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General McNabb enlists city's future heroes

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • Air Force News Agency
ST. LOUIS (AFPN) --  For 40 women and men at the Cardinals vs. Giants baseball game July 7, their thoughts may not have been focused on whether Barry Bonds would break Hank Aaron's lifetime home-run record.

Right hands raised, this young group, standing at Busch Stadium home plate in front of a huge crowd, was sworn into the Air Force during Air Force Week St. Louis.

Despite the size of the crowd, the stadium was a whisper as Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, Air Mobility Command commander from nearby Scott Air Force Base, Ill., swore in the enlistees. The stadium roared at the final words of the oath, "So help me God."

"It's such a special honor to put your life on the line for others so that others might live, and when you think about these great young Americans who ... stand up and raise their right hand and really swear their faith to our Constitution and the American people, I think it is extremely noble," General McNabb said.

"The country looks around and asks 'Who shall we send?'... and we've got these young Americans who say 'Here I am, send me,'" he said.

Another highlight of the pregame events was the first pitch. Missouri Air National Guardsman Senior Master Sgt. Letitia Whitaker was thrilled and proud to represent the Air Force and throw that ball across the plate. Sergeant Whitaker, an air traffic controller who has served for 18 years, helped set up the first airfield in northern Iraq "from scratch." For her hard work and dedication, she was awarded the Bronze Star.

"I'm extremely honored to be out here," said the 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron Airman from St. Joseph, Mo. But, what she hopes comes out of this Air Force Week is that people don't forget all the troops who are in the war and will pray for them every day.

A C-17 Globemaster III also let its presence be known as it flew over the stadium as the final notes of the "Star Spangled Banner" were sung. The crowd went wild as the looming wings were dipped and some of the aircrew waved from the rear of the plane as it passed over.

The plane, from the 437th Operations Support Squadron at Charleston AFB, S.C., also put on a demonstration at the Scott AFB air show that was part of Air Force Week.

From the "Gateway to the West" to the "Gateway to the Air Force," one St. Louis enlistee will be heading to Lackland AFB, Texas, for basic military training in August.

"I want to see the world. I'm not afraid of anything," said Daniel Williams, a St. Louis enlistee.

"(During the enlistment) I was nervous for about 10 seconds. But the feeling I got from it was great. I will never forget this, never," said the soon-to-be-Airman.