Capital Guardian - Fall 2010

Inside:
Dedication of
the Major General
David F. Wherley Jr. and
Ann C. (Strine) Wherley
Family Readiness Center
Hometown
Heroes Salute
recognizes
service of
Air Guard
men and
women

www.dc.ng.mil
STAFF
Commanding General
Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz
Public Affairs Officers
Lt. Col. Kevin M. McAndrews
Lt. Col. Brad Benson
Capt. Byron Coward
Capt. Elizabeth Kreft
2nd Lt. Miranda Summers
2nd Lt. Alán N. Ortiz
Staff Writers
Tech. Sgt. Tyrell Heaton
Staff Sgt. G.H. Cureton
Spc. Jesse Searls, Historian
Photography
Senior Master Sgt. Ray Wilkerson
Tech. Sgt. William Parks
Tech. Sgt. Dennis Young
Sgt. Khalia Jackson
Tech. Sgt. Gareth Buckland
Bob Ulin, Publisher
Marie Lundstrom, Editor
Gloria Schein, Graphic Artist
Chris Kersbergen, Darrell George, Advertising Sales
Toll Free: (866) 562-9300 • Fax: (907) 562-9311
www.AQPpublishing.com
Published by AQP Publishing, Inc., a private firm in no
way connected with the District of Columbia National
Guard, under written contract with the District of Columbia
National Guard. This District of Columbia National Guard
magazine is an authorized publication for employees and
military members of the District of Columbia National
Guard. Contents of this publication are not necessarily the
official views of, or endorsed by, the District of Columbia,
the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, or the
District of Columbia National Guard.
The appearance of advertising in this publication,
including inserts or supplements, does not constitute
endorsement by the District of Columbia, DoD, the District
of Columbia National Guard, or the Contractor of the
products or services advertised.
Everything advertised in this publication shall be made
available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status,
physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit
factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by
the office of Public Affairs, Joint Forces Headquarters –
District of Columbia National Guard. All photographs and
graphic devices are copyrighted to the District of Columbia
National Guard unless otherwise indicated.
Features
DC Guard’s first Hispanic command sergeant major . . . . . . . . . 6
Hometown Heroes Salute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The DC Guard as it was – A base of our own: Camp Simms . . . 10
121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) first to deploy,
first to perform with UH-72 medevac helicopters . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Family Readiness Center dedicated to
Maj. Gen. Wherley and his wife, Ann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Departments
Commanding General’s Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
A word from the Senior Enlisted Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
And the rockets’ red
glare. The DC National
Guard Joint Honor Guard
stands ready to present the
colors during the national
anthem at the Washington
Redskins opening home game
win over the Dallas Cowboys
on Sept. 12. From left, Staff
Sgt. Jenna Hall, First Lt. Andre
Slaughter, Sgt. Derrick Carter,
Tech. Sgt. Kevin Threat, Staff
Sgt. Anthony McKinney and
Spc. Emell Monlyn.
Photo: Tech. Sgt. William Parks
Fall 2010
Photo: Spc. Jesse Searls
D.C. Councilman Phil Mendelson was the keynote speaker during the
Hometown Salute Ceremony at the D.C. National Guard Armory on
Sept. 11. More than 800 airmen and women were recognized for
deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan since the events on 9/11.
Story and photos on pages 8 and 9.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 1

Commanding General’s Column
Celebrating the DC National Guard
I often comment on the operations
tempo here in the DC National Guard.
Our involvement in multiple operations
and deployments around the globe, as
well as our work here supporting our
community, is something we should
celebrate.
Last year we enjoyed a very successful
Military Ball. It was a magnificent event
where we were able to dress in our formal
uniforms and break bread together in a
social setting. The event sold out early
as hundreds of you, your spouses and/or
significant others made the evening both
enjoyable and memorable.
So many of you deserve praise for
putting this event together, but I want to
especially thank Lt. Col. Anthony Jackson,
who did an outstanding job of honchoing
the team. He’s at it again this year for
what promises to be an even better event
at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Md.,
Friday, Nov. 12. We booked a larger
building so even more members and
spouses can participate. There will be
excellent food, music and company. We
have also reserved a block of rooms at a
nearby hotel for those who drive in from
out of town. I encourage everyone to
reserve your seats early so you can join
us and enjoy this time together with
your fellow Capital Guardians.
We were also glad to have the
opportunity to celebrate and honor our
Hometown Heroes here on Sept. 11.
Hundreds of our Air Guard men and
women have deployed overseas since
9/11/2001, and many have deployed
multiple times. Members who deploy to
war zones deserve all the support,
recognition and thanks we can offer.
We were joined by many senior military
and civilian community leaders at the
event. Special thanks to D.C. Councilman
Phil Mendelson, our keynote speaker,
who represented the District, our hometown.
Let’s never forget the sacrifice
deploying members make as they serve
our community and nation.
It’s equally important to recognize
sacrifices made by family members who
remain behind. When members deploy,
we too often forget that children still need
help with homework, yards need mowing
and appliances break down. The Family
Readiness Center is where family members
can get the help they need when spouses
are gone and emergencies – whether
major or minor – arise. Support for
our family members is just one of the
things that makes serving in the Guard
special.
We recently dedicated the Family
Readiness Center in honor of two people
who devoted themselves to taking care
of the families of our Soldiers and Airmen
– Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley, our
former Commanding General, and his
wife, Ann. The dedication ceremony was
both fitting and deeply moving. Congresswoman
Eleanor Holmes Norton, our
keynote speaker, told the crowd, “I am
proud to have worked alongside Gen.
Wherley in advocating for DC National
Guardsmen and their families.” I share
Congresswoman Holmes Norton’s pride
in having served alongside Gen. Wherley
and am pleased we have honored their
memory. They were extraordinary
people who – as their dedication plaque
reads on the outside of the Family
Readiness Center – loved people. They
will never be forgotten. And now that we
have “Ann and Dave’s Place” in the
Armory, they will always have a place on
Capitol Hill.
One of our currently deployed units
represents a couple of firsts in today’s
military. The 121st Medical Company
(Air Ambulance) is now deployed in
Hohenfels, Germany. They are the first
medevac-configured UH-72 Lakota unit
to deploy overseas as well as the first
unit to perform medevac missions with
the Lakota helicopter. They deployed in
July and recently hosted 23 delegates,
from 17 nations, representing the
Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe. The 121st briefed the
delegation and presented an aerial
demonstration of the new aircraft.
In between all the events of the
Sept. 11-12 drill, we were able to enjoy
our annual DCNG picnic at Bolling Air
Force Base. It was made possible by a
lot of hard work and the American
Veterans (AMVETS), the Public Relations
Society of America, Concrete Mixes Inc.,
Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz
Commanding General
Mr. Reggie Green, Georgetown
Cupcakes and the commissary at Bolling.
On behalf of the DCNG, let me
personally thank each of our donors for
their support of our morale, welfare and
recreation fund.
There is much more news to
share with you in this issue of the
Capital Guardian. Keep up the great
work, and keep those who are currently
deployed – and their families – in your
thoughts.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 3

