Nellis Airmen honored during Olympic exhibition basketball game Published July 28, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitney Nellis AFB Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- In front of more than 18,000 spectators during an Olympic exhibition basketball game, the loudest cheers came, not when Dwayne Wade dunked over an opposing player or when Kobe Bryant sunk an outside shot, but when 10 Nellis Airmen were recognized a few minutes into the third quarter. The Airmen were honored at center court during the Team USA Men's Senior National Team Exhibition Game versus Canada at a sold-out Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., July 25. "[The Team USA members] are my superheroes," said honoree Senior Airman David Stovall, of the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "To see all the fans and the players that I have cheered for all my life cheering for us was the greatest feeling in the world." The Airmen were seated on floor level in the best seats money can't buy, and were then recognized, in a tribute to Nellis' and the Air Force's contributions to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Six Airmen, recent returnees from deployments in OIF and OEF, were honored in recognition for their contributions to the nation's war efforts. The honorees were Major David Epperson, 16th Weapons Squadron, Senior Master Sergeant Kevin Arnold, 99th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Tech Sgt. Marva Walker, 57th operational Support Squadron, Senior Airman David Stovall, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Senior Airman Erika Tacub, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Senior Airman Rodrigo Regaldo, 99th Security Forces Squadron. Also representing Nellis and Creech were Col. Kevin McLaughlin, United States Air Force Warfare Center vice-commander, Col. Russell Handy, 57th Wing commander, Col. Howard Belote, 99th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Gerald Curry, 99th Security Forces Group commander. Approximately 250 Nellis personnel also received tickets to attend the game as spectators. Team USA won the game with a score of 120-65, with six Team USA members scoring double digits and three players alone nearly reaching Team Canada's final score with 20 points each. The Men's Senior National Team and the Canadian basketball team will make their next appearances in the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, taking place Aug. 8-24. There are currently more than 900 Nellis and Creech Airmen in deployed locations across the world.
