New Award Honoring WWII B-17 Crew Chief Awarded to JAC Sailor:

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
ROYAL AIR FORCE MOLESWORTH, England --  
"I will strive to live up to the ideals of support to the mission exemplified by MSgt. Fabian S. Folmer," said Navy Chief Petty Officer Charles J. Mosbarger during an interview with Air Force TSgt Alana Ingram of Armed Forces Network following the January 8th ceremony in which he was honored.

The MSgt. Fabian S. Folmer Award for Excellence in Support Services honors the now 91-year old Folmer who served as crew chief on the famed B-17F "Hell's Angels," the first Flying Fortress to complete 25 missions in the 8th Air Force During World War II. See http://www.501csw.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158367  for the full story on MSgt Folmer and his amazing achievements. The award was presented in the same WWII hangar in which Folmer would have worked repairing battle damage during the war.

Chief Mosbarger serves as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the JIOCEUR Analytic Center Personnel Division. The award cites Mosbarger for his leadership of a team of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel providing outstanding customer services to over 600 military members. In his second role as chief of the Navy Personnel Element his leadership was key to the success of his section. He also successfully manages the Command urinalysis program, and serves as the President of the Chief Petty Officers' Association at RAF Molesworth and is an Executive Council member of the Molesworth Joint Senior Enlisted Association.

JAC Commander, Marine Corps Col. Pete Devlin presented Mosbarger with a framed print of "Molesworth Dawn" by noted British aviation artist Keith Hill. In the painting commissioned by the first JAC Commander Colonel (later Major General) Glen Schaffer, Folmer is depicted servicing the bomber at Molesworth, England. During a July 2009 visit to Folmer in Osage, Iowa by JAC Senior Enlisted Leader, Master Chief John Frakes, the veteran signed the print presented to Mosbarger. When Folmer served at Molesworth from 1942 - 1945 it was occupied by members of the U.S. Army Air Corps. So when Navy Chief Frakes walked into the Folmer home, the old sergeant was surprised. His comment: "What the hell is a sailor doing at Molesworth?" prompted Frakes to explain the role of the joint service organization supporting the U.S. European Command at today's RAF Molesworth.

In his own words read at the ceremony by Col Devlin, Folmer said: "Congratulations!  You are the first service person to receive the MSgt Fabian S. Folmer Award.  I am proud of you, and your country is proud of you.  It takes dedication and hard work for our men and women to keep our freedom.  Again, I say congratulations, thank you and God bless."

The Armed Forces Network story on the award will air in either late January or early February, and will be sent to television stations near both Mosbarger and Folmer's homes in the U.S.