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Source: United States Army

[Editor’s Note: The following story is a part of USAG Benelux’s “Honoring our Legacy” series in which we tell stories of America’s 250-year history, our Soldiers and our enduring legacy. To get involved in the USAG Benelux America 250 campaign, contact usarmy.benelux.id-europe.list.pao@army.mil.]

Chièvres Air Base, Belgium – More than 80 years after U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Billie Ramsey parachuted into occupied Belgium after his B-17F bomber, Skunkface, was shot down during World War II, his great-granddaughter, Bella Ramsey, returned to the same region to honor his legacy.

During her visit to Chièvres Air Base (CAB), Bella Ramsey toured the airfield and the headquarters of the 424th Air Base Squadron (424 ABS), where leaders unveiled a hand-drawn portrait of her great-grandfather created by Master Sgt. Anthony Colón Matos, 424 ABS support operations flight chief. The portrait now hangs inside the newly rededicated Ramsey Conference Room.

Ramsey also visited the squadron’s “Devil’s Den,” named in recognition of the squadron’s “Red Devils” heritage tied to the Belgian Air Force aerobatic team that was previously stationed at CAB. During the visit, she signed the wall on behalf of her family, received squadron patches and learned more about the installation’s history and connection to her great-grandfather’s story.

On Feb. 20, 1944, Ramsey’s aircraft was shot down over Belgium after sustaining heavy damage during combat operations. After bailing out over Lens, Belgium, which was then part of the base, he was captured by German forces and later spent more than a year as a prisoner of war before eventually escaping as Allied forces advanced across Europe.

For members of the 424th Air Base Squadron, Ramsey’s story represents more than a historical event, it’s an opportunity to honor a legacy.

“The Bill Ramsey Conference Room is more than a name on a wall,” Colón Matos said. “It is part of the collective memory of this unit, a reminder of resilience, courage, sacrifice and perseverance.”

Colón Matos explained that squadron members began researching the history of CAB and the 424 ABS in 2024 to strengthen awareness of the unit’s heritage and connection to the local community.

During that research, members rediscovered Ramsey’s story and realized there was little documented information explaining why the conference room had originally been named in his honor.

“We wanted to rebuild pride in our history,” Colón Matos said. “It is our way of reclaiming our Air Force heritage and connecting our current team with Sgt. Ramsey’s incredible story of resilience and survival.”

He also reflected on the significance of the Allied presence in Belgium during World War II and the enduring partnership between the United States and Belgium.

“For the people of Belgium, the sight of American parachutes descending from the sky represented something greater than war,” Colón Matos said. “It represented hope and the anticipation of liberation.”

For Bella Ramsey, the visit offered a personal perspective on a man many remember as part of history, but whom she simply knew as family.

“I didn’t know him as this man in history,” she said. “I knew him in a different way.”

Today, Billie Ramsey’s story continues to connect generations through a shared legacy of sacrifice, partnership and remembrance that still resonates at Chièvres Air Base more than eight decades later.

Source: United States Army

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Multinational forces assigned to Kosovo Force (KFOR) Regional Command-East, in coordination with Regional Command-West, conducted K-9 medical evacuation training across Kosovo, March 17, 2026, to establish procedures for transporting military working dogs to surgical care.

The training brought together U.S. Army Reserve veterinary personnel, Italian Army K-9 handlers at Camp Novo Selo in RC-E and a veterinarian from RC-W, along with U.S. aviation elements from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, to address gaps in how military working dogs are treated and evacuated.

“Working dogs and veterinarians for KFOR are spread out throughout the country with some dogs not being housed on the same base as the veterinarian,” said U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Christine Bui, a veterinarian assigned to the 7360th Veterinary Detachment under Task Force Medical.

Bui explained that the distance between veterinarians and working dogs can delay care, with response times ranging from one to two hours. She said the training was designed to improve coordination between veterinary teams, handlers, and aviation units during a K-9 medical evacuation.

