Hail, farewell to four Alamo Wing chiefs Published Sept. 7, 2007 By Capt. Bruce Hill 433rd Airlift Wing Lackland AFB -- Some say life begins at retirement. If so, four Chief Master Sergeants from the 433rd Airlift Wing just started living on the August B Unit Training Assembly. With 138 years of experience between them, Chiefs Ronald Csehil, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, retires with nearly 42 years of service, Robert Hastie, 74th Aerial Port Squadron, almost 41 years, Tony Ortiz, Maintenance Squadron, 35 years and Reuben Knape, Jr. Maintenance Squadron,30 years. Each chief was honored at retirement ceremonies during the UTA and each commander recognized them. "He (Chief Csehil) is a rock and foundation...the rock that maintenance was built on," said Colonel Richard Shelton, Jr., 433rd Maintenance Group Commander. "He has passed on his knowledge...and has done exactly what an NCO leader should do." "Chief Hastie has had a big impact on all the squadrons where he worked because of his years of experience and knowledge he possessed," said Major Luis Torres, 74th Aerial Port Squadron Commander. "His heart has always been in the right place, which was about taking care of his troops." "I relied heavily on him (Chief Knape) to get the job done," said Lt. Colonel Cordel Bullock, 433rd Maintenance Squadron Commander. "All ranks of Airmen can be mentored through his leadership." Colonel Shelton, who is losing three of his Chiefs to retirement this UTA, feels the loss but is anticipating a positive future because of the professionalism each Chief imparted. "In poker, three of a kind is hard to beat, especially when they are all aces," said Colonel Shelton. "Chief Ortiz' retirement sees the maintenance group loose one of its aces along with our other two, Chiefs Csehil and Knape. In the future the framework to draw, from the deck, future aces has already been set - the deck is not stacked, but it is a winning deck. We will miss all three of them." Chiefs Hastie and Csehil both leave the Alamo Wing family after serving here since 1986, Chief Knape joined the Alamo Wing in 1979 and Chief Ortiz became a 433rd AW member in 1983.