A word from the Senior Enlisted Leader
Fully engaged in meeting the mission
As always, we were all fully engaged
in meeting and exceeding the mission
requirements these past few months. In
addition, your senior leadership was busy
attending conferences and meetings to
ensure we have the most up-to-date
information to share with you.
One such conference was the 2010
National Guard Volunteer Workshop/
NGB Family Program Conference in
New Orleans. The conference started
with The Adjutants General meeting
hosted by Gen. Craig R. McKinley,
Chief of NGB. The TAGs were briefed
on the strategic vision for the Guard. It
was an awesome experience to be part
of the audience and to hear the issues
firsthand. Just as important was hearing
the fixes that we have to implement, some
of which are at the NCO level.
We also attended U.S. Southern
Command’s State Partnership Program
Conference. The program links states
in the U.S. with partner countries to
support U.S. security objectives. The
program’s goals reflect an evolving international
affairs mission for the Guard
using the unique civil-military nature of
the Guard to interact with both active
and reserve forces of foreign countries.
We are partnered with Jamaica, whose
military personnel have visited our units
on many occasions. In turn, we have
participated in exercises in Jamaica,
strengthening our bonds in the region.
The whirlwind conference attendance
continued with the EANGUS National
Conference, the NGAUS Conference,
the Enlisted Force Advisory Council
meeting and the Command Sergeants
Major Advisory Council meeting, to
name a few. What these meetings and
conferences had in common were great
speeches from our most senior military
leaders and unlimited opportunities to
gather information and network.
Taking care of our soldiers and airmen
goes hand-in-hand with taking care of
the mission. We did that flawlessly
during September’s drill. The Land
Component Commander’s Fun Run was
excellent for morale. Rumor has it that
we woke the neighborhood up while
calling cadence. What a great way to
start the morning.
The 113th Wing’s Hometown Heroes
Salute and A Taste of Diversity were
awesome events as well. HHS recognizes
those airmen who deployed on orders
for more than 30 consecutive days in a
contingency operation since Sept. 11,
2001. More than 842 airmen were
eligible for recognition, and most walked
across the stage to receive their awards.
In addition, family members received
awards, which included a pen set for the
spouse, dog tags for the children and a
Center of Influence medallion to present
to a person of significance who supported
the military member during their
deployment. There was an extensive list
of distinguished visitors in attendance
who spoke impressively of the event. But
I think that our most coveted comments
came from our airmen and their family
members, who said it was the best awards
program they had ever been a part of.
Kudos to Master Sgt. Frank Coombs for
keeping all the Chiefs focused and playing
an instrumental role in making the
event a success.
The following day, we dedicated the
Family Readiness Center in honor of
Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr. and his
wife, Ann. The center bears their name,
but will unofficially be known as “Ann
and Dave’s Place.” Please stop by to see
the wonderful work that the family team
did to honor the Wherleys, who cared so
much about families.
We capped off this memorable weekend
with Maj. Gen. Schwartz observing
the coin toss at the Redskins’ opening
game against the Cowboys. Our Joint
Honor Guard presented the colors while
Sgt.Vicki Golding of the 257th Army
Band sang the national anthem. It was
one of the most awesome renditions of
the song I’ve ever heard. As she finished
the final note, the roar of 80,000 fans
was electric.
Each time we’ve participated in the
opening ceremonies for the Redskins,
we have won, so I think we’re bringing
them good luck.
I’d like to give a special thanks to
Mr. Earl Stafford, Chairman and CEO
of The Stafford Foundation, for his
many acts of support to the DCNG. His
latest action was giving his Redskins
Chief Master Sgt. Reginald Edwards
Suite Package to 26 deserving soldiers,
airmen and their family members to
attend the game between the Washington
Redskins and the Houston Texans.
Thanks to each and every Capital
Guardsman, whether military, civilian or
retired, for working to make the DCNG
a premiere organization.
Sgt. Vicki Golding belts out the
national anthem to a packed stadium
at FedEx Field. As she finished, the
roar of the crowd of more than 80,000
was deafening.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 5
Photo: Spc. Jesse Searls

