AEDC's Charles Easley recognized as a Hometown Hero

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  In 2003, when Master Sgt. Charles Easley looked out the window of the C-131 as the pilot rapidly brought the plane down onto the runway of the darkened Baghdad International Airport, he felt excited at the prospect of entering a country the U.S. and allied forces had just invaded, landing while taking hostile fire.

"I wasn't afraid, just pumped up at being in a war zone," he recalled, adding that he was comforted by the fact that the plane was also carrying Army combat troops and their rudimentary supplies.

Easley, a fuels specialist at AEDC since July 2007, said his crew had to start from scratch and life was a bit primitive in Iraq until everything for the fueling operations at the airport for incoming troops was in place. He spent the next several weeks living in a tent and ate his first Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs).

Having retired in October 2007 from a military career that spanned 30 years, Easley had served a combination of active duty with the Air Force and reserve duty with the Air National Guard. Having left the military as a master sergeant, he thought his military days were totally behind him.

"I had done my duty, enjoyed it and had no regrets to serve when and where called upon," he said.

Then an unexpected call came in on his cell phone from Lt. Col. Ellen Bell, logistics officer and chief of supply for the 118th Air National Guard (ANG) unit out of Nashville. She was calling Easley to let the retired master sergeant know he was being recognized for his military service with a Hometown Hero Salute award.

Colonel Bell said she enjoyed the awards presentation and the opportunity it represented.

"I was very proud to participate in the honor of our personnel who sacrificed part of their life for their country," she said. "My father went to Vietnam three times when I was a child; he was not given this honor by his country."

Another retired member of the 118th ANG who had deployed to Vietnam also attended the honor ceremony as an award recipient.

"Master Sergeant Bobby Halliburton told me he was excited that the military was finally being recognized for their sacrifice," Colonel Bell said. "We were all pleasantly surprised; the ceremonies and items given to the members and family were very nice."

Colonel Bell said Easley had proven to be a positive asset to the command from the beginning.

"Master Sgt. Easley came to us from the Air Force with many years of experience; therefore he was very valuable to us and exceptionally knowledgeable in the aircraft fuels career field. He was an excellent mentor to the younger members serving as the supervisor of the fuels section several years before he retired. His willingness to deploy was an inspiration and example."

In 2008, the Air National Guard (ANG) sanctioned the ANG Hometown Heroes Salute recognition program. The purpose of this program is to celebrate and honor Airmen, families, communities and those special supporters who have significantly contributed to supporting their fellow Airmen and the ANG's mission.

Easley agreed that there is nothing more powerful than being thanked for fulfilling one's military duty to their country.