Whiteman Spirit Award Published Oct. 15, 2007 By 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Jayme Maurer wife of Staff Sgt. Richard Maurer, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, received the Whiteman Spirit Award from Col. Garrett Harencak, 509th Bomb Wing commander, Oct. 15. Maj. Craig Johnson, 509th CES commander, nominated Mrs. Maurer for the award. Mrs. Maurer witnessed a fire from her home on Blake Ridge, in base housing, and made a 911 call to the base fire department shortly past 10 p.m., Aug. 27. "When we received the call, Mrs. Maurer said she was sitting on her back porch and saw flames shooting up from the new base housing, which is still under construction in Bear Lake," Major Johnson said. Because of her quick action in calling 911, fire fighters arrived on the scene and put out a dumpster fire in front of a new unoccupied house still under construction. Major Johnson said one column on the porch had just caught fire and was extinguished. "Had a few more minutes elapsed, the entire house would have been engulfed in flames and tens of thousands of dollars of damage occurred," Major Johnson added.