Mentoring a Top Priority for CSM Espinosa
DC Guard’s first Hispanic command sergeant major
By Sgt. Khalia Jackson
DCNG Public Affairs Detachment
In his 33rd year of military service,
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard N.
Espinosa was appointed as command
sergeant major of the DCNG Land
Component Command, making him the
first Hispanic Capital Guardian to hold
the top noncommissioned officer post.
Espinosa may be a part of a minority
in the military, but there is nothing minor
about his performance and drive to make
a difference. As a believer in the strength
of diversity, he also displays an unwavering
commitment to mentoring for all
military members.
“This is an organization that is fair
and open to all,” he said. “It would be
great to see more Hispanics join the DC
Guard. If there is a position available and
a Hispanic is the best person, the Hispanic
will get it.”
Now married for 27 years with two
daughters, Espinosa remains focused on
not only his family and career, but also
the careers of others. He accepted the
command sergeant major position so he
would have the opportunity to make
changes.
Of Mexican descent, Espinosa enlisted
in the military in 1977 in the active duty
Army. He left his home in Fremont,
Calif., for his next duty station at Fort
Myer, Va., to be a military policeman in
6 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010
the 561st Military Police Company. At
that time, he met his wife, Diane, and
made the DC area his new home.
Espinosa served the next 13 years in
the Army Reserves as a drill sergeant and
noncommissioned officer instructor. He
eventually joined the DC Guard’s
372nd MP Battalion, becoming the first
sergeant for the 825th and 274th MP
Companies.
Sgt. Maj. Espinosa with Czech Republic Sergeant Major and British Sergeant
Major outside the Joint Training Academy in Basrah, Iraq.
Sgt. Maj. Espinosa at the Joint Training Academy in Basrah with the Commandant
of the Iraqi Border Police and the Commandant of the Iraqi Police.
Espinosa’s next assignments were as
provost sergeant major and then brigade
sergeant major for the 260th MP
Company. During his tenure as brigade
sergeant major, he served as commandant
for the 260th Regional Training Institute.
He returned to the 260th MP Company
until it was deactivated and soon accepted
a new position as command sergeant
major of the Mobilization Augmentation
Command. During his career, he has been
in every leadership position from squad
leader to brigade command sergeant major.
Concurrent with performing weekend
drills and annual training as a traditional
Guardsman, he served with the DC
Metropolitan Police Department for
28 years. He is currently on a leave of
absence. He was assigned as a detective
for child abuse, arson, adult sex crimes,
homicide, domestic violence, white collar
crimes and internal affairs. During that
time, he served on two federal task
forces; the Drug Enforcement Agency
and the Secret Service.
Over the years, he has acquired an
additional duty as part of the liaison
between law enforcement and the military
in the metropolitan area.
“I applied the values learned in the
military to the police department and

Sgt. Maj. Espinosa,
a classic automobile
enthusiast, poses
with a vintage paddy
wagon he restored.
was honored to have the opportunity to exchange ideas between
organizations,” Espinosa said.
He is continuing that exchange as the new full-time command sergeant
major for the Land Component Command. He spends much of his time
espousing the core values of the Army and ensuring compliance with
regulations.
Espinosa, a Bronze Star recipient, is known to lead by example,
expecting that his soldiers reinforce what they have learned by individually
setting the standard, whether it is the proper wear of the uniform,
maintaining military bearing or the regular attendance at military schools
for career development.
Espinosa has pride in the organization for its overall support from
both the NCO and officer corps in enforcing changes.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time in the military,” he said. “I
could have continued to be a traditional soldier, but felt that I had a lot
more to offer and accepted joining the DC Guard full time.”
Each day is a new day of learning for him, he says, and he intends to
pass that on to the soldiers of the DC Guard.
As a plainclothes policeman, Command Sgt. Maj. Richard N. Espinosa
worked as a bodyguard for Nelson Mandela, the famous South
African anti-apartheid activist who served as president of South Africa
from 1994-1999. Mandela, who spent almost three decades in prison,
visited the U.S. shortly after his release in 1990.
Performing double
duty to catch criminals
By Lt. Col. Kevin McAndrews
Public Affairs Officer
With three decades under his belt as a Metropolitan
Police officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Richard
N. Espinosa is pretty well rounded when it comes
to catching criminals. He’s tracked them down
from all over the globe, and even trains Secret
Service agents to catch thieves who steal money
electronically.
One of the high-profile cases he recently helped
crack was tracking down a Washington, D.C.,
man who poured gasoline on a bouncer at the
Good Guys tavern near Georgetown. Vasile Graure
was convicted in March 2009 of severely burning
employee Vladimir Djordjevic, who died in May
2010. Djordjevic had been hospitalized since
Nov. 4, 2007, the night he was burned over most
of his body. Graure is now charged with murder.
Espinosa helped arrest Graure, and then went
on active duty in Africa. He was flown home during
his tour so he could testify at Graure’s trial.
Graure, a Romanian citizen who worked as
a trucker, spent lots of money at the club in
Georgetown the night of the crime. He was thrown
out after he tried to take a picture of a dancer with
his cell phone, which is prohibited by the club.
He came back later with a container filled with
gas, pouring it on Djordjevic and then setting him
on fire with a lighter.
Espinosa helped track him down through bank
records. After putting Graure under surveillance
for about a day, Espinosa and another detective
got a warrant for his arrest. When they arrived at
the hotel Graure was staying at in Alexandria, Espinosa
spotted second-degree burns on Graure’s
hands, evidence that was later used in the trial to
convict the arsonist.
Espinosa was commended for his work on the
case by Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier,
the U.S. Attorney, and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
In another case, he received praise from his
boss and the U.S. Attorney for his efforts at
catching a Virginia woman who stole $125,000
using her employer’s credit card for her personal
expenses. He was also commended by the U.S.
Secret Service.
Espinosa continues to assist the Secret Service
with tracking down criminals using bank records.
His skills includes training agents to
snag criminals who steal funds electronically.
Whether he’s serving as an anti-terrorism
expert on active duty or helping civilian law
enforcement here at home, Espinosa expects to
continue to provide his investigative skills when
and where they are needed.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 7

