Why we serve

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jose Cardenas
  • 445th Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The sun was beginning to rise as the heat of the desert in Southwest Asia was quickly climbing. The crew members of the C-5 Galaxy tail number 90005 were preparing to take on board the precious cargo.

The Airmen finalized what they needed to do and lined up in formation followed by a dozen soldiers in the cargo hold of the massive plane. Moments later Marines carried the flag adorned container. The group was called to attention and ordered to present arms. The sun continued to rise and a glorious beam of golden rays broke through into the cargo hold illuminating the red, white and blue colors of our American flag which shone brilliantly against the background of monochrome brown terrain, buildings, vehicles and uniforms.

The chaplain commented on sacrifice and freedom. There were no cameras, no multitude of people present just the few servicemembers aboard the C-5 giving respects to a fallen soldier who had given his life for our precious freedoms.

Again the group of Marines, Soldiers and Airmen were called to attention. Ordered to present arms, in unison, salutes were slowly rendered in respect at a slow four-point count while taps were played.

"Bringing back a fallen soldier is hard. Anytime we see a fallen servicemember, a lot of us feel it's our primary mission to reunite them with their families," Master Sgt. Chuck Fritz said. Continuing to shed light on the importance of family, he added, "Our job here would not be what it is without the support of our families. They're the unsung heroes as far as the reserves go."

The camaraderie, teamwork and dedication to the mission was inspiring to witness along the trek from Ohio to New Jersey and on to Germany, heading downrange. Then back to Germany, pressing on to Delaware and finally back home to Ohio.

There is a lot of hard work; long hours. It's a massive plane with endless parts to maintain, to inspect, check, service, fix or replace. Maintenance crew member Staff Sgt. Jason Gumm commented. "As far as being a reservist, I really feel our mission is at the level or even surpassing active duty. We fly all over the world on a moment's notice. The crew continuity helps us fit in well together and build a relationship and trust which makes the mission go a lot smoother."

That relationship was seen on and off duty, an unbreakable bond between people understanding that each of them aboard the plane plays a vital role in ensuring that the aircraft is ready to fly, that the cargo is loaded correctly and ready to go. It's because of the dedication and commitment of our people that the endless tasks of prepping, along with the coordination of people and locations within the route make the mission successful.

Master Sgt. John Wesley commented on the daily tasks that needed to be accomplished. "We do a lot of hard work but then we have a lot of fun. It's just like a brotherhood. We do a lot of traveling - lot of good times and good memories. It gives us a sense of pride that we're helping someone out."

Master Sgt. Jon Winters added, "I still wanted to be in the military and serve... we've got some great people in our squadron. We have fun when we're on the road and enjoy doing the mission."

On and off duty the crew members on this mission worked hard but also played hard. Two boards painted with the Cincinnati Bengal's logo were carried throughout the trip. The boards were placed in the airplane's cargo hold for a game of corn hole and a chance to unwind, to stretch after the long flight, to have a few laughs and a fun challenge.

Lt. Col. "Hawkeye" Philip Pierce, aircraft commander, bragged about his crewmen. "The guys here are outstanding. We are always working hard and we're always working together. But we also take the time to enjoy off time and have fun together. They know how to enjoy life outside the job and mission so it's been a really great time and they are a great bunch of guys to be with."

There are many reasons why we have made the decision to serve. Each of us plays a crucial role in the continuing war on terrorism. Like those before us, we hope there is an end to war so that our children and our children's children will not see it. To make that happen requires a lot of hard work ahead. Dedicated Airmen play a crucial role in bringing cargo to the front lines and at times bringing home those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to be reunited with their families.

There are no paparazzi or multitudes of fans but that's not why we signed up, it's what we do. And as Sergeant Fritz so eloquently stated, "I'm in the Reserves - it's in my blood, it's an honorable way to serve my country and be around some great folks. They're like family members. They're top notch people, and they always have my back."