Military might on display

A visit to Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Noster, Mo, made for a busy day.

About 50 folks from around the state, including Sharon Stinson, Bob Blank, Steve Strong and I from Cape Girardeau, were guests Tuesday of the Missouri Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, with Butch Boyd as our affable host.

I learned so many things on the whirlwind trip that I hardly know where to start, but let me try to recap:

1. This is not your father's Air Force base. My wife grew up not far from Whiteman. During World War II, her father worked at the base, making his contribution to the war effort through his wizardry with sheet metal. The last time I was at the base was a few years ago, when it looked like a lot of other military bases around the country at the time: dreary and frayed.

Not any more. Whiteman is the showcase of military bases. Sleek buildings house offices, living quarters, dining areas, maintenance shops, commissary, base exchange, recreation facilities and much more, all laid out in pleasant suburban (or small-town) surroundings.

2. Stealth is wealth. At least that's the case for Whiteman, which was chosen to be the only operational base for the B-2 Stealth bomber, and which is the home of the 509th Bomb Wing.

It is because of the B-2 (which can fly to Afghanistan and back nonstop) that the Pentagon has seen fit to make the quality of the base match the quality of the aircraft.

If you've seen these amazing flying machines on TV or in books, you have some sense of the aviation innovations contained in each of these $2.2 billion packages.

But when you see one up close, climb up into its cockpit, talk to pilots and watch these monstrous triangles take off and land, you can't help but think about power and military might.

3. It looks like a video game, but it's not. In addition to the B-2, Whiteman also is home to 442nd Fighter Wing (under the command of Col. Roger Disrud), which flies the A-10 Thunderbolt, better known as the Warthog. This aircraft is designed for air support of ground forces. It's most prominent feature is the 30-mm Gatling cannon in its nose.

Our visit included a look at an A-10 flight simulator used to train pilots. We were given an opportunity to "fly" the plane and fire the cannon at a target on land. Imagine 50 grownups itching for a chance to sit at the controls, getting a 30-second flight lesson from an A-10 pilot and then taking off.

See. Dreams do come true.

4. History is still being made. Col. Douglas Raaberg, commander of the 509th, is a good teacher. In just a few minutes he was able to put a lot of history into perspective. He reminded us that the bombers and crews that delivered the August 1945 atomic bombs to Japan were able to go only because thousands of men had died to make those flights possible. Today, with aircraft like the B-2, two planes are able to set the stage for thousands of ground forces to engage the enemy and complete their missions with minimal U.S. casualties.

5. But it all boils down to people. Say what you will about the splendid base and the incredible B-2 and the hard-working A-10, but if you don't have a crack team in the air and on the ground, you don't have much.

If Tuesday's visitors were paying attention, they saw a lot of bright, smart, well-trained, dedicated, friendly, alert, informed and courteous military personnel. And it wasn't just the public affairs folks, who are trained to put on the Air Force's best face. It was the bus driver, the mechanics, the men and women going to and from the dining hall -- everybody exuded confidence that comes from high-quality training and preparation.

If you have any qualms about America's military readiness or the capabilities of our defenders in uniform, try to arrange a visit to Whiteman Air Force Base. You will leave convinced that you are safer here than anywhere else on Earth.

R. Joe Sullivan is the editor of the Southeast Missourian.