8 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010

Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 9

By 2nd Lt. Miranda Summers
JFHQ-DC Command Historian
Imagine a long weekend of training.
Your unit does rifle qualifications, land
navigation or maybe vehicle maintenance.
You might even stop by the United States
Property and Fiscal Office to check on
your pay. Until 1976, on your average
drill weekend you could have done all of
this within the boundaries of the District
of Columbia – on National Guard-owned
land! This area, now full of residences
and a bustling commercial area, would be
nearly impossible to recognize as training
grounds for the Capital Guardians. But
at one time, a swath of land in southeast
Washington stretching from Maryland’s
Prince George’s County border to
13th and Alabama Avenue, the area now
known as Congress Heights, belonged
to the DC Guard.
Camp Simms, as the base was called,
can be traced back as far as 1863 when
the Army leased it for three years during
10 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010
the Civil War. For a time after that, the
land returned to private ownership. The
Hanson family, who had previously been
enslaved, purchased a large tract of land
including some of what would become
Camp Simms. At one point, the land
was used as a waterfront resort area. At
the outbreak of World War I, Congress
appropriated $50,000 to purchase a
rifle range and encampment area for
National Guard troops. The area of land
in southeast Washington seemed like a
natural choice since the Army had been
leasing parts of it for 12 years. For
$44,714, the National Guard purchased
169.31 acres of land inside the District of
Columbia.
Almost immediately it played a role
in an important historical event. When
veterans marched on Washington in
1932 demanding their promised bonus
for fighting in World War I, they were
allowed to put up an encampment on
the base. This Bonus March is widely
thought to be one of the first great
marches on the capital and
one of the tipping points of
the Great Depression.
In 1936, the base was
named in honor of former
commanding general Brig.
Gen. Richard Simms.
During World War II,
the Secretary of War requested
that Camp Simms
be transferred to the Military
District of Washington
for federal use in defending
the capital. At one point, the
Navy occupied buildings
and barracks on the property. At the end
of the war, several buildings and three
acres of land were given to the city of
Washington for public housing and parks.
The rest of the camp returned to the
District of Columbia National Guard.
The area around Camp Simms slowly
turned from undeveloped land with a
few homes into a more densely populated
urban environment by the end of the
war. Apartment buildings and shopping
centers sprouted up along Stanton Road,
and soon local residents felt that the rifle
range at Camp Simms was not safe. The
Military District of Washington investigated
the situation and in 1945 found the
range unsafe. Though the National Guard
had ownership of Camp Simms, leadership
had to decide what to do with a base
without marksmanship training facilities.
In 1958, Camp Simms was broken
into pieces. The General Services
Administration turned most of their 94
acres into public housing. The Department
of the Interior created public parks
out of another 40 acres. The District of
Columbia gained another 10 acres. Camp

