386 ELRS run in honor of fallen port dawgs

Published May 26, 2017
By By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Hehnly
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA –The 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron aerial port flight hosted the 2017 Port Dawg Memorial Run in honor and memory of fallen air transportation specialists, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, May 19, 2017.

The event, held on National Defense Transportation Day, which occurs annually on the third Friday of May, honored four aerial porters who lost their lives over the past year.

“To me this event holds a significance that we remember all of our fallen comrades; those that fell in battle and outside of battle,” said Tech. Sgt. Phillip Berry, an air terminal operations center senior controller with the 386th ELRS. “It definitely hit home to me because a lot of close friends are no longer here. My mentor, Master Sgt. William Davis, was with me on my last deployment, but he ended up developing cancer while we were getting ready for this deployment.”

This time of year is often an emotional time for the close-knit aerial port community, but this past year’s losses had a heavy effect on many of the men and women of the 386th ELRS aerial port flight. Of the four fallen air transportation specialists, two were supposed to be on this deployment with them. Master Sgt. William Davis from the 38th Aerial Port Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina and Master Sgt. Kelly Bartholomew from the 39th Aerial Port Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, were remembered along with Staff Sgt. Jonathan Turner and Airman 1st Class Russel Deleon.

A moment of silence was held and kind words were shed before the group of air transportation specialists and other military members from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing formed up to run in their memory.

Similar memorial runs are held annually throughout the month of May at military installations around the world.

The timing of this memorial is significant because it is National Defense Transportation Week. This week recognizes the men and women who work in transportation and contribute to our nation’s defense.

Air transportation specialists, known in the Air Force community as “Port Dawgs” or 2T2’s, are responsible for the movement of aircraft passengers and cargo around the globe. They ensure that everything and everyone on a military aircraft is transported safely and quickly.

Each year, the close-knit community of Port Dawgs combines its efforts to raise money for the Fisher House Foundation in coordination with the memorial run. The Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving medical treatment.

Since it was established, the program has saved military and veterans' families an estimated $200 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation. This year, the overall 2T2 career field rose close to $6,000 to donate to the foundation in honor of the fallen aerial porters.

“This means a lot to me, our career field is very small but we have a huge camaraderie and to honor our fallen is one of the greatest things we can do for our Port Dawg community,” said Staff Sgt. Rogelio Ruiz, one of the Port Dawg memorial run organizers from the 386th ELRS. “We are just a big brotherhood that comes together to honor our fellow people.”