1. HEADQUARTERSHEADQUARTERS
ALASKAN COMMAND (ALCOM)ALASKAN COMMAND (ALCOM)
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA 99506ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA 99506
Lieutenant General Douglas M. Fraser
Commander, Alaskan Command
9480 Pease Avenue, Suite 101
Elmendorf AFB AK 99506-2100
Major General Gus L. Hargett, Jr.
The Adjutant General
Box 41502
Houston Barracks
Nashville TN 37204
Dear General Hargett
Over 500 athletes from every state, Great Britain, and Puerto Rico were in Alaska from
3 – 8 July 2006 to participate in the 26th National Veterans Administration Wheelchair Games.
This event, was very successful because of enthusiastic support from hundreds of volunteers.
Members of the Tennessee Air National Guard, while serving their annual tour at Elmendorf
AFB, were among the 2,300 dedicated volunteers. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Long, the
fifty members of the Tennessee Air Guard were not average volunteers. Each of them
volunteered for several duties including warehouse, erecting ramps, assisting athletes at events
and crowd control during the Fourth of July Parade in Anchorage to name a few.
I had the opportunity to meet many of the Tennessee Guard members while they were
working at the parade. Their enthusiasm for the VA Wheelchair Games was evident and their
professionalism made me proud. All of them had a true interest in the athletes and through
words and actions truly demonstrated their appreciation for the military service of the men and
women athletes. These men and women were outstanding ambassadors for the “Volunteer
State.”
Please pass my appreciation and thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Long and the others. We hope
that the Tennessee Air National Guard will be able to return to Alaska for annual tours in the
future.
Sincerely
DOUGLAS M. FRASER
Lieutenant General, USAF
Commander
Guardian of the North