Simms, once nearly 170 acres, dwindled
to just short of 25 acres.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s,
Camp Simms was an integral part of the
District of Columbia’s training. By 1974,
76 full-time employees were stationed
there, with 188 ARNG members and 168
ANG members drilling on the weekends.
Within the 24.51 acres the DC Guard
owned were joint forces automotive and
repair shops, USP&FO offices and warehouses,
communications and electronics
repair shops, unit storage buildings, a
pool, one Army National Guard Armory
and one Air Force National Guard
Armory. At one point the Air National
Guard housed a communications flight
at the camp. These facilities were often
used by units drilling at the East Capital
Armory for driver’s training, organizational
maintenance, tactical exercises,
and chemical training.
In the early 1970s, the Department
of Defense began increasing its presence
in southeast Washington. Anacostia
Naval Support Facility and Bolling Air
Force Base were both growing at a rate
that alarmed local residents, who were
now living in an already overcrowded
area. Camp Simms, once an out-of-theway
place in DC, was in the middle of
badly needed real estate.
By 1975, plans were in the works to
shut down Camp Simms. With Bolling/
Anacostia located so close, it made sense
to build new facilities for the District of
Columbia National Guard there and
dismantle Camp Simms. In exchange for
the facilities and land that Camp Simms
sat on, the federal government gave the
DC Guard USP&FO, maintenance and
automotive facilities at Anacostia; a
reserve center at Bolling, a resident unit
at Andrews Air Force Base and space at
Davison Army Airfield. At the time, the
reserve center was the most expensive of
its kind ever built.
When the infantry unit located at
Camp Simms converted to a transportation
unit, the District of Columbia made
a last attempt to retain several acres to
house military vehicles in 1978. The
request was denied. Camp Simms was
officially turned over to the General
Services Administration in 1980.
Although no longer named such,
Camp Simms continued to take a place
in historic events. In 1976, the city of
Washington used the buildings and
grounds to host visitors for the bicentennial
celebrations. The camp was used
extensively during the 1981 inauguration
as a staging area for the parade floats
and a garaging location for motorcades.
For a time, the buildings were used to
garage maintenance equipment for the
city of Washington.
This corner of Southeast DC shows
few signs of the bustling military reservation
that once filled it. Ballou High
School, which once bordered the camp,
was given the property from the camp to
build athletic fields. Now, where soldiers
once practiced their drills, athletes and
bands practice their drills. Where the
warehouses once stood and stored rations
for Guardsmen, there’s now a Giant
Foods grocery store. The old rifle range
and training areas are now mixed residential
housing called Ashford Court and
the Shops at Park Village. Camp Simms,
once a home for DC National Guardsmen
to work, train, and live, is now a different
kind of home for local residents.
Editor’s Note: This is the first article in a
series covering special topics in the history
of the DC National Guard. Please send
suggestions for future articles or corrections
to Miranda.summers@us.army.mil.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 11

Photo by Sgt. First Class Tyrone Walker
12 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010
A UH-72 with the Joint Multi-national
Readiness Center, which also received
new Lakotas, flies over the Hohenfel
training area.

UH-72 Equipped for Medical Evacuation
121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) first to deploy,
first to perform with UH-72 medevac helicopters
By Spc. Jesse Searls
Public Affairs Specialist
The 121st Medical Company (Air
Ambulance) is the first medevacconfigured
Lakota unit to deploy
overseas. The unit also became the first
to perform medevac missions using the
new UH-72 aircraft.
The 121st received the UH-72 in
2009, becoming the first Army aviation
unit in the nation to fly the Lakota
equipped for medical evacuation.
The mission of the unit during its
yearlong deployment is to provide
medevac standby for units training in the
region, many preparing to deploy to Iraq
or Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Maureen
Bellamy, state Army aviation officer for
the DCNG and state commander of the
Aviation Forces Command.
Twenty-three delegates from 17 nations were briefed in September on the
capabilities of the UH-72A Medevac at the Joint Multinational Readiness
Center at Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany.
Showing off the new UH-72 at Hohenfels
DC National Guard soldiers from the 121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance)
deployed to Hohenfels, Germany, in July. They showed off their aircraft during a
visit from the 56-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and
11 Partners for Cooperation countries at the Joint Multinational Training Center.
Twenty-three delegates from 17 countries were at the Hohenfels Training Area
to watch as members of the Falcon Team presented a briefing and aerial demonstration
of their new aircraft as required by the 1999 Vienna Document.
The VDOC agreement requires members of the organization, which includes
the U.S., to demonstrate major weapons within a year of their deployment in
Europe. The delegation, composed of mostly European countries, including the
Russian Federation, also included delegates from Japan.
DC National Guard soldiers displayed the UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter.
The UH-72 is the U.S. Army’s replacement for the aging UH-1 Huey and is
capable of multi-role use and flexibility. It can be configured for several missions,
including Medevac, VIP transport and support for homeland security.
Hohenfels, Germany, the unit’s
temporary home while deployed, hosts
the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.
The 121st has been training hard since
arriving in Germany in July according to
Maj. Mark Escherich, 121st commander.
“We have completed multiple training
medevac scenarios to assist litter-loading
readiness for deploying units – and
three actual medevacs,” he said.
Last year the 121st became the first
organization in the nation to receive
the medevac-configured UH-72 Lakota.
The aircraft, stationed at Davison Army
Airfield, Va., replaces the UH-1 “Huey”
that has been in use since serving in
Vietnam.
A departure ceremony was held for
the departing aircrew on July 1, 2010, at
Davison.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 13

