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A tradition of honor

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Our servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace -- many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth -- that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice." -- President John F. Kennedy, 1963

Serving one's nation through military service hasn't always been popular, especially in times of war, conflict, and civil unrest; however, 45 years later, President Kennedy's statement still holds true.

Regardless of a person's beliefs or practices, our nation's military, 2.88 million strong, is united in supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Natural-born and non-U.S. citizens alike join the military each year to bear true faith and allegiance to the same.

Following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the families of these victims and those families of American servicemembers supporting their loved ones serving in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom know the cost of freedom first-hand.

Many families have given all through the loss of a loved one killed-in-action during their military service to our nation or have sustained severe bodily injury and disfigurement, while others such as Senior Airman Buddy Bewick, Senior Airman Christina (DeHerrera) Stimpson, and Chief Master Sgt. Sadie Knight's families continue to give some through their commitment to keeping our free nation just that -- free.

Some Americans who serve are like Airman Bewick, a C-130 Hercules crewchief deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. He and his grandfather have served in our nation's military.

"I joined the Air Force after working in construction for two years. My neighbor Matt Gorey was a sheriff and told me the benefits of joining the military," said Airman Bewick, a native of Bakersfield, Calif. "He encouraged me to look into it, and after talking with a recruiter... I was convinced like all other people serving today that it was the right decision.

"There is a lot of pride involved with being a crew chief... Working on the same plane on a daily basis helps you learn its personality, quarks, and strong points," he said. "It would be hard to not see the direct impact we have on the war out here.

"My family is very proud and completely supportive of my job," he said. "I know they pray for everyone's safety out here, and although they want the job done right, they are eager for us all to return home."

Other Americans like Airman Stimpson, a financial management specialist deployed from Robins AFB, Ga., and Chief Knight deployed from Wright-Pattterson AFB, Ohio, come from families with a deep family history of military service spanning nearly six decades.

Between their two families, nearly 30 men and women are presently or have donned a military uniform from the Korean War era to the present.

Upon Airman Stimpson's arrival here, she found out one of her closest relatives was deployed to a nearby Army camp. Before Navy HN Anthony Garcia, a hospital corpsman, wrapped up his deployment and returned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., they were able to meet several times and get caught up.

"We're quite a mixed and unconventional family as a whole," said Airman Stimpson and HN Garcia as they referenced numerous life changing events they endured growing up. "We both owe so much to my Uncle Louis who is Anthony's stepfather," said Airman Stimpson. "He has always been there for us. He's done so much for our entire family since we were very young living in Denver. Neither of us would be here today if it wasn't for him."

They started out as cousins running around in diapers, but after some family tragedies, they grew up together under the same roof for a while developing a brother and sister relationship.

"We still tease each other about our childhood names for each other," said HN Garcia. "I still like to tease her a lot and make fun of her."

Despite the military and sibling rivalries rooted in their family history, they still find time to celebrate the accomplishments of one of their own. The newest member of their family is graduating high school in June and plans to join the military afterward, and Airman Stimpson and HN Garcia plan to return home for the graduation.

Likewise for Chief Knight and her daughter, Army Capt. Stacy Mitchell have been able to meet up four times and spend time together downrange since January. Both mom and daughter agreed the opportunity to visit with each other here has been priceless.

"It been great being to spend time with my daughter," said Chief Knight, a 28-year-veteran and native of Mississippi. "Besides spending time with Stacy, I had the opportunity to talk to her senior leaders while visiting her Army camp, and it was really cool to hear them say such great things about her leadership style."

Captain Mitchell, a five-year veteran Soldier, assigned to the 160th Signal Brigade at an Army camp in the Persian Gulf Region, said her mother has been wearing an Air Force uniform for most of her life. She has always tried to instill good order and discipline at home and everyone in the house had a certain degree of responsibility and expectations.
"I don't know a different side of her than the way she is right now," said Captain Mitchell. "There was never any room for failure with my mother growing up. She's always been very structured and instilled a lot pride in me to do well at everything I did in life. I don't know if it's because she's in the military of if it's her normal personality," she added.

The respect between mom and daughter is reciprocal as both speak about how proud they are of the other.

"This is the first time we've been able to visit each other's work centers," said Capt. Mitchell. "It's been very special to me to be able to spend time with her here. I'm very proud of my mother's service. I plan on making it to her retirement ceremony in 2009."

These American servicemembers are a few of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces serving in our nation's all-volunteer force. By serving, they represent less than 1-percent of our nation's population who continue honoring President Kennedy's 1962 remarks to the nation, "Guard zealously your right to serve in the armed forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to guard."