy for Schuster to skip the workout and catch up on work in the

  • The 371st Fighter Group on D-Day, June 6, 1944

    June 6, 1944, will always be remembered for the successful landings by Allied forces on the beaches in Normandy, France. We should also remember the contributions of the Airmen who helped make that outcome possible. Some 8,000 Allied aircraft of all types were available for D-Day operations, and

  • The Brothers Bigelow

    A unique aspect of the National Guard is that members of the same family often serve in the military at the same time together or perchance even in the same unit. The odds are, at almost any given time on the flight line of the Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore., any member of the

  • Ceremony honors six Oregon Airmen

    PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Portland Ore.- In a rare break with normal ceremonial protocol, the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command invited family members onto the stage for photos following the pinning of each of the five Bronze Star Medals and one Purple Heart Medal awarded to

  • Redhawks Welcome a New Commander

    PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Portland, Ore.-- Oregon Air National Guard Col. Richard W. Wedan, former 142nd Fighter Wing vice commander, assumed command of the 142nd Fighter wing from Col. Michael E. Stencel during a change of command ceremony Dec. 2. The wing's colors were passed to Wedan

  • Oregon Air Guard Top Gun Shooter at 'William Tell' retires

    Maybe is was the smell of jet fuel, or the noise of the flight line, or perhaps it was just something about seeing other airmen in their military uniforms hurrying about their duty. Whatever it was, it hooked Gary W. Thompson into rejoining the Air Force after a prolonged break in service and a

  • Yellow Ribbon program fosters support for deployed members

    Sometimes the biggest joys in life are the simple things: house work, a Sunday afternoon football game on TV, and time spent a home with family members. After multiple deployments in the past several years during his a 38-year career in the Air Force, Chief Master Sgt. Steven P. Nichols, said he