Misawa spouse earns PACAF-level award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Barnett
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  One of Misawa's own was recently named the PACAF Joan Orr Spouse of the Year for 2007.

During the Annual Awards ceremony here Angela Barber received the Joan Orr Award for Misawa and was notified that she was also the 5th Air Force winner. Weeks later, she was surprised at work with the news that she was also the PACAF level winner.

"I bragged to everyone about her ... Angie Barber is the PACAF Joan Orr winner," said her husband, Master Sgt. John Barber, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

The award honors the late Joan Orr, wife of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr. It recognizes spouses of military members for their contributions to the Air Force.

Mrs. Barber's contributions first started when she enlisted in the Air Force in 1987.
She separated from the Air Force after four years of service with two deployments under her belt. She began to volunteer for the American Red Cross, which she has been doing for more than 15 years. During this time, she won numerous awards including three Special Citations for Exceptional Volunteer Service, Volunteer of the Quarter, Volunteer of the Year, Armed Forces Emergency Services Leadership Award, and the North Atlantic Euro Hub Level II Leadership Award.

As she followed her husband around the world, Mrs. Barber continued to volunteer at each base. Those volunteer efforts did not go unnoticed. While at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Mrs. Barber was named Spouse of the Year for the base. During a previous assignment to Misawa, she was named Spouse of the Year in both 1996 and 1999.

At Misawa Mrs. Barber volunteers for the Post Office, Youth Bowling League, Tax Center, Edgren High School Booster Club, the Misawa Social Network, and as the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's Readiness Assistance Volunteer. The finances raised by Mrs. Barber during her various volunteering activities total more than $2.5 million, with more than 500 hours put into just the Post Office.

"I leave my mark on every base, but I just love to volunteer," she said.

The Air Force results are expected to be announced in the coming months.

"This is the first time it went off the base. It was a big accomplishment to find out about winning 5th Air Force level, but I never imagined getting to the PACAF level," she said. "Now I just have to wait for the Air Force results."