• Team Vance exercises, trains for emergencies

    People must train like they are expected to perform during tasking times, is what Air Force members are told from their first day. Team Vance is doing it no differently, Tuesday the base practiced procedures to cope with the worst of tragedies, the loss of an aircraft and members of the base team.

  • Shaken baby syndrome can cause brain damage, death

    "Why won't you stop crying?!" the frustrated sitter asked, shaking the child like a baby doll. After the parents return they look in on their sleeping infant, only to find him unconscious. Shaken Baby Syndrome is a serious brain injury that occurs when a caregiver "shakes" a child. It is considered

  • Coffee bar provides atmosphere, refreshment for study sessions

    Since 1968, Lilla Skaggs has served bar drinks that vary from cola to rum and cola. These days, she also pours coffee for customers at Vance Club's new Coffee Study Bar. A nightly bartender at Vance Club for the past two years, Ms. Skaggs said she's happy to serve customers coffee with either cream

  • Vance Airmen help Keesler, south get back on feet

    Following the nation's recent landfall of Category 3 and 4 hurricanes, Americans have pulled together to get Mississippi and Louisiana back on their feet. Hurricane Katrina targeted Gulf Coast regions in late August, breaking New Orleans levees and flooding several areas, including Keesler Air Force

  • VAFB's Young Road named for Oklahoma World War II pilot

    Often the most frustrating projects are the most rewarding. Team Vance's history states the Air Force renamed Enid Air Force Base for Lt. Col. Leon Vance on July 9, 1949. During the ceremony, the Great Salt Planes Air Force Auxiliary Field became Kegelman Auxiliary Field and the streets were renamed

  • Vance youth give 'Locks of Love'

    Two quick snips of the scissors and several of a mother's tears later, and it was done. Catherine O'Bryan finally freed herself of 11 inches worth of weight from her head. However, the 8-year-old's sacrifice Oct. 7 was not in vain, but in the hopes another child would welcome the wig fashioned from

  • Vance road named for patriotic family's son

    Running between Weaver and Channel Streets, Vance Air Force Base's McAffrey Avenue is named for Sgt. Dean G. McAffrey. Called "Bobby Dean" by his family and friends, Sergeant McAffrey came from a family of patriots. In all, five sons and three grandsons served in uniform during World War II.

  • IP survives life-threatening disease

    There's nothing like engaging in a favorite pastime to help ease the transition to a new assignment. But for an instructor pilot now with the 8th Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base, engaging in a favorite pastime nearly cost him his life. Three weeks after arriving at Kadena Air Base,

  • Why pilots torch pianos at club

    Since there is a piano burning at the Vance O'Club tonight after Class 05-14's assignment night, I thought I would provide a little history on the tradition of burning pianos. As in any fighter-pilot story, I guarantee 10 percent is true. The tradition is actually tied back to the British sometime

  • Dorm name honors first USAF enlisted casualty of Vietnam

    The first known Air Force combat loss of the Vietnam War occurred on a classified mission. Some aspects of the operation remain classified but much of the story can be told. The leaflet drop mission had become routine in the months Detachment 2, 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron had spent in