Jerry Hammann

6th Air Mobility Wing

U.S. Air Force

The 6th Air Mobility Wing (6th AMW), based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, traces its origins to the 6th Bombardment Group, established in 1919. Redesignated multiple times throughout its history, the unit gained distinction during World War II with strategic bombing missions in the Pacific Theater. In 1994, the wing assumed its current air mobility mission, providing global air refueling and airlift capabilities, primarily operating the KC-135 Stratotanker. Today, the 6th AMW supports U.S. and allied operations worldwide, serving as a key enabler of rapid global mobility for the United States Air Force.

USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167) was commissioned in 1946 as USS Shackle (ARS-9), a salvage ship for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946 and renamed Acushnet, she served for over 60 years as a medium endurance cutter. Throughout her career, Acushnet conducted search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection missions, primarily in Alaskan and Pacific Northwest waters. Known as "The Queen of the Fleet," Acushnet was the oldest commissioned cutter in the Coast Guard until her decommissioning in 2011.

689th Combat Communications Wing

U.S. Air Force

The 689th Combat Communications Wing was an active unit of the United States Air Force, primarily tasked with providing deployable communications, air traffic control, and information systems support for military operations worldwide. Established in 2009 at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the wing consolidated the Air Force’s combat communications mission, overseeing several subordinate groups and squadrons. The 689th played a critical role in enabling command and control capabilities for expeditionary forces during numerous exercises and real-world contingencies. The wing was inactivated in 2013, with its mission and personnel redistributed to streamline Air Force communications operations.