Accounts of the Ice Campaign

8:30 AM the -80 freezer is beeping. Hong goes to investigate, only to realize that the so called -80 should be renamed the -39!!! We call facilities management and they come over and look at it. Sure enough we have to evacuate the freezer because the cooling system has failed. Apparantly the reason why it is still in the minus is because of the cold samples and ice in there! Several teams are scrambled to the scene. Zsuzsanna and I man the evacuation of refugees to makeshift havens of -40 freezers (previously -20) as well as an auxillary site halfway across the lab. Jack and Hong organize the rescue effort while Jeff maintains the supply line between various units. Meanwhile, general Casali debriefs the repairmen on the issue and opts to have it sent to the shop. Within fifteen minutes what was a disaster seen is now an empty space. An empty space of hope, hope that one day, the -80 will come back. Many medals were passed out for that campaign here is just some.

Paolo Casali: Meritorius Leadership Medal: For overseeing all operations and commanding forces
Hong Zan: Congressional Medal of Honor for directing teams with composure under extreme conditions
Jack Xu: Sentinel's Medal for early response Operations
Zsuzsanna: Purple Heart: For injuries sustained during replacement operations
Jeff Bonenfant: Congressional Medal of Valor (sustained heavy resistence during rack carrying operations)

Thank you all for a superb job, it has been an honor serving with you.

I believe now I can truly say that all is quiet on the western blot front