Rescue Wing Command Chief leads the way

  • Published
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  More than 100 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and civilians participated in a two-mile road march, weighed down by 40 pounds of body armor and heavy emotions, as the sun rose here, Sep. 11.

Chief Master Sgt. Gerald Delebreau led the way. Delebreau is not only Sather's top enlisted man, but is the command chief for the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

In both positions, he addresses the needs of Airmen as the wing commander's advisor on the morale, health and welfare of the force. 

The purpose of the event was to have a two-mile ruck [march] to honor those that have fallen on 9/11/2001, and follow up with a flag folding ceremony, with two flights of personnel from across Sather AB, to include U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force.

"On the 10th Anniversary of Sep. 11, 2001, we're out here celebrating American freedom, but more importantly, we're out here to remind ourselves that the reason we serve, is so Americans can live free of fear," said Brig Gen. Anthony Rock, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander and director, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air.

Rock's final words, "to all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, civilians, both contractors and gov't civilians, I say thanks for your service. Ten long years into this war, we know it's not over yet. We'll never be able to tell exactly when it's over, but we'll continue to serve as our nations sentry, it's sword and shield, it's avenger, I just remind everybody that we're out here with just one goal in mind, we will never falter, and we will not fail."

In addition to being the command chief for a deployed wing, consisting of Airmen from units across the globe, Chief Delebreau will work as an advisor to the senior enlisted Iraqis, teaching them how to better train their enlisted forces.

The majority of Information for this article was contributed by Tech. Sgt. Josef Cole / 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.