“Ann and Dave’s Place” is Now Inside the Armory
Family Readiness Center
dedicated to Maj. Gen. Wherley and his wife, Ann
By Spc. Andrew Luther
715th Public Affairs Detachment
The DC Guard celebrated Dave and
Ann’s new place – a Family Readiness
Center dedicated to the memory of former
Commanding General Maj. Gen. Wherley
and his wife, killed in a 2009 Metrorail
collision.
The DC National Guard dedicated the
new Major General David F. Wherley Jr.
and Mrs. Ann (Strine) Wherley Family
Readiness Center at the DC National
Guard Armory Sept. 12. The event
included distinguished guests and
speakers such as District of Columbia
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton,
DC Commanding General Maj. Gen.
Errol R. Schwartz, and General and
Mrs. Wherley’s family.
The event was both solemn and
joyous. Those present celebrated the lives
of General and Mrs. Wherley and the
good work the dedicated couple did for
soldiers and airmen of the DC National
Guard before losing their lives in the
tragic June 22, 2009, Metrorail collision.
Gen. Wherley was the commander
of the DC National Guard from 2003
until his retirement in 2008. Prior to that,
he commanded the 113th Wing, DC Air
National Guard, that famously ordered
fighter aircraft to provide defensive
coverage over Washington, D.C., and
Major General David F. Wherley Jr.
and Mrs. Ann (Strine) Wherley.
14 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010
Ann Wherley’s father, Harold “Chap” Strine, and the Wherleys’ daughter,
Elizabeth Regan, and grandchild, Evann, note the memorial plaque following its
unveiling outside the Family Readiness Center. Left is Lt. Col. Gale Gallahan and
right of Elizabeth are Sylvia “Mama” Lynch, Maj. Lanita Taylor and Karla Belton.
the surrounding area immediately after
the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Wherley’s wife, Mrs. Ann C. (Strine)
Wherley, was a successful mortgage
broker, an active participant in numerous
Guard programs and a civilian volunteer
in the community.
They are most remembered for
their many years of dedication to the
National Guard Family Readiness Group
and youth outreach programs in the
Washington, D.C., area.
They were returning from a volunteer
orientation program for the Wounded
Warrior Project at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center when they lost their lives
in the Metrorail accident.
One of Gen. Wherley’s legacies was
the establishment of the Capital Guardian
Youth Challenge program which provides
a second chance for at-risk youth and
high school dropouts. He often said it
was one of the hardest tasks he had ever
undertaken in his storied career as a
fighter pilot and commander.
“It is sometimes difficult to properly
remember the lives of those we so
admired,” said D.C. Congresswoman
Eleanor Holmes Norton in her address
at the event. “However, this time it is not.
I am proud to have worked alongside
Gen. Wherley in advocating for DC
National Guardsmen and their families,
and honored to be at this celebration
of his life.”
Norton also described the Maj. Gen.
David F. Wherley Jr. D.C. National
Guard Retention and College Access Act
she and Wherley worked on together.
The act brought federally funded DC
Guard benefits more in line with other
states as part of his commitment to service
in the Washington, D.C., community.
“I remember how proud he was to
show up to my office and let me know
he had bought a house in Washington,
D.C., and was now a citizen of the
district,” she said. “Their deaths were a
loss to the entire city of Washington, D.C.,
not just the National Guard family.”
Soldiers, airmen and their families
took time to reflect on the Wherleys’ lives
and their dedication to the community.
“They were always there for whatever
we needed,” said Master Sgt. Shannon
Goodwin, former DC Guard Family
Readiness Group director. “We didn’t
have to go to them; they always came to
us. ‘What do you need? What can we
do?’ Whether it was talking to the mayor
or giving their own money to start a
food pantry, their commitment was to
improving the lives of the DC National
Guard family.”
Photo: Staff Sgt. William Parks

NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS
The Wherley family’s service to the DC National Guard
continued even after their lives ended. Part of the ceremony
included a presentation by the Wherleys’ daughter, Elizabeth
Regan, who recalled being proud of her father when she was a
small child, and watching his Phantom soar in the sky one day.
“I remember how blue the sky was,” Regan told a tearful
audience, which included former National Guard Bureau Chief,
retired Lt. Gen. Russell C. Davis, also a former DC commanding
general. She was reminded of that sky during the U.S. Air
Force missing-man flyover at Arlington National Cemetery on
the day of her parents’ services last year.
Gen. Wherley’s sister, Clare Wherley, presented two checks
totaling $25,000, one for the Family Readiness Center, and the
other for the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Program, a
teen outreach and education program that the Wherleys
were devoted to.
The new space and donations come at a critical time for the
Family Readiness Center. With the nation at war for more than
nine years now, the support provided to Guard members’
families becomes ever more critical to our mission.
To continue this support, the Family Readiness Center has
greatly expanded the services it offers to service members and
their families to include programs for education and financial
support, and a well-stocked food pantry.
“We want DC National Guardsmen to know we are here for
them 24/7, 365 days a year, in good times and bad,” said Renee
Bangura, a civilian coordinator at the center. “Whether or not
they are deployed or at home, we can help them utilize our
resources and those in their communities.”
Many people at the event praised the quality of service the
new readiness center, affectionately known as “Dave and Ann’s
Place,” has offered service men and women and their families.
“The Guard was there for us,” said Elizabeth Regan.
“Despair, anger, loss ... the Family Readiness Program and
many members of DC Guard helped us make it through with
their love and support.”
The center will continue the Wherleys’ legacy, providing
support in their honor for many years to come.
Pres. Obama appoints
Lt. Col. Areizaga to
lead counsel at USAID
The Obama Administration
appointed Lt. Col. Jaime
Areizaga-Soto, an Army judge
advocate with DCNG Joint
Forces Headquarters, as senior
attorney advisor to the office of
the general counsel at the
United States Agency for
International Development.
“It is an honor to be
appointed to this position,”
Lt. Col. Jaime Areizaga
Areizaga said. “Certainly, the
many years I have spent as a JAG working for the DC
National Guard have prepared me for the challenges that
lie ahead.”
The USAID general counsel’s office includes more
than 60 attorneys in the Washington office and more
than 40 serving in U.S. missions around the world.
Areizaga is a former White House Fellow who also
served as advisor to the under secretary for international
affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department. He spent 12 years
in private practice, including Hogan & Hartson in its
corporate securities practice group and Clifford Chance’s
Brazil office, where he specialized in cross-border
infrastructure finance.
The long-time Capital Guardian is a graduate of
Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and
Stanford University School of Law. He also holds a
master’s degree in Latin American studies from Stanford.
Areizaga was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is
fluent in Spanish, French and Portuguese.
260th Regiment Regional Training Institute opens
The 260th Regiment Regional Training Institute officially
opened Sept. 12 to the applause of invited guests and members
of the Washington, D.C., National Guard.
The new facility contains a 117-person auditorium,
50-person classrooms, a lodging facility, dining hall and a
virtual convoy operator trainer.
Col. Wendy Leland, commander of the 260th RTI,
said the opening is a monumental accomplishment. She said
the $25 million project came to a halt 18 months ago from
lack of funding. With the help of the DCNG Facilities
Management Office, they were able to get the project back
on track.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 15

NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS
Capt. Newsome assists in Deepwater Horizon oil
spill response
Capt. Charlene Newsome, a DC
Guard member currently on tour at the
National Guard Bureau, was among
hundreds of U.S. military personnel who
joined in the effort to contain the devastating
BP Deepwater Horizon oil blowout
in the Gulf of Mexico this summer.
Newsome began her 15-day deployment
as an NGB Joint Enabling Team
member and liaison officer to support
the operation at the Unified Area
Command in New Orleans.
“My tour began right about the time
the static kill began working, and the
long battle to stop the leak and contain
By Staff Sgt. Gigail “Gail” Cureton
715th Public Affairs Detachment
16 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010
Newsome takes a break inside the
operations center.
the oil was finally close to ending,”
Newsome said.
Capital Guardians try out global media skills in
another nation’s capital
SEOUL, Republic of Korea – Usually Capital Guardians
don’t have to go far to support missions that have a national
or international focus. From supporting major economic
summits to helping keep the streets safe during presidential
inaugural events, the DC National Guard is always ready,
always there. This time a team of Guardians traveled more
than 8,000 miles from the U.S. capital to test their ability to
work with global media.
As part of the 715th Public Affairs Detachment’s annual
training, a three-person team deployed to the Republic of Korea
in support of Ulchi Freedom Guardian.
UFG, an annual computer-assisted simulation command
and control exercise, provides realistic training focused on
preparing for, preventing and prevailing against the full range
of current and future North Korean threats to the Republic of
Korea and the region. UFG tested the Combined Forces
Command’s ability to translate information superiority into
actionable decision-making, implemented faster than the enemy
can react.
Military and civilian public affairs personnel play an
increasingly important role in ensuring that the public has access
to accurate information via the media. Information centers,
called Combined Press Information Centers, Joint Information
Centers or Joint Information Bureaus, are one way the Department
of Defense helps to facilitate the flow of information.
The UFG CPIC included a team of U.S. media specialists,
including the 715th PAD, as well as media specialists and
officers from the Republic of Korea military. Working together
they managed crisis communications, drafted news releases,
fact sheets, talking points and briefed subject matter experts.
The largest oil spill in the nation’s
history began April 20 when a BP deep
water offshore drilling rig exploded about
40 miles southeast of the Louisiana
coast, killing 11 platform workers and
injuring 17 others. It has been labeled
the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history
and has presented unimaginable
challenges at every level of every organization
involved.
Operating out of a high-rise office
building in New Orleans, the Unified
Area Command had about 500 personnel
at a time running a 24-hour shift, with
daily briefings beginning at 4:30 a.m.,
Newsome said. Constant updates and
(Continued on page 20)
Spc. Andrew Luther takes a stroll around Seoul during the
715th PAD’s deployment to South Korea.
One of the highlights for the team was the opportunity
to role-play as members of the press. For several days, they
addressed questions to senior U.S. and ROK military leaders
with often the same aggressiveness as real media representatives.
All public affairs officers and public affairs enlisted personnel
receive basic and advanced military occupational specialty
training close to home at the Fort Meade-based Defense
Information School. Public affairs officers and their senior
enlisted counterparts (public affairs specialist and public affairs
broadcast specialist) are expected to be able to serve as media
spokespersons as well as help train leaders and soldiers on
how to effectively communicate messages to the media.
“Interviewing someone one-on-one with a tape recorder
was how we were trained; however, it often isn’t reality. Being
in the pit, competing with noise and a dozen other journalists
for attention – that was different – like a public affairs live-fire
exercise,” said Spc. Andrew Luther.

NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS
113th Wing accepts Spaatz Trophy at NGAUS
The best of the best.
The 113th Wing received
the 2009 Spaatz Trophy in
August at the National Guard
Association of the United
States General Conference
in Austin, Tex. This honor is
for being the best Air Guard
flying unit in the nation. From
left, National Guard Bureau
Chief Gen. Craig R. McKinley
presents the trophy to 113th
Wing commander Brig. Gen.
Jeff Johnson and Second Lt.
Kalea Texeira, with Command
Chief Master Sgt. Christopher
E. Muncy and retired Maj.
Gen. Cindy Kirkland, NGAUS
vice chair (Air).
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 17

