927th hosts a commander's call

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Denise Hauser
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 927th Air Refueling Wing held a quarterly wing commander's call Feb 20 at the Base Theater.  Col Lewis handed out awards to wing members, thanked the unit for their outstanding efforts since the wing stand up in May 2008,and addressed the wing on future strategic planning and steps towards maintaining the 927th ARW as the Premier Associate Wing.

The award winners are as follows:

Meritorious Service Medal - Master Sgt. Tina Fields

Airman of the Year - Senior Airman Angel McNealy-Simmons

Noncommissioned Officer of the Year - Tech. Sgt. Max Langford

Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year - Senior Master Sgt. Susie Blocker

First Sergeant of the Year - Master Sgt. Gary Wurmlinger

Commander's Coin for outstanding support during the Human Resource Development Council:

Capt. Shane Huff
Capt. Shauna Kenyon
Senior Master Sgt. James Candler
Master Sgt. Hugh Morrison
Tech. Sgt. Dan Prill

Commander's Coin for assistance in a motor vehicle accident:

Master Sgt. Mark Brooks
Tech. Sgt Monica Eastman
Senior Airman Tiffany Schaffner
Senior Airman Zachary Pettigrew

The following is the story of the incident by Master Sgt. Mark Brooks:

"I was driving in the funeral procession for the fallen hero who returned to MacDill Air Force Base on Feb 4. I was about 15 cars from the end of it.  A blue pickup truck GMC Colorado cut into the procession in front of the vehicle directly in front of me.  In my vehicle was Tech.Sgt  Monica Eastman  Senior Airman Petigrew,  and Senior Airman Schaffner.  We are all part of 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

About 100 yards after that truck pulled into the line, the driver tried to make a left turn, at the same time the motorcycle officer I saw in my side mirror coming up alongside me, with lights and siren so that he could reposition himself as part of the escort duties.
 
In disbelief the four of us watched his motorcylce impacted the left front of that truck.  The officer went airborne flipping about three times and impacting a power pole, about 30 yards from the original impact.

I moved my truck into a position to block any other vehicles from coming close to him. The four of us dismounted, and rendered immediate aid to the officer. Eastman maintained C-spine. I did full body trauma assesment, and kept talking to the officer, for comfort letting him know everything that we were doing and who we were. There was no loss of consciouness.  He was awake and alert. We asked simple questions such as"'What is your name?, and "What day of the week is it?," to check for possible concussion. He had broken teeth, and blood coming from his mouth. His right leg and ankle were fractured, he had multiple abrasions, five inch open gash on his right leg, multiple bruises on his torso, and a right middle finger avolsion. 

Petigrew and Schaffner where assisting in getting supplies and letting incoming medics know what was happening. Once the paramedics arrived we placed a cervial-spine collar on him, and backboarded him.  They transported him to a clear field for aeromedical evacuation toTampa General Hospital.

The four of us witnessed and rendered aid to this accident, we were on scene withing five to seconds of him hitting the ground from the impact on the pole."

Col. Doug Schwartz, 927th Operations Group Commander, received a farewell plaque from the wing as he begins his relocation to Scott Air Force Base to assume his position as the Vice Wing Commander.  The wing wishes you well Col. Schwartz.  You will be missed.

Command Chief Master Sgt. was pinned on as the new command chief for the 927th by Col. Lewis and her son Tevin. Welcome Chief Watkins!

The Top 3 Association recognized the following sons and daughter wing members for their volunteer work during the wing holiday party:

William Haynes
Hailie Williams
Carmen Massiah-Heywood
Mahalia Massiah
Mary Kenyon
Elizia Kenyon

Mikki Lewis, wife of Col. Lewis, received an award for her continuous help and support of various wing activities.

Also in attendance were the following 927th  Honorary Commanders:

Honorary Wing Commander: Ms. Vivian Reeves
Honorary Command Chief: Mr. Bob Cutler
Maintenance Group Honorary Commander: Mr. Bob Clark
45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Honorary Commander: Mr. Danny Lewis
63rd Honorary Commander: Mr. Alan Denham

The 927th would like to thank all the honorary commanders for their oustanding support of the wing!

Congratulations to all the award winners and to the 927th Air Refueling Wing for maintaining the status of the Premier Associate Wing!