President Clinton
President Clinton came to visit Osan Air Base in November of 1998 – 22 years ago. Osan AFB is located in South Korea – not far from the border with North Korea. Preparations are well underway in this picture. That hanger, barely visible through the fog, is where I worked for two years. It’s the home of the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron – or 5th RS.
Osan AFB is one of the most forward-located U.S. air force bases in the world. This base is serious business and ready to repel any attack from the North. This is one of many F-16 fighters stationed here.
This is an A-10 “Warthog” close air support aircraft. That huge gatling gun protruding from its nose is designed to shred tanks. These planes were not there for show.
The MH-53 Pave Low helicopter was a long-range special operations and combat search and rescue helicopter for the Air Force. All of this heavy firepower is there ro to defend South Korea from an extremely dangerous and unpredictable regime to the North. The demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two countries is the most militarized border in the world. President Clinton understood this. Too bad Trump doesn’t get it.
Tthere are no U2 training flights at Osan AFB. Every mission is approved by the national command authority. The U2 takes priority over any other airport activities. The only difference between peace and war is the tempo of U2 missions.
Almost ready for President Clinton to address the assembled troops… The presidential seal gets attached to his lectern…
President Trump calls folks like these who all volunteered to deploy to a very dangerous location, thousands of miles from home, “suckers” and “losers”. That really pisses me off!
This is Joy – one of the young enlisted folks that came to hear the president. Joy, who volunteered to deploy to Osan AFB to serve her country happened to be an F-16 crew chief! Does Joy look like a “loser” to you?
Eventually President Clinton gave a great speech in support of the base personnel and explaining how important their service to the nation was. Notice that he’s wearing our squadron cap – The 5th RS is known as the Black Cat squadron and Oscar the Cat is their mascot. That’s his kitty face on the squadron patch.
This is “The Beast”. The armored limousine that is used to transport the President and other high-ranking protectees. It was stached in our hanger, so we passed it every day while walking to our shop at the back of the hanger. A Secret Service agent guarded it 24 hours a day.
This is a likeness of Oscar The Cat on the squadron Patch. Notice that Oscar is impeccably dressed with a formal black tie. Also notice the determined set to his jaw and his steely-eyed gaze. Oscar is ready for action any time!