Camp Bondsteel is the only location in Kosovo with surgical veterinary capability, making coordination across locations critical when working dogs require advanced care.

Italian Army veterinarian Maj. Filippo Pinagli and K-9 handlers OR-4 Simone Trimarchi and OR-4 Giuseppe Dipietro trained alongside their working dogs, Neo and Erek.

“K9 Medevac training is essential for maintaining high standards of readiness and addressing potential operational scenarios that require the emergency evacuation of a canine patient following a veterinary incident,” said Pinagli. “Due to the vastness of the territory, terrain characteristics, and mobility requirements, the current operational scenario in Kosovo demands rapid intervention and decisive action to mitigate health risks.”

Pinagli explained that working dog teams support KFOR operations by conducting perimeter security, monitoring sensitive and culturally significant sites, and assisting with mobility support to ensure freedom of movement across Kosovo.

“It’s important for us to not only train the K-9 handlers and medics on how to provide point of injury and basic care to the dogs, but also prepare ourselves in case we ever need to MEDEVAC a K-9 for a more serious injury,” Bui said.

During the training, participants conducted a route familiarization exercise that brought together a veterinarian from Camp Villaggio Italia, RC-W, with K-9 handlers at Camp Novo Selo, RC-E, simulating the movement required to transport an injured working dog to Camp Bondsteel.

U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Clara Maia, an animal care specialist with the 442nd Veterinary Detachment, Maryland, and Maj. Christine Bui, a veterinarian with the 7354th Veterinary Detachment, Colorado, are both assigned to the 7360th Veterinary Detachment under Task Force Medical for the deployment.

The training builds upon an existing agreement between U.S. and Italian forces that enables veterinary support across national lines and supports the development of a formal standard operating procedure currently under review.

Participants emphasized the need for flexible, adaptable procedures, as variations in aircraft configuration, dog temperament and mission requirements can impact how a K-9 evacuation is conducted. While working dogs are accustomed to aircraft environments, the training reinforced loading procedures and coordination between handlers and aircrew.

With a limited number of military working dogs in Kosovo and no veterinary facilities at some locations, the ability to rapidly coordinate and transport animals remains critical to sustaining operational capability.

This effort enhances interoperability among KFOR partners and supports the mission to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people living in Kosovo.

Source: United States Army

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz honored the outstanding service of its volunteer workforce during the Volunteer of the Year recognition ceremony at Sembach Kaserne, May 8.

More than 100 guests attended the event to honor the 57 nominees. Col. Jeffery Higgins, USAG Rheinland-Pfalz commander, opened the ceremony.

“We are here to recognize the men and women who dedicate their most precious commodity, their time, to the betterment of our military community,” said Higgins. “You are the force multipliers that make our sprawling operations not just functional, but successful,” he added.

In 2025, USAG Rheinland-Pfalz volunteers contributed more than 40,000 hours valued at $1.4 million supporting programs including Army Community Service, Child and Youth Services, Cub Scouts, American Forces Network, KMC Onstage, Religious Services, Armstrong’s Club, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, Department of War Education Activity, Global Military Lactation Community and the United Service Organizations.

The winners in each category were:

Military Volunteer of the Year: Francisco La Porte

Single Soldier: Ija’Nai Moore

Family member: Bailee McCollum

Civilian: Toby Holland

Youth: Keandre Anderson

Nelly Olson, Army Community Service Employment Readiness Program Manager with USAG Rheinland-Pfalz’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, who also serves as the Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator for the garrison, said this annual event promotes a culture of giving back, while boosting volunteer and community morale.

“Recognizing our volunteers is our way to say thank you and honor the selfless impact they make within our community,” she said.

Interested volunteers can explore garrison volunteer opportunities by making an account in the Volunteer Management Information System at https://vmis.armyfamilywebportal.com/.

U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz sets, serves, and secures the total force community, enabling power projection for the European Theater.

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/usag_rp