Team Andrews Airmen recognized by U.S. Congressman for treating wounded warriors

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Team Andrews Airmen from medical-related career fields reported to the Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC, in full service dress to meet with U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson Nov. 17.

The meeting was scheduled by Congressman Thompson after he sponsored a U.S. House of Representatives resolution that was passed on Sept. 28 honoring all Airmen who support and perform aeromedical evacuation. Part of House Resolution 1605 "commends the personnel of the Air Force for their commitment to the well-being of all our service men and women."

The group of Joint Base Andrews Airmen whom visited with Congressman Thompson were representing all Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation personnel. Their varied specialties, which included  a flight nurse, critical care physician and respiratory therapist, augment the overall AE mission.

Congressman Thompson took the opportunity to greet each Airmen and pass along his gratitude for the duties they've performed. After serving in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, Congressman Thompson also shared his story about how he was treated by an Aeromedical Evacuation team after being wounded in combat.

"After being shot over there I came home on a medevac and the folks who took care of me did a really good job. That was the least of a number of reasons why I wanted to honor you with this resolution," Congressman Thompson said.

One of the highlights of the house resolution is focused on Total Force Integration and how Aeromedical Evacuation Airmen work side-by-side with other servicemembers from the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and active duty.

"Aeromedical evacuation is a total force effort which includes active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard members," the resolution states. "Whereas there are 18 Air Force Reserve squadrons, 10 National Guard squadrons and four active duty squadrons."

Maj. Judy Willets, 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, serves as an Air Force Reserve flight nurse during Aeromedical Evacuation missions and was one of the Airmen greeted by Congressman Thompson. She said it's common to have a mixed group of technicians treating patients during missions.

"Always having a mixed team is the nature of Aeromedical Evacuation. We train together and go to school together," Major Willets said, "there's no difference."

Active duty servicemembers like Maj. Ronald Jones, 779th Medical Group critical care nurse, have served on numerous deployments alongside Airmen from the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard. He said the blended forces have gelled well together while performing missions. He is the deputy flight commander of a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT), which is a primary component of the Air Force's Aeromedical Evacuation System.

"The war on terrorism has forced us to come together without much of a choice and I hope that we continue to expand on that in the future," Major Jones said.

After the Team Andrews Airmen shook hands with Congressman Thompson and posed for a photograph, Major Jones took time to reflect on being recognized on behalf of all medical Airmen responsible for treating wounded warriors both abroad and here in the U.S.

"It was an honor to be recognized. Congressman Thompson has an appreciation for the military having been prior Army himself. It's good to know that similar people in his position are looking out for the individuals that do the job we do," Major Jones said.

The following individuals from the 459th Air Refueling Wing and the 79th Medical Wing were recognized by Congressman Thompson on Nov. 17:

Maj. Judy Willets, flight nurse, 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Maj. Ronald Jones, critical care nurse and deputy flight commander, 779th Medical Group
Maj. Napolean Roux, critical care physician, 779th Surgical Operations Squadron
Staff Sgt. Charles Jackson, logistics specialist, 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Senior Airman Jenna Pattinson, aerospace medicine technician, 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
Senior Airman Joshua Powell, respiratory specialist., 779th Medical Operations Squadron