Medical dominates in Grissom’s first annual corn-hole tournament

Ralph Ross right, 434th Security Forces Squadron let a bag fly during the first Grissom corn hole tournament here July 14, 2018. The 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron swept the competition defeating the 434th Force Support Squadron in the final round. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette)

Medical dominates in Grissom’s first annual corn-hole tournament

James Wagner left, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and Robert Laviolette 434th AMDS show off their trophy the first Grissom corn hole tournament here July 14, 2018. The 434th AMDS swept the competition defeating the 434th Force Support Squadron in the final round. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette)

Medical dominates in Grissom’s first annual corn-hole tournament

Wes Marion right, 434th Air Refueling Wing command chief represents the 434th ARW during the annual Grissom corn hole tournament here July 14, 2018. The 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron swept the competition defeating the 434th Force Support Squadron in the final round. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette)

CE spouses claim corn hole crown

Zack Storms, left, and Natalie Main, took first place in and Robert Laviolette 434th Civil Engineer Squadron pose with their trophy for winning the spouse bracket of the first Grissom corn hole tournament here July 14, 2018. The 434th AMDS swept the competition defeating the 434th Force Support Squadron in the final round. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette)

Medical dominates in Grissom’s first annual corn-hole tournament.

Published July 24, 2018
By Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- With a flick of a wrist and the spin of canvas bags of corn, competitors fought, taunted and clawed their way through bracket after bracket, until there was but one -- or two in this case.

Members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing joined together July 14 at Chocks community center for a corn hole tournament, crowning victors from both a unit and spouse category.

“When we started planning this tournament this is exactly what I wanted,” said Col. Larry Shaw, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander. “I saw camaraderie, I saw banter; I saw spouses, I saw families, I saw people having fun and that’s what it was all about, connecting with our fellow Airmen.

“The only thing I’d change is that I should have won,” he laughed.

In a nail biting finish, it was Grissom’s 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron that surgically cut through the competition and carved up the 434th Force Support Squadron to claim the title.

“We were very excited for the win,” said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Laviolette, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron healthcare administrative superintendent. “We knew our squadron was banking on us for the win.”

What the 434th Civil Engineers couldn’t do what their spouses could. The CES spouses buried the 434th Air Refueling spouses.
With corn hole in action, services also provided a disc jockey and picnic style food for Airmen to enjoy while cheering on their squadrons.

“It’s cool to have these types of competitive games amongst each other and to be able just to relax, have fun and win,” said Laviolette. “Its good morale and fun was had by all.”

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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