Air Force Week's True Hometown Heroes

Opening Ceremony for Air Force Week

April 19, 2009

NC NEWS -- Air Force Week has kicked off in Hampton Roads, Virginia! This week long celebration, which features ceremonial events and spectacular shows in tribute to our United States Air Force, and the extraordinary dedicated men and women who serve our country in this branch of national defense that began yesterday at Opening Ceremony at Hampton University in Virginia. This patriotic event gave Americans a chance to hear the compelling stories of six honored hometown heroes in their support of the Joint Global War on Terror within the United States and overseas. Additionally, other notable stories were recalled of heroic historical acts of selfless sacrifice that took place in previous wars to defend our country.

At the Opening Ceremony, visitors had a chance to meet six true hometown heroes from Hampton Roads, Virginia. These six Air force service members were honored for their extraordinary work in the Air Force, Afganistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Senior Airmen (SrA) Justin Edwards (E-4), of Newport News VA., joined the Air Force in 2005, and has received several Airmen of the Year and leadership awards as well as early promotion. Eventually, SrA Edwards was deployed to Balat, Iraq where he supervised both U.S. service members and Iraqis. SrA Edwards was also responsible for organizing critically important moral programs for more than nine hundred people. Senior leaders including U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Secretary of the Air Force Secretary Michael Donnelly, and Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton A. Schwartz have recognized Senior Airmen Edwards for above average performance. SrA Edwards was joined on the stage with his son, Justin Jr.

Technical Sergeant (T-Sgt.) Carlos Gutierrez (E-6) joined the Air Force in 1995, a fourteen-year career airman. T-Sgt Gutierrez is a vehicle operations supervisor responsible for one-hundred-thirteen vehicles and seventy-seven people and has been deployed overseas five times. In his last tour in Iraq, T-Sgt Gutierrez commanded a convoy of more than thirty vehicles. On his very first convoy, one of the trucks was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) leaving the convoy stuck on the most dangerous highway in Iraq and the world. T-Sgt Gutierrez ordered the remaining trucks to surround the damaged truck while establishing a security perimeter. Repair the truck the convoy continued its mission only to be forced to travel through the middle of a firefight between U.S. Army troops and enemy insurgents ten miles down the road. T-Sgt Gutierrez continued his deployment accumulating over 400,000 miles of travel commanding more than 50 personnel and 30 trucks on 15 missions. Technical Sergeant Carlos Gutierrez was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery, acts of merit, and meritorious service. T-Sgt. Gutierrez was joined on the stage with his son, Chaz Gutierrez.

Staff Sergeant (St-Sgt) Trent Lachance (E-5), is recognized for performing exemplary and critical duties in communications, support and maintenance in various forms for up to 250 users. He provides network support at all levels of classification. While on deployment last year, St-Sgt Lachance encountered extreme danger, but continued his mission, collecting invaluable intelligence data, which was used in the global war against terrorism. St-Sgt Lachance is recognized for his keeping of the intelligence communities core values of commitment, courage and collaboration at its highest tradition. Staff Sergeant Lachance was joined on the stage with his beautiful wife Aisha Lachance who also serves in our United States Military.

Staff Sergeant Michael Day (E-5), joined the Air Force in 2002, and is an intelligence analyst at Langley Air Force Base. St-Sgt Day has been deployed twice in Iraq. In his first deployment, St-Sgt Day deployed as an Air Force F-16 intelligence analyst in Balat, and received an Air Force Achievement Medal for over 1,100 close air support and armed recognizance combat sorties. In his second deployment, Staff Sgt Day worked as a Senior Analyst with joint branch services providing support for Joint Special Operations Task Force in Bagdad. Staff Sergeant Michael Day has received the Bronze Star for meritorious service involved with his collection of critical information during interrogations from detainees (the Enemy).

Air Force Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ramsey (E-5), is a military working dog handler, which places him front line in many dangerous situations. Deployed with the U.S. Army in Balat Iraq, St-Sgt. Ramsey states, "When assigned with the Army you're not just a K-9 handler, you're a combat soldier." While on deployment, St-Sgt. Ramsey and his K-9 partner, "Harry," were responsible for sniffing-out and identifying IED's in the field. This included dangerous front line roadway searches as well as announced and surprise searches of homes in friendly and unfriendly villages. During both day and night air assaults, St-Sgt. Ramsey would be dropped within miles of an enemy's location who was about to be captured just incase the enemy combatant or combatants managed to escape. St-Sgt. Ramsey and his K-9, completed more than 130 combat missions. St-Sgt Ramsey appeared on stage with his new canine partner "Airdo."

Furthermore, we had a chance to meet Air Force Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ramsey and Airdo outside Armstrong Field on his way back to his AF Barracks. St-Sgt Ramsey appears young and presented himself as very polite. Grasping this moment of opportunity, we thanked St-Sgt. Ramsey for his service to our country. In reply, St-Sgt Ramsey simply said, "Your welcome." This brings to point the attitude of these true hometown heroes, which is, they modestly feel they are average people just doing their job. Well, you are not. You are the best of the best, and America loves' you for all of your courage, sacrifice and fortitude – never forget that.

Air Force Tech Sergeant Bonnie J. McKusick (E-6) joined thirteen other medical Air Force service personnel deployed to support more than 500 Army and Coalition forces at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. T-Sgt McKusick made up a medical team of one physicians assistant and two other medics. They provided 24 hour medical service with additional duties of security on civilian construction details working on the base. T-Sgt McKusick responded to several medical emergencies as well as arranging convoy missions for transportation of injured patients to a higher level of care. T-Sgt McKusick joined three of these missions as a Humvee driver, a combat medic on two missions and also commanded a tank in one mission. T-Sgt McKusick was recognized by an Afgan General for assisting the family of a child who had been struck by a vehicle. Tech Sergeant Bonnie J. McKusick received the Army Achievement Medal for her efforts of assistance to the Afgan family and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for her work throughout her deployment in Afghanistan.

Finally, on behalf of the community, we would like to thank the United States Air Force for hosting this wonderful salute, "Air Force Week," in Hampton Roads. And to these outstanding service men and women as well as other Americans originating from our communities across the United States who serve and support their efforts in defending our nation's freedom globally, we thank you and God bless!

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