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File: aaabm_07.txtEven with a tremendous increase in aircraft operations, hydrant refueling systems at Ramstein, Rhein Main, and Incirlik never went down, and had no mission-impacting problems. This was a direct result of standardization in design. Mr Gerald Sanio, the Operations division's USAFE Fuels Facility Engineer, deserves credit for the absolutely flawless performance of the fuel systems at these three bases. He ensured that specifications for these systems were followed during construction, and that equipment items installed were those proven through past performance. Equipment item specifications were based upon their interchangeability, high operational readiness capability, low maintainability and ease of repair. Mr. Sanio's efforts to keep substandard parts suppliers out of USAFE's fuel business and employ only quality contractors and subcontractors proved indispensable to the ultimate success of the operations in SWA: The Standardized systems could readily be cannibalized and cross-supplied to keep the most critical operations going, unlike the old systems for which it sometimes required months to obtain repair parts. The extra traffic through USAFE also put a strain on firefighters and crash rescue assets. Thanks to the close monitoring and fast actions of Mr Tom Smith and Chief Master Sergeant Mike Boley of HQ USAFE's Fire Protection Division, these critical requirements were met. Additional firefighters and equipment were sent to RAF Fairford to support the B-52s based there for operations over SWA. Fire protection was also provided for the contingency hospitals in England, and Mr Bryce Mason's expertise was essential to planning bomb and fuel storage facilities and outlining the emergency action plan for the Moron AB fire department to support their increased mission requirements during DESERT STORM. Once Kuwait was liberated and Iraq was occupied, USAFE firefighters were among the first to be sent in to protect troops and assets, and they were among the longest deployed troops in the theater. Several HQ USAFE Housing and Community Services experts provided expertise for deployed operations. Chief Master Sergeant Jim Halvorson, Senior Master Sergeant Emile Dyson, Master Sergeant John Rohrbaugh, Technical Sergeant Bruce Wood, and Staff Sergeant Glen Siple and Jeff Garnand manned the ESRC around the clock to ensure Services issues received immediate attention. The first hurdle thrown their way was a USEUCOM tasking to ship 1,385 tons of rations to SWA, some of the first available to the troops in the AOR. USAFE filled the gap until stateside logistical agencies could establish sealift resupply. In conjunction with the Headquarters European Region Armed Forces Commissary Service, they coordinated the logistics of transporting these rations to the aerial ports and worked with Military Airlift Command to obtain dedicated airlift for the rations. Among other accomplishments, they directed the movement of 4,000 cots, a Mobile Kitchen Trailer, and 18 Services people into SWA. Services experts provided in- theater support on numerous fronts. They expanded feeding, flight meal and billeting requirements at five enroute facilities (Rhein Main, Torrejon, Moron, and Zaragoza ABs and RAF Mildenhall) and established field kitchens at Torrejon, Rhein Main, and Incirlik to support the heavy transient and deployed personnel traffic. Over 43 Services personnel were deployed within USAFE to augment these functions. During the buildup phase of DESERT SHIELD, rooms in the transients dormitory at Moron AB which were intended to house two people were packed with up to six
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