Service's heritage guides its future

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. John Savage
  • 60th Medical Support Squadron Commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "I am faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor and a legacy of valor"...these words are familiar utterances in the Airman's Creed. As I wonder what it means, my mind turns to those who have gone before. I remember great Soldiers and Airmen with the names Christian Lauchnor, David Grant, John Levitow, James Warren and "Tex" Hill.

Corporal Christian Lauchnor is a name not familiar to many, but was one of approximately 250,000 soldiers in the Revolutionary war. He left his family to defend the principles of liberty and establish our nation. His example and commitment as he 'deployed' and performed in a 'resource constrained' environment apply to every Airman, even 235 years later.

The Levitow Honor Graduate Award is presented to the top professional military education graduate from Airman leadership schools. The award bears his name to point our minds to the legacy of valor he personified.

David Grant USAF Medical Center is named for Maj. Gen. David Grant. While the "grand-father" of the Air Force Medical Service led the medical service of the Army Air Corps he laid the foundation for modern air evacuation and physiological support of high altitude flight. Part of our heritage is to be one that leaves a lasting positive legacy.

At our recent air expo I had the privilege of meeting Lt. Col. James Warren, an Airman who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam War, and who is a member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen fought racial segregation with their grit, combat excellence and determination. Warren and the Tuskegee Airman are trailblazers that helped the Army Air Corps and our nation overcome racial discrimination and are key elements of the tradition of honor in our Air Force.

David "Tex" Hill, a naval aviator turned member of the 1st American Volunteer Group, was credited with 18 kills and was a member of the Flying Tigers. When the Flying Tigers were deactivated, he transitioned to the Army Air Forces and eventually commanded America's first operational jet fighter group flying the P-59 Airacomet and the P-80 Shooting Star. In our heritage, the Flying Tigers symbolize jointness, agility and our never-ending pursuit of improved tactics.

We name awards and buildings and we study past Airmen and their actions in our Professional Military Education and as directed by Chief of Staff in reading lists. We do this to know our heritage, to learn what is the legacy of valor we must uphold and what are the honorable actions of our military forefathers.

Our heritage holds a powerful key to our future success. Knowing it gives us a standard we can strive for. We can choose to live up to this noble heritage. As I start each day I reflect on our heritage and recommit to live up to the examples of pilot "Tex" Hill, medic David Grant, hero John Levitow, trailblazer James Warren and the revolutionary war patriot Christian Lauchnor, who I also know as my great-great-great-great grandfather.
May we all be faithful to our proud heritage.