DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
The commander of the Eighth Air Force met the Airmen who carry out the missions of the 7th Bomb Wing and 317th Airlift Group during a visit of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, April 17-19.
During his visit, Maj. Gen. Thomas Bussiere and his wife Barbara, toured several squadrons to recognize Airmen on their hard work and accomplishments as they provide mission support to not only Dyess, but to the Mighty Eighth.
Bussiere began the three-day visit with a wing mission brief in the 7th Bomb Wing Headquarters, followed by a tour of the 7th Component Maintenance Squadron’s avionics flight and the 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron 3-bay hangar.
While touring several other Dyess facilities, Bussiere took time to coin several Airmen for their dedication in supporting the Air Force mission as a whole.
“What we do in the Mighty Eighth is important to our nation,” said Bussiere. “And what you do to support the mission of the 7th Bomb Wing is critical. Your skill sets are in high demand.”
Part of his visit included an all-call in the base theater where he spoke about the importance of family, the bomber Airmen ethos and perseverance. Bussiere also highlighted an important day in history: April 18th, 1942.
The date marked 75 years since the Doolittle Raiders successfully completed the first bomber attack from an aircraft carrier in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.
“Those Doolittle Raiders were true American heroes,” Bussiere said. “But here’s a dirty little secret, they’re just like you.”
After the commander’s all-call, Bussiere visited several more units before ending his visit with a B-1B Lancer flight.
Throughout his time at Dyess, Bussiere stressed his gratitude and admiration for bomber Airmen.
“We’re busier now than we have been in decades,” Bussiere said. “We know what we do is too important to come in and do a half-way job of anything. Each of us have an obligation to do the best of our ability and excel in everything we do. We can honor and recognize individual excellence, but we get our job done as a team.”