Chief to Chief

HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- Retired Chief Master Sgt. Esther MacKay, center, is visited by retired Army Sgt. Maj. Beth Lyle, seated left, Senior Master Sgt. Ginger Thompson, seated right, Command Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Sirois, standing left, and Chief Master Sgt. Tom Purtle, standing right, at her home Aug. 29. The group of E-9s from Hanscom (Sergeant Thompson will be promoted to chief master sergeant later this year) came to Chief MacKay’s home in Needham to personally present her with a plaque and medallion on behalf of the Charter Chief’s Group, which appointed her an Honorary Charter Chief. The Charter Chief’s Group was formed by the first group of men who were promoted to chief master sergeant in 1959. Chief MacKay is the third woman to be appointed an Honorary Charter Chief. The visit was also attended by Needham Selectman James Healey, as well as representatives from Congressman Stephen Lynch’s office, and State Representative Lida Harkins’ office. Chief MacKay, who served from 1943 to 1965, shared some of her service memories with the group and described what being a woman in the service was like at a time when men dominated the Armed Forces. “Every minute was a challenge; I loved every minute of it,” she said. At 102 years old, Chief MacKay is the Air Force’s oldest chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo by Walter Santos)