Proud to be Airmen

  • Published
  • By Col. (Dr.) Kevin Connolly
  • 60th Medical Group commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I am an American Airman. I am a Warrior. I have answered my Nation's call.

We often recite these familiar words from our Airman's Creed, but have we really considered the significance of its meaning as it relates to us at Travis?

Gen. Michael Mosley, former Air Force chief of staff wrote in his 2007 letter introducing the creed that one of his top priorities was to "reinvigorate the warrior ethos in every Airman of our total force." Thus, the intent of the creed was to enhance the building of a warrior ethos among its Airmen and to provide a tangible statement of beliefs.

I am an American Airman. My mission is to fly, fight, and win.

Brig. Gen. Robert Travis can be looked upon as an aviation pioneer who embodied these words. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Gen. Travis entered the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, and, upon completion of the course, enrolled in the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas.

His many assignments as a junior officer prepared Gen. Travis for the European Theater during World War II, when he assumed command of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing in 1943. During this time, he flew 35 missions over enemy occupied territory, including the mission to destroy the Foch-Wolfe fighter plant in Oeschersleben, Germany.

After returning to the U.S. in 1944, Travis became the commanding general of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base. He assumed command of the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in 1949, commanding both wings at the base until his death in the crash of a B-29 Superfortress, minutes after takeoff Aug. 5, 1950. Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base was officially renamed Travis Air Force Base Oct. 20, 1950, in his honor.

I am faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor, and a legacy of valor.

That proud heritage dates back to our Air Force's original roots, first planted Aug. 1, 1907 with the creation of the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army's Signal Corps. It saw many name changes between two World Wars, first as the Aviation Section, Signal Corps to Division of Military Aeronautics, the U.S. Army Air Service, U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Army Air Forces before becoming a separate service Sept. 18, 1947, as today's U.S. Air Force.

We also see that proud heritage in the 60th Medical Group's namesake, Maj. Gen. (Dr.) David Grant. Considered by most to be the grandfather of the present-day Air Force Medical Service, Grant was one of the first to recognize the potential of aeromedical evacuation and was directly responsible for its organization and operation in World War II. He was instrumental in the establishment of a convalescent rehabilitation program which helped to restore many of the sick and wounded of World War II to maximum capacity for further service or return to civilian life - a mission that continues today at David Grant USAF Medical Center.

I am an American Airman. Guardian of freedom and justice, my nation's sword and shield, its sentry and avenger. I defend my country with my life.

Our Airman's Creed reflects this pride in the role of air, space and cyberspace power and the Air Force's commitment in supporting and defending the greatest nation in the world. Our creed is fueled by the Air Force's heritage and, in the words of Moseley, "the war fighting-focused culture, conviction, character, ethic, mindset, spirit and soul we foster in all Airmen."

I am an American Airman. wingman, leader, warrior. I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter, and I will not fail.

Nowhere is the above more evident than a recent email sent by one of our deployed surgeons from a base in Afghanistan to one of his colleagues here:

"Yesterday I rode a gurney, straddling a patient, open abdomen with my hand inside occluding his aorta to maintain vital organ perfusion after open-heart massage had been used to restart his myocardium. This part isn't funny. He died. You know what? I never thought I would ever need to do that. I just wish he had not died. He was just a kid in his early 20s. Not much older than my sons."

Fate may unfortunately deal us an unfair hand, because sometimes life isn't fair -- but to persevere and rise above ourselves is the true measure of being an Airman; an honor that we should all be proud of.