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Far-away Fathers

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - --  Father's Day is a special day to pay homage to that man who contributed to your creation.

Not only will I spend this one with my dad, one of the most patriotic men I know, but I will be thinking about all of the fathers in the 920th Rescue Wing here who recently deployed to Afghanistan.

I was lucky growing up because my dad was always there for me. He was a passionate family man who kept things going on the home front. He fiercely wanted to join the Navy as a Sea bee when he finished school, but sustained an injury which banned him from ever serving. He regrets that to this day, but has used his energy to pour his heart into being the best American I know.

Like my dad, I'm so proud of the fathers from my unit who are serving this nation so far away. They are suffering separation from their loved ones while enduring the hardships of long difficult work days.

While they pour their efforts into what they were sent there to do - save lives, they don't think twice about the danger that surrounds them.

From the aviators who are piloting the pave hawk helicopters to the maintenance Airmen who are keeping those choppers flying, they are part of a continuum of care. When it's time to go save a life, there is no hesitation, no fear of the forces that are there to do them harm. All they know is they're going to save someone's father, mother, sister or brother.

Their success rate has always been high. On their last deployment, which was only a year earlier, they were credited with saving 350 lives.

But it's not the medals or the glory that drives them. They are brave in the truest sense of the word. Their sense of duty is strong like the steel of their rotor blades and I know that's what keeps them a foot.

I miss them like brothers and I know they're own families will be pining for them this Father's Day. I was very fortunate that my father was always present to keep our family afloat. Military families don't have that luxury. Whether it's a father or mother, when duty calls, it doesn't matter if there's an important family event, like a graduation, they have a job to do.

On this Father's Day, I will be thinking about those families whose fathers are gone. Not only will I pray for the safety of my brothers in arms, but I will pray for strength for those who have to do without. I hope you will too.

The 920th RQW is an Air Force Reserve combat search and rescue unit. For news and information about the 920th RQW, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.