Click thumbnail to view photo.

DGS-2 athletes nail 1998 Commander’s Cup

By Master Sgt. Michael Warren
48th IS Unit Public Affairs Representative
Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

For the past two years, Deployable Ground Station-2 has finished in second place behind the 9th Maintenance Squadron in the annual Commander’s Sports Trophy program, but the third year was a charm.

Members of the fightin’ 48th and 13th Intelligence squadrons allied to form an unstoppable team of athletic superiority and walked away from the Annual Sports Banquet with the 1998 Beale Commander’s Cup Trophy for the Large Unit category. The two-division program is designed to stimulate competition, build morale, and enhance esprit de corps.

According to unit sports representative Senior Airman Randall Stapp, DGS-2 received the top 50 points with first place wins in Division I Softball and Division II Wallyball and Pool, securing the venerable cup.

Lt. Col. Richard Osmun, 48th IS commander said, “DGS-2 is the ultimate team ... with a total work hard/play hard ethic ... we work together daily to perform one of the U.S. Air Force’s most critical intelligence operations, and off-duty we teamed to build the premier unit-level sports program on Beale. We are extremely proud to take home the 1998 Commander’s Cup!”

To add to the honors, three members of the DGS-2 duad were recognized for their active participation in the base sports program. Senior Airman Randall Stapp was named 1998 Base Sports Representative of the Year. The Charlie Hustle Award was given to Staff Sgt. J.R. Bellemore, 48th IS, who was recognized for his outstanding sportsmanship in Softball, Pool, and Sports Day; and Airman 1st Class Brianna Ogle, 13th IS, who was honored for her contributions as forward for the DGS-2 women’s league basketball team.

But the athletic prowess of DGS-2 is far reaching. The unit’s deployed Mobile Stretch operation at San Vito, Italy, bested the stiffest competition at the USAFE base, stealing its fiercely protected trophy.

Lt Col. Larry Grundhauser, 13th IS commander stated, “I’m continually amazed at what the men and women of DGS-2 have been able to accomplish given the operational tempo of our real-world NATO mission in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. They are truly all stars, who personify the finest traditions of airmanship!”