The White Falcon - 10.06.1977, Qupperneq 1
Volume XXXIII Number 23-
Keflavik. Iceland
'C 1977
NSGA fetes H-l site
by CTA1 Dan Hilton
A ground-breaking ceremony was
conducted at the NSGA Rockville H-l
Site, Building 2586, Tuesday. Among
the dignitaries in attendance were:
RADM Karl J. Bernstein, Commander
Iceland Defense Force; Capt. A. W.
Howard, IDF Chief of Staff; Cdr Gerry
L. Preston, Naval Security Group
Activity, Keflavik, Commanding Officer;
LCdr. J. B. Mossman, ROICC; and Capt.
R. L. Spaulding, Commanding Officer,
NAVCOMMSTA, Keflavik. Iceland Prime
Contractor representatives also attended.
The early planning stages for con-
struction of an addition to the pre-
sent NSGA Keflavik site started in
1973, and budget approval was in Fiscal
Year 76.
The building, when completed, will
house the present NSGA facilities lo-
cated at Hafnir, Hangar 831 and BEQ 744.
The mission of NSGA Keflavik is to
operate a high frequency direction
finding facility and provide communi-
cations related support, including
communications relay, communication
security and communications manpower
assistance to Navy and other Department
of Defense elements within the area.
The building will be completed and
ready for occupancy May 5, 1978.
Expected completion for the entire
project will be April 30, 1979.
DETACHMENT 14 participated in the annual Icelandic Sailors' Day celebra-
tion by demonstrating a typical rescue pickup in Keflavik harbor Satur-
day.
Det. 14 nabs sailing crowds
by 2ndLt. Robert D. Pierce
Detachment 14, 39th Aerospace Rescue
and Recovery Wing Demonstrated typical
water pickups Saturday and Sunday as
part of the annual Icelandic Sailors*
Day celebration in Keflavik, Gindavik
and Hafnarfjordur harbors.
The first stop for the Jolly Green
Giant helicopter was Keflavik harbor.
The Jolly Green crewmembers demonstra-
ted a water pickup, deploying two rescue
specialists in the water next to the
dummy survivor.
The pickup was effected, using a
rescue hoist on the helicopter.
Some 2,000 people were on hand
Saturday afternoon to watch the demon-
stration.
Sunday afternoon Detachment 14 flew
to Grindavik and Hafnafjordur harbors.
Before equally enthusiastic crowds,
demonstrating the assigned rescue
helicopter capability.
READYING THE BOWLING ALLEY for
(see related pictures on page 3}
patron service is an "all hands'" effort.
DIGNITARIES TURN OVER the first shovelful of dirt at the NSGA Rock-
ville site, (photo by JOSN Stan Halstead)
AFR 715 saves baby
The crew of Air Force Rescue 715 of
Detachment 14 medevaced a severely de-
formed baby and its mother from Akranes
to Reykjavik recently.
The Icelandic Lifesaving Association
notified Operations Control May 28 about
a medevac.
That morning a baby was born with
severe birth defects—it had no stomach
muscles or skin covering the lower part
of the stomach.
Officials determined that an incubator
was needed to transport the baby to
medical facilities in Reykjavik.
Det. 14 responded by launching the
AFR 715 crew, carrying an incubator on
the emergency flight.
AFR 715 flew to Akranes, and landed
on the town's soccer field.
The crew of Air Force Rescue 715 in-
cluded: First Lieutenant Richard V.
McGirr, aircraft commander; Captain
William S. Kemerling, copilot; Staff
Sergeant Clinton R. Solt, flight mechan-
ic; Sergeant Gregory R. Frandsen and
Senior Airman Edward J. King, rescue
specialists.
The medical team consisted of Lieu-
tenant Commander John A. Bigbee,
flight surgeon and Lieutenant junior
grade Carol Sanders, flight nurse.
Crewmembers onloaded the baby and its
mother. The flight then took off for
Reykjavik, landing eight minutes later.
Baby and mother were offloaded; and,
because of Det. 14's fast response, the
baby was saved.
$1.800 scholarship awarded
Stipends serve seniors
Receiving the largest scholarship at
the twentieth A. T. Mahan High School
commencement exercises Saturday after-
noon, Donna Jacobson was awarded $1,800
by the Keflavik Bowling Association.
She also was the recipient of a $200
scholarship from the Filipino-American
Club.
Other scholarship winners include:
Luke Johnson, who received honors from
the Fleet Reserve Association, Wind-
breaker Club and Top of the Rock Club.
Karen Belin was given a $250 scholar-
ship by the Midnight Sundowner Square
Dance Club.
Sonja Hocketstaller was awarded $750
from the Officers' Wives Club. She also
received $100 from the Women of the
Commissary.
Kathy Spaulding received $300 from
the Parent-Teacher Organization, and
Karen Belin was given $400 by the PTO.
The Honorable James J. Blake, United
States Ambassador to Iceland, delivered
the commencement address.
In his remarks, he said, "...You are
a part of this world, and the only
question is how you will come to grips
with its problems, its opportunities,
its risks and its inevitable disappoint-
ments."
"You are not the same people you were
four years ago. You've changed in the
way you dress, the way you talk, what
you think about, what you read—I sus-
pect, even in what you worry about."
"You're beginning to develop (and)
to project the personality that is
going to mark you for the rest of your
life. You're also beginning to develop
and project the character that will
distinguish you as individuals for the
rest of your life."
"The character you have now is that
of a young adult—your high school ex-
perience has helped to form it, and so,
too, as a simple process of turning out
to be four years old."
"...Life begins every day, and it
consists of what you have done..."
DONNA JACOBSON receives a scholarship
from Tony Cercena, Fil-Am Club presi-
dent.