COMPACAF, civic leaders visit Kunsan for Thanksgiving

  • Published
  • By Capt. Sheryll Klinkel
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Gary North, PACAF Command Chief Chief Master Sgt. Brooke P. McLean, and four PACAF civic leaders toured Kunsan Air Base Nov. 22 -23, and spent Thanksgiving with Wolf Pack members Nov. 25.

The purpose of the trip was to educate PACAF civic leaders about the Wolf Pack's mission and to meet and "thank" Wolf Pack members for their service on Thanksgiving Day.

General North, who was assigned to Kunsan AB twice, said it was it was great to be "home" and fantastic to come back to see the Wolf Pack members on Thanksgiving day.

"We're all volunteers in our military and we're supported by the great majority of civilians in our nation," said Gen. North. "For them (civic leaders) to come here on freedom's frontier to see the Airmen and Soldiers, and what they do in defense of our nation and Korea, is very important."

The visit to the Wolf Pack was a first for the civic leaders, who come from varied backgrounds in the civilian community near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

The visit began Nov. 22 with a base tour that took the group through a mission brief at the 8th Security Forces Squadron's training area, Big Coyote. After the brief, the group ate lunch with Airmen, who shared their experiences with the civic leaders.

"I got the feeling of family at the Wolf Pack," said Tom Ritchie, PACAF civic leader. "I had a couple of tear-jerking moments talking to Wolf Pack members on the trip."

Ritchie said while talking with young service members, his presence momentarily substituted how much Airmen missed their families because he was able to express how grateful he was, as a civilian, for their service.

"It's very endearing to me," added Ritchie. "It makes everything worthwhile."

After lunch, the tour continued with a static display of an F-16 Falcon, a weapons-load demonstration, the rapid control tower, and a dormitory tour. The second day of the trip took the group on a tour of Gunsan City.

The trip ended with the group serving Thanksgiving meals and eating with Wolf Pack members Nov. 25.

"It was really nice that they came here to give thanks with us. We really appreciate it," said Staff Sgt. Gloria Sterling, 8th Medical Support Operations Group.