Special Delivery: Flag Flown in Iraq for Wheeling Man
WHEELING - A love of freedom, friendship and a U.S. flag are being shared by two Wheeling-area natives who have known each other 38 years.
Wheeling resident Peter Cuffaro recently received in the mail a package from his former high school and college pal Charles D. Dusch, a Warwood native who is now a retired Air Force officer.
The package contained an American flag flown over Iraq during the last days of action by a celebrated squadron.
Dusch is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who now serves as a professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. , and he is historian for the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.
His duties took him to Iraq earlier this year, where he was to chronicle the draw down of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.
The unit provides top cover for military troops on ground, and its history dates back to World War II and the Tuskegee Airmen, Dusch noted.
He said he learned the squadron often flies flags in honor of Americans "to thank them for their support." He then purchased a flag at a military PX, and asked the 777th to fly it for Cuffaro.
The flag was flown over Iraq on April 2 by a C-130 Hercules in support of Operation New Dawn, according to Dusch.
"He doesn't know this, but he is a great American," Dusch said of Cuffaro.
The two have been friends since they both were freshman cadets at The Linsly School in 1973.
Cuffaro is very active in the local community, and often serves as a voice on issues pertaining to the disabled. He is also interested in the outdoors, and has lobbied the West Virginia regarding hunting laws.
Cuffaro said he didn't receive the the flag in the mail until about a month later - just after U.S. forces had killed Ossama Bin Laden on May 1.
"I was very touched when I got the package," he said. "I got emotional when I thought about what our troops are doing in harm's way."
Cuffaro continued that he is "very proud" of Dusch. The two men met to reminisce recently when Dusch returned to Warwood with his family to visit relatives.
"When we met at Linsly, I knew he would be successful," Cuffaro commented. "He was always dedicated, and was a member of our drill team."
After graduating from Linsly, Dusch joined the Air Force ROTC while a student at West Virginia University.
He spent 22 years in the military, and retired in 2003. He then returned to WVU to obtain a graduate degree, and was later hired by the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Us Air Force In Irak - News
The package contained an American flag flown over Iraq during the last days of action by a celebrated squadron. Dusch is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who now serves as a professor at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs,
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