Photos: Senior Master Sgt. Ray Wilkerson
NEWS BRIEFS ...
33rd CST goes overboard in Virginia
The 33rd WMD Civil Support Team did some excellent training in
Virginia recently, including going overboard into the water to familiarize
personnel on what to do if they have to survive in their protective suits.
The CST is trained to detect chemical, biological, radiological,
nuclear, and explosive material that might be used by terrorists.
The training included practicing procedures on board a Navy ship
docked at the pier.
The Site Entry Plan is briefed to the Incident Commander by members
of the 33rd CST with input from Maryland’s 32nd CST, Walter Reed Army
Medical Center Radiological Advisory Medical Team and Department of
Energy Radiological Technicians, who also participated in the exercise.
18 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010
Sgt. First Class
Dericko Gaither, right, and
Staff Sgt. Earl Johnson traverse the USNS
Pomeroy to conduct CBRNE assessments.
Staff Sgt. Tyrone Perry checks that the
MultiRAE Plus, which combines a PID, or
Photoionization Detector, with the
standard four gases of a confined space
monitor to assess life safety conditions, is
operating properly prior to proceeding
with the assessment mission.
Sgt. Jose Cavada climbs the 25-foot rope
ladder in full response gear, as did other
CST members, to board the ship and
conduct the CBRNE assessments.

NEWS BRIEFS ... NEWS BRIEFS ...
Chief Martin receives national award
By Lt. Col. Kevin McAndrews
Public Affairs Officer
It comes as no surprise to those who
work with Chief Master Sgt. Dwight
“Chris” Martin, who recently received
the Blacks in Government 2010
Meritorious Service Award, that he is
considered one of the best in his field.
Martin, who serves as the DCNG
State Equal Employment Manager, has
long been known for getting results.
As a third party in disagreements and
employment disputes of all kinds, you
might say he’s an expert at making
lemonade from lemons.
And the list of folks who have worked
with him is long. In addition to being
the SEEM, Martin serves as the Joint
Force Headquarters Sexual Assault
Response Coordinator, Alternate Dispute
Resolution Manager, Violence in the
Workplace Manager, and Employee
Folks enjoy BBQ
at DCNG annual
summer picnic
On Sept. 11, 2010, the DC National
Guard held its annual picnic at Anacostia
Naval Station. Soldiers, families and
retirees gathered together to enjoy a
delicious spread of barbecued ribs, hot
dogs, chicken and hamburgers prepared
by volunteer soldier chefs.
“It turned out quite well,” said Chief
Warrant Officer 4 Patricia Marshall, a
greeter and organizer of the event.
“We had a wide variety of activities
out here from a small classic car show
and basketball games to moon bounces
and football tosses for the kids. Soldiers
even had a chance to dunk some of their
leaders if their aim was any good!” she
said, referring to the dunk tank that has
become a picnic tradition.
Soldiers took advantage of a chance
to relax and enjoy each other’s company,
not just as comrades in arms, but friends
as well. Perhaps the best opportunity,
however, was to once again see old
friends who have retired or moved on
from the DC Guard.
By Spc. Andrew Luther
Assistance Manager. Whew! Not only
does he hold a lengthy list of titles and
the duties, he is sought after by units
throughout the nation in assisting with
the resolution of difficult disputes.
“Chris has been – and continues to
be – an invaluable member of our team,”
said Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, DCNG
Commanding General. “Disputes and
disagreements are inevitable in the
workplace, especially one as large as the
National Guard. Getting them resolved
at the lowest level is challenging, but it
helps create a work environment that is
fair and safe.”
As a result of his efforts, the National
Guard has led all Federal agencies in
mediation for the last two years.
To date, Martin has mediated 146
disputes in 17 different states.
The award was presented in August
for outstanding accomplishments
in human relations, equal opportunity,
and civil rights at
the Defense Department
Forum and
Awards Program in Chief Martin
Kansas City, Mo. It was presented to
individuals representing all the components
of the DoD. Martin represented
the National Guard.
Time and again, the late Maj. Gen.
David F. Wherley, former Commanding
General of the DC National Guard,
would praise Martin for being central in
the settlement of difficult disputes and
disagreements. The key is his ability to
take the emotion out of volatile situations
and concentrate on communication – or
the miscommunication – that must be
worked through.
Chief Martin will continue to be a
key part of keeping the mission of the
DCNG rolling and will continue to
spread his wealth of knowledge around
the nation.
Fall 2010 / CAPITAL GUARDIAN • 19

Capt. Newsome (Continued from page 16)
frequent meetings almost every hour were the norm, while a
steady flow of U.S. Coast Guard, BP and contractor personnel
arrived and departed every day.
“While the National Guard staff was small, our presence
was obvious since our branch was set up right in the center of
the operation on one side of the building, flanked left and
right by U.S. Coast Guard personnel,” said Newsome. “It was
amazing to see the collaborative effort – each one willing to
help the other regardless of the color uniform.”
Every section or branch of the UAC operations was easily
identified – planning, logistics, external affairs, finance,
critical resources, DoD, public information, travel and transportation,
orientation and even concierge services.
“It was not unusual for a VIP visit such as when retired
Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the National Incident
Commander, and Admiral Mike Mullins, chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, stopped in, shook everyone’s hand,” Newsome
said. “They gave out about 300 coins.”
Newsome said what surprised her the most was how
important it is to maintain and preserve endangered Kemp’s
ridley sea turtles, which may be further endangered due to the
oil spill, and also learning that the solution to cleaning up the
oil spill is one that was made popular by actor Kevin Costner.
The team also got a chance to visit the area most devastated
by Hurricane Katrina. Although the levee that broke has
been repaired and many homes rebuilt, Newsome said, there is
still much more work that needs to be done in the area.
20 • CAPITAL GUARDIAN / Fall 2010