Heritage of Freedom program to highlight stories of courage

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Three local veterans will share their compelling, first-hand stories of courage and valor with the Hanscom community Sept. 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Minuteman Club, in the kick off of the free Heritage of Freedom speaker series. 

Their stories bridge the span of 20th Century military history, from World War II, Vietnam, Operations Desert Storm and Allied Force, and each share a common theme of courage under fire and service to country. Joseph Poshefko, an armorer with the legendary Flying Tigers during World War II, Maj. (Ret.) William A. Guenon, Jr., who was a C-130 pilot during the daring raid on North Vietnam's Son Tay prison, and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dale Zelko, an F-117 pilot who was shot down over Serbia, will each offer short presentations on their personal experiences during the Heritage of Freedom event, coinciding with the celebration of the Air Force's 61st birthday. 

The Heritage of Freedom program will highlight compelling accounts of service by different speakers once a quarter. The format will include a 15-minute presentation by each speaker followed by a question and answer session. There is no cost to attend, and free refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited. 

"This event is a great opportunity for all of our Airmen, both military and civilian, to share in the history and camaraderie that joins us together in service to our great country," said Col. David Orr, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "This speaker series will help uphold and promote our Air Force heritage and pass on stories of character and courage from our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of the past to those of the present. I strongly encourage everyone to attend. You won't be disappointed." 

The colonel said that, while each presentation is short and concise, he encourages people to engage with the guest speakers afterwards while enjoying interaction with Hanscom personnel joined in the vocation of military service. 

Mr. Poshefko was an original member of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the Flying Tigers. The Tigers first saw action on Dec. 12, 1941, 14 days after the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor. The Flying Tigers were a group of United States Marines, Navy and Army pilots and ground crew that voluntarily left military service in order to aid the Chinese military in their conflict with Japan, under the authority of President Franklin Roosevelt. The group consisted of three fighter squadrons that trained in Burma before the American entry into World War II with the intention of defending China against Japanese forces. The Tigers were credited with destroying almost 300 aircraft while losing only 14 pilots on combat missions. 

Major Guenon, will explain how he flew "low and slow" in the lead C-130 during the Son Tay raid, operating in radio silence, as he led the unlikely formation of six rescue helicopters carrying 56 Green Berets while avoiding surface-to-air missiles, MiG and anti-aircraft artillery threats around Hanoi. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1984. During his military career he was a command pilot logging more than 5,000 flying hours in 19 different aircraft. These aircraft include a balloon, glider, Tiger Moth, Piper Cub, Ercoupe, a variety of single-engine and multi-engine aircraft and jet and turbo-prop transports such as the DC-3 Gooney Bird, C-141 Starlifter and the C-130 Hercules. Major Guenon authored a book about his Son Tay experience titled, "Secret and Dangerous, Night of the Son Tay P.O.W. Raid." 

Colonel Zelko was a U.S. Air Force command pilot with more than 3,000 hours in fighters and fighter trainers. He flew more than 1,700 hours as an instructor pilot and flight examiner and more than 100 hours of F-117 combat in Operations Desert Storm and Allied Force. Colonel Zelko will recount his experience piloting the only stealth fighter mission shot down during combat, when his F-117 Stealth Fighter went down over Serbia during Operation Allied Force, and the harrowing hours that followed leading up to his rescue. 

"We have members across Team Hanscom enabling heroic actions every day," Colonel Orr said. "I desire every member of the Hanscom community to discover where their unique missions fit into this fight for freedom. We don't recognize enough that our actions in the Electronic Systems Center often have a direct impact in the success or failure of today's fight and in ensuring decisive actions in future conflicts." 

For more information about the Sept. 19 event contact 2nd Lt. Frank Schiavone at (781) 377-5311 or 2nd Lt. Peter Foster at (781) 377-2579.