Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, Sept 7 2018

Thunderbolt News http://www.luke.af.mil
Thunderbolt takes action, saves three families
September 2018 3 Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
IN BRIEF
Retiree Appreciation Day
Luke Air Force Base Retiree Appreciation Day is 8 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 20 in the Navy Operations Support Center. Flu, shingle, pneumonia and tetanus shots will be given. Displays and demonstrations include weapons, military working dogs and more. The commissary and exchange will also feature sidewalk sales. Participants must have an ID that will get them on base. Enter at the South Gate, take the first right and continue on the same road across to the north side of the base. The NOSC is on the right. For more information, call the retiree office at 623-935-3923.
Munitions storage area closure
The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Storage Area will be closed Sept. 7 through 14 to conduct a 100-percent munitions inventory. Only emergency issues will be handled during this time. Normal operations will resume Sept. 15. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Scott Van Scoyoc at 623- 856-5493 or Staff Sgt. Michael Woods at 623-856-8479.
Thrift Shop and Airman’s Attic
Thrift Shop hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for sales and 9 a.m. to noon for consignments and donations Wednesday and Friday. An after-hours donation bin is available. The shop is also open the third Saturday of the month in conjunction with the Air- man’s Attic. The location is Bldg. 750. For more information, call 623-935-5782.
October flightline feast
The October flightline feast is presented by the Luke Air Force Base Chaplain Corps at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 4 behind Hangar 914. The theme is Oktoberfest.
Arizona Winds Concerts
Music for a Darkened Theater is Oct. 21, Christmas Re- flections is Dec. 9, A Bernstein Centennial Celebration is Feb. 17, 2019, Water Works is April 7, 2019, and High Adventure is May 19. All concerts are at 3 p.m. at Cactus High Auditorium except Christmas Reflections is at 2:30 p.m. at Midwestern University. All concerts are free. The band is directed by retired Lt. Col. Rich Shelton, US Air Force Band conductor. For more information, call Scott Stowe at 602-377-4786 or email at scott. stowejr@cox.net.
Thunderbolt cup
The Thunderbolt Club is Sept. 27 and 28 and includes 30 events. Individuals and teams can register now through Sept. 17. For more information, contact the group POC at:
56th Mission Support Group - 623-856-7006 56th Maintenance Group - 623-856-3663 56th Medical Group - 623-856-9888
56th Operations Group - 623-856-6915
56th Fighter Wing staff agencies - 623-856-3977
Worklife live webinars
The Federal Occupational Health Behavioral Health Services is offering the following webinars at 11 a.m. To register, go to FOH4You.com. For more information, call 800-222-0364.
• Bullying Basics Sept. 12
Learn the signs of bullying among children, as well as the symptoms of a hostile work environment. Discussion on the importance of accepting others, mitigating bias, preventing harassment, and reporting abuse.
•Time-Saving Success Sept. 26
There is only so much we can accomplish in a day. Learn how to become more efficient, take back control of the day, become more productive and become a time-saving master.
• The Opioid Crisis Sept. 26
Learn about opioid addiction and symptoms, the types of opioids, and the effects this drug is having on society. Learn the steps of rehabilitation and recovery, as well as ways to cope with a loved one who is going through addiction and recovery.
Toastmasters on base
Toastmasters meets noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in the Quiet Study Room in the Luke Air Force Base Library. Improve communication and leadership skills through prepared and impromptu speaking. Materials are provided. The cost is $20 to join and semiannual dues of $45. For more information, call Lynne Nutter at 623-856-9838 or 602-740-6124.
Story and photo by Airman 1st Class ALEXANDER COOK
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Powerful gusts waded between the rows of houses lining the street of a sunny suburb of Manteca, California. It was a hot July day and Tech. Sgt. Michael Cleary, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintainer, noted that it was unusually windy in his hometown.
He had just left his aunt’s house, a stop along the way on a family visit vacation, when he noticed a peculiar scent in the air.
“I could smell smoke, but I wasn’t sure if it was someone who was barbecuing,” Cleary said. “Shortly after, I noticed ash floating in the air and saw flames coming over some houses.”
Cleary spotted a blazing fire quickly spreading through the neighborhood, engulfing ash trees and cars, and traveling toward other homes just one block away from his aunt’s house. Without hesitation, he jumped out of his car, ran to the scene of the fire and sprang into action.
“My first thought was to see if any one needed help, so I ran up to the first house where the tenants were still inside sleeping, woke them up, and helped them exit,” Cleary said.
Cleary looked over and noticed the fire quickly spreading toward two other homes nearby, so he bolted over to help those as well. Inside one of the homes was Carin Rhodes, a tenant of the property, who heard Cleary shouting just outside, “Hey! Hey! There’s a fire in your backyard!”
“I rushed to a window where I could see that there were three Modesto ash trees on fire,” Rhodes said. “I could feel the searing heat through the window. As I ran to the front door, I could still hear the yelling man alerting my neighbors. I watched this man go from house to house alerting the neighborhood without hesitation. All the while, I was completely amazed at how
Tech. Sgt. Michael Cleary, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, aircraft structural maintainer poses for a portrait Aug. 6 in Glendale. On July 14, Cleary aided in saving the lives of three families from a fire while on leave in his hometown of Manteca, California.
quickly he reacted to everything and how fluid he was.”
As an aircraft maintenance professional in the U.S. Air Force, Cleary receives routine fire safety training to prevent the spread of aircraft related fires, should they happen.
“That training helped me remain calm throughout the situation,” Cleary said. “The whole process felt instinctual; [I needed] to prevent the spread of fire the best I could.”
Cleary put himself in harm’s way by grabbing a water hose and attacking the flames head on before the Manteca Fire Department ar- rived on scene. He even risked his physical health by inhaling smoke.
“I had a cough for the next two days but it was all worth it knowing that I played a small part in pre- venting three families from possi- bly losing their homes,” Cleary said.
Within 30 minutes, Cleary, along with the Manteca Fire Depart- ment, had cleared out three homes, completely doused the flames, and helped ensure the safety of three
families. With his help, Cleary prevented catastrophic damages to their homes.
“I thank God for blessing my family with this ‘military angel,’ not only once for protecting me, but twice for protecting my fam- ily, neighbors, and our country,” Rhodes said.
Cleary’s inspiration to serve others stems from his grandfather who was a volunteer firefighter and police officer in Manteca for more than 20 years.
“I feel that what I did, anyone should have done,” Cleary said. “As a kid, I grew up pretending to be a firefighter. For me, this was like my ultimate childhood dream.
“I have no doubt in my mind that this was something my grandpa would have done,” Cleary said as prideful emotion filled his eyes. “I think we’re given opportunities throughout our life to make differ- ences, and it’s on us whether we take action and do it. Given the opportunity, I will always do what I can to help someone who’s in need.”.
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC
Fiscal 2018 graduates
8th FS ........................................................... 22 21st FS (calendar year).................................. 8 61st FS .......................................................... 34 62nd FS......................................................... 46 63rd FS ......................................................... 11 69th FS ........................................................... 0 309th FS ....................................................... 32 310th FS ....................................................... 55
311th FS ....................................................... 36 314th FS ...................................................... 39 425th FS (calendar year) ............................... 0 550th FS ...................................................... 41 56th TRS ...................................................... 61 607th ACS.................................................. 234 372nd TRS, Det. 12 ................................... 843 944th OG, Det. 2 ............................................ 6
Hours flown F-35 12,061.70 F-16 14,582.40
Sorties flown 8,031
10,872 (As of Sept. 3, 2018)
T-Bolts
Deployed around the world.
229 Luke Airmen are deployed to 16 locations