Can I Go Back?

I’ve been watching the Apple TV series “Masters of the Air.” It’s an absolutely brilliant series and based on the true story of the 100th Bomb Group during World War II. It’s a phenomenal tale of comradery, bravery, courage, and teamwork under fire. Through thick and thin, this heroic group stayed tough and did it together. Just watching it makes me yearn to go back. While I was never a flier, I served with some of the same types of people during my nearly 39-year active-duty career and man do I miss it. It’s been said many times by many veterans – they fight for the guy next to them and nothing else. The comradery, friendship, and bond of brotherhood/sisterhood—that’s what drives them. It’s what drove me. Can I go back?

Back to Basic Training in 1984 – where a group of 50 young men from all over America came together with one goal in mind, becoming an Airman. Getting jolted awake at zero dark thirty to get our day started. Physical training (PT), chow, academics, more PT, obstacle course…all the fun stuff. Getting excited about a weekly call home, town pass, or a little down time on the weekends. Struggling to get by at times but always helping each other succeed. We all had a common enemy, failure, and we were united against it. Ultimately, graduating together and saying goodbye, wondering if we’d ever see each other again.

Back to Air Force Fire Protection--the brotherhood where I learned the true value of teamwork. Fire fighters—military, civilian, male, female, young, old. Sweating together during drills and training fires. Making our trucks shine. Sending the rookie over to base ops for 100 foot of flight line. Knowing if your hat was missing in the morning, you should check the freezer. Playing spades and basketball on the weekends and cooking grand fire house meals on Sundays. Witnessing tragedies and disasters together while remaining strong and composed to do the job we were trained to do. Never, letting each other fail.

Back to Air Force Personnel—my number 1 job choice out of Officer Training School. Countless professionals, Airmen, Officer, and Civilian, all with the same mission, helping people! Knowing that at the end of each piece of paper we processed, each keystroke we made, there was a human being who needed our help. Life impacting events. Reenlistments, promotions, assignments—Personnelists made sure they happened. A group known for having fun and loving to eat! Hall calls, potlucks, and occasional practical jokes. I’m an HR geek and love the business--the amazing people I worked with in Air Force Personnel and Force Support made me love it even more.

Back to deployed command—I was lucky enough to do that twice! Manas, Kyrgyzstan, where a squadron of 100 amazing Airmen and over 200 contractors ensured all warfighters coming in from or going into Iraq and Afghanistan were taken care of. Eats, Sheets, and Cleats (food, lodging, and fitness) for all. Working 14-hour shifts at times during surge months to take care of and entertain thousands of America’s sons and daughters. From caring for our fallen to organizing basketball tournaments and putting on holiday meals, our team of deployed force supporters did it all and we did it all together.

Back to Africa where dust storms, red dirt, extreme heat, and cheap mattresses were our common enemies! Even more cramped than Manas and much hotter! Where we worked hard every day in a harsh environment and depended on each other. Bringing in a fallen hero and ensuring proper care, dignity, and respect before moving his remains on through the theater in route to Dover. Hunkering down at a moment’s notice when a microburst storm came through and trashed our camp, lifting up and throwing 300-pound aircraft pallets like they were frisbees. Watching the team come together in the aftermath, thanking God no one was injured or killed, and then rallying for recovery. We did it all and we did it all together.

The last couple of years I served I would think at every event I attended, how many of these do I have left? I would savor and appreciate the moment. Especially while singing the Air Force Song at the end. Tearing up knowing my days as an active Airmen were numbered and I’d move along to the next chapter. I wish I had savored them all but at the time, being there with my fellow Airmen was enough.

Now retired and off the active rolls, I know for sure, I can’t go back and that’s okay. I have incredibly special memories of all those incredibly special people and indeed, special times. Not just memories. Lifelong friendships in many cases. The funny stories, smiles, laughs, sweat, and tears are all just a memory away for now (dang Father Time!) and I’ll savor those every time they come up. While we didn’t fly B-17s and our mission was not as critical as the 100th Bomb Group’s, we dealt with the good, the bad, and the ugly and we went through it all together…and it was fun!