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62nd Air Force Ball

  • Published
  • By Christi Bird
  • 325th Fighter Wing/ Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  
More than 700 Tyndall Airmen and community members attended the 62nd Annual Air Force Ball Sept. 12 at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Fla.

The evening began with a cocktail hour and transitioned into dinner in the Grand Ballroom, where a jazz ensemble from the Band of the Air Force Reserve, Robbins Air Force Base, GA, performed.

Dinner was preceded by the traditional cake cutting ceremony. The cake was cut by the most junior honored guest, Airman Jerylmayne White, 325th Air Maintenance Squadron F-15 Jet Engine Mechanic, and Brigadier General Darryl Roberson, 325th Fighter Wing Commander.

The theme of the night was "Wingman, Leader, Warrior: A Tradition of Honor," something guest speaker retired Col. Leo K. Thorsness embodies. Col. Thorsness was an F-105 Thunderchief pilot during the Vietnam War.

Col. Thorsness' job was finding and destroying surface-to-air missile sites. On his 93rd mission, Col. Thorsness was shot down over North Vietnam and for almost six years he served as a prisoner of war.

During his speech, Col. Thorsness relayed a story of a fellow POW, Navy Lt. Mike Christian, who had fashioned an American Flag from an old handkerchief during captivity. When guards found the flag, Lt. Christian endured severe torture from the guards at the Hao Lo POW Camp, but never gave up. A few weeks after this beating Lt. Christian found another scrap of cloth and began creating another American Flag. He demonstrated leadership through his actions and determination to stay true to his country.

Col. Thorsness said that even though Lt. Christian wasn't the highest ranking officer in the POW camp he set the standard for leadership by standing strong during his captivity.

The colonel ended his speech with five words to live by: "Do what's right - help others."

Following Col. Thorsness' speech the dance floor was opened and guests were entertained by the Steve Wiggins Band.

To view and download photos from the 2009 Tyndall Air Force Ball visit : www.tyndall.af.mil/photos/index.asp