OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Don Gifford, (left) a former P-51 pilot with the 55th Fighter Group, Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, (center) the 55th Wing commander and the newest member of the 55th Wing Airman Kayla Hubbell, (right) assigned to the 55th Force Support Squadron, perform the ceremonial cutting of the cake during the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. More than 800 members of Team Offutt attended the event to honor the wing's past and celebrate the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Retired Col. Jim Thomas, president of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing Association, presents Staff Sgt. Bernard Byer Jr., a network administrator with the 390th Intelligence Squadron, with the 55th Wing Association Award for Excellence at the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The award is presented to a member of the 55th Wing who best exemplifies the basic tenets of the 55th Wing Association. Sergeant Byer also received the 55th Wing's 2009 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award at the wing's annual awards banquet on Feb. 26. More than 800 members of Team Offutt attended the ball to honor the wing's past and celebrate the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth's current role in the Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, 55th Wing commander, speaks to more than 800 attendees at the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The celebration honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Retired Lt. Col. Howard L. (Lynn) Duncan, gives his acceptance speech after being formally recognized as the 2010 55th Wing Hall of Fame inductee at the 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The event, attended by more than 800 members of Team Offutt, honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Master Sgt. Donald J. Reynolds, Offutt's career assistance advisor and a singer with the The Doc James Band, entertains a crowd of more than 800 people during the 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista April 10. The annual celebration honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The Doc James Band featuring Honey performs at the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. More than 800 members of Team Offutt attended the event to honor the wing's past and celebrate the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Maj. Gen. Thomas K. Andersen, director of requirements for Air Combat Command, addresses a crowd of more than 800 people at the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. General Andersen was the guest of honor for the event which honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Maj. Gen. Thomas K. Anderson, director of requirements for Air Combat Command joins Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, 55th Wing commander, as well as more than 800 other members of Team Offutt, in a toast to the armed forces at the beginning of the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The celebration honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Staff Sgt. Clint Whitney of the Heartland of America Band, sings the national anthem for more than 800 people at the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The celebration honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The 55th Wing Honor Guard places service hats on the Prisoners of War table while more than 800 attendees look on during the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The ceremoy paid tribute to servicemembers who are, or ever have been POWs or missing in action. The ball honored the wing's past and celebrated the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Airman 1st Class Cameron T. Spencer, 55th Wing Honor Guard, places a rose into a vase on the Prisoners of War table during the 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb., April 10. The placing of the rose symbolizes the hope that families and loved ones have for the safe return of servicemembers who are POWs or missing in action. More than 800 members of Team Offutt attended the ball to honor the wing's past and celebrate the current role of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth in today's Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- A 2010 55th Wing Birthday Ball program, sits at a table in the Embassy Suites Ballroom in La Vista, Neb., April 10 in preparation for the ceremony. The event, which was attended by more than 800 members of Team Offutt, is a formal celebration honoring the 55th wing's proud heritage, as well as its current mission and role in the Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger

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55th Wing Birthday Ball

Published April 13, 2010