Looking through the Glass

Three Air Force Academy cadets gaze out a C-5 window as the Westover Galaxy taxis to the runway January 27, 2013. A Westover C-5 traveled to Colorado Springs Jan. 24 to pick up 20 Air Force Academy cadets for a three-day tour of Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Mass., and Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass. The cadets were able to tour Westover's regional isochronal dock, the control tower, security forces, aerial port facilities and "flew" the C-5 simulator. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA. Kelly Galloway)

SrA. Cara Lustig

SrA. Cara Lustig (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by W.C. Pope)

WWII Veteran, Hobert Yeager

WWII Veteran, Hobert Yeager, was drafted in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater where he fought battles on Leyte Island with the 21st Infantry Regiment which counted 2,133 enemy kills and 14 captured prisoners (42% of the division total). He received two purple hearts from wounds incurred during the battles and was sent to help occupied Japan in late 1945.

WWII Veteran, Hobert Yeager

WWII Veteran, Hobert Yeager, was drafted in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater where he fought battles on Leyte Island with the 21st Infantry Regiment which counted 2,133 enemy kills and 14 captured prisoners (42% of the division total). He received two purple hearts from wounds incurred during the battles and was sent to help occupied Japan in late 1945.

Island Hopping

A boat full of travelers navigates the water around Grande Cayemite island, Haiti. Nearly three years after the devastating earthquake – and the Operation Unified Response relief effort, which the 439th Airlift Wing joined – Haiti shows signs of recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. James Bishop)

Relaxing in the Marketplace

In the marketplace in Pestel, Haiti, a young boy watches the activity. Nearly three years after the lethal earthquake – and the worldwide relief effort, which the 439th Airlift Wing joined – Haiti shows signs of recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. James Bishop)

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant.

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant Nov 16. A reservist with the 439th Communications Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. She's also completing her MBA and works full-time for the Universaty of Phoenix in Boston. (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

Miss Westover's runway

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant Nov 16. A reservist with the 439th Communications Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. She's also completing her MBA and works full-time for the Universaty of Phoenix in Boston. (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant.

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant Nov 16. A reservist with the 439th Communications Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. She's also completing her MBA and works full-time for the Universaty of Phoenix in Boston. (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant.

SrA. Cara Lustig will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA Pageant Nov 16. A reservist with the 439th Communications Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. She's also completing her MBA and works full-time for the Universaty of Phoenix in Boston. (Air Force photo by W.C.Pope)

Beauty and Bearing

SrA. Cara Lustig, 439th Communications Squadron, will compete in the Miss Massachusetts USA beauty pageant Nov. 16. (U.S. Air Force illustratrion by W.C. Pope)

ESGR

Earl Bonnett of ESGR (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Andre Bowser)

Welcome Home

Members of Westover's 58th Aerial Port Squadron returned Sept. 12 from their six-month deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by MSgt. Andrew Biscoe)

Patriot Express

Inside the Hard-sided Expandable Lightweight Air Mobility Shelter (HELAMS), SMSgt. Paul Veresko and SSgt. Kennether Kerr show SSgt. Winnie Dion, all three members of the 439th Airlift Control Flight, the importance of written records and how to track progress of checklists imperitive to the ALCF mission in Colorado Springs during Patriot Express Exerise on August 11, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Spouse Flight

Twenty-eight military spouses got a glimpse of what their husbands and wives do on a mission during the 439th Airlift Wing's Spouse Orientation Flight May 24. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Spouse Flight

Twenty-eight military spouses got a glimpse of what their husbands and wives do on a mission during the 439th Airlift Wing's Spouse Orientation Flight May 24. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Spouse Flight

Twenty-eight military spouses got a glimpse of what their husbands and wives do on a mission during the 439th Airlift Wing's Spouse Orientation Flight May 24. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Spouse Flight

Twenty-eight military spouses got a glimpse of what their husbands and wives do on a mission during the 439th Airlift Wing's Spouse Orientation Flight May 24. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Command names Smith as Key Spouse of the Year

Stephanie Smith, Key Spouse Co-Chair, is credited with revitalizing the base Key Spouse program by continuing to recruit and train new members. When reservists in the wing were mobilized in 2010, she worked with other program members to contact the families of deployed and mobilized reservists. Smith is married to Lt. Col. Raymond Smith, a C-5 pilot in the 337th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA. Charles Hutchinson)

SSgt. Chris Boutin

This 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, enlisted in 1999. "My father, who is now retired from active-duty Air Force, was a C-5 crew chief. The exposure to his career field influenced me to follow in his footsteps," SSgt. Boutin said. For three years, the sergeant was a "flying crew chief" and traveled worldwide. "My favorite three places were Elmendorf, Alaska, Ramstein, Germany and Anderson, Guam." (by SrA. Kelly Galloway)

TSgt. Erika Gingrass

"I've always wanted to be a nurse, and the Air Force has provided me such great exposure and training for the career field that I'm pursuing," she said. "I'm attending Middlesex Community College for nursing. My ultimate goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse or be part of the mother/infant unit." (by SrA. Kelly Galloway)

TSgt. Cheryl McLaughlin

"I'm in charge of Community College of the Air Force counseling, education benefits counseling, Student Loan Repayment Program and ensuring the Seasoning Training Program runs smoothly. A lot of people need help paying for school and just don't know where to start, because it seems like such a daunting process. I help demystify that process." (by SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Land of the Free

A Westover security forces airman renders a salute during the playing of the National Anthem at 5:00. Westover flies the U.S. flag continuously 24 hours a day and the playing of the National Anthem requires proper honors to be displayed to the flag. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Set ablaze

Controlled burning at Westover Air Reserve Base on March 11, 2012 is being managed by trained U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighters and Westover ARB Fire Department personnel. Westovers prescribed fires will help prevent wildfires and create more suitable habitat for two state-listed rare bird species; the upland sandpiper and grasshopper sparrow. (U.S. Air Force photo/SrA. Kelly Galloway)