In a recent one-on-one interview with Eastword News, Litchfield praised the efforts of area city officials and the local chambers of commerce to aid base personnel and their families.

“It doesn’t get any better than the support we get from the surrounding communities,” he said. “If I have a need here at the base, someone will come and give us the support necessary.”

Litchfield, commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker, said he’s grateful community groups and leaders assist the families that are left behind when airmen deploy to war zones.

“We ask a lot of our airmen. We ask them to deploy and leave their families. As long as we take care of them and their families they will do anything we ask of them,” the general said. “Having leaders in the community who care means everything to us and to our airmen. Our people appreciate the way they care.”

“We have a group of people who work for the Department of Defense and vol unteered their services to this country so we can maintain our freedoms. To deploy is a whole different world compared to going to work at 7:30 and going home at 5. That’s why we try to support the whole family, in addition to the war fighter.”

Looking past the financial benefit Tinker Air Force Base brings to the area and the state, Fry said he and other community leaders are privileged to be involved with the military.

“We are truly blessed to have these men and women here. I believe it’s our responsibility to support them,” he said.

As part of that process, city officials present Tinker airmen and sailors selected for quarterly awards with a free night at the Sheraton Hotel in Midwest City, plus a meal prepared by the hotel’s chef.

“It feels so minimal, but we do that for each award winner and their spouse. It’s such a small thing, and they say it doesn’t happen in other (military) cities,” Fry said.

In addition to the current Tinker leadership, Fry had words of praise for former base commander Col. Robert LaBrutta and Maj. Gen. David Gillette, who retired in 2011.

Adopting the 552 nd

Last year, Del City’s Chamber of Commerce adopted the 552nd Air Control Wing and the 5,500 members of the unit. During the chamber’s Feb. 2 banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the 552nd was honored for its impact on Tinker and national security. The 552nd is home to the E-3 Sentry or AWACS aircraft that patrol skies above the U.S. and war zones overseas.

During the ceremony, Col. Tom Engle accepted proclamations from Gov. Mary Fallin and Del City Mayor Brian Linley declaring March as “552nd Air Control Wing Month.”

Linley also presented Engle with the Oklahoma Peacekeeper Award in recognition of the unit’s mission to preserve peace worldwide.

Tinker reciprocates

The idea of support isn’t a one-way street. Tinker leaders and employees are constantly assisting the Mid-Del communities in a variety of ways.

During Christmas, several Tinker groups collected money and purchased gifts for underprivileged students in the Mid-Del school district. When destructive wildfires struck Eastern Oklahoma County in 2009 and 2011, Tinker’s firefighters responded to the crisis.

Fry attributes Tinker’s reciprocity to its leaders and their quest to build a solid partnership with surrounding communities.

“The reason these types of men are put into these positions is because they’re great leaders. General Litchfield is as top shelf as they come. He’s a dynamic leader and we are blessed to have those types of men in our community.”

Litchfield, a two-star general who took over as the ALC commander late last year, publicly expressed his appreciation for the many community volunteers during the Jan. 20 Midwest City Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Specifically, he cited Mike and Pam Kloiber for their many years of support for the base, the airmen and their families. Mike Kloiber is president of Tinker Federal Credit Union.

Litchfield and members of the Tinker leadership team presented the Kloibers with the Tinker Medallion, which is usually reserved for airmen who have outstanding records and work performance.

tfarley@eastwordnews.com