Command chief says goodbye to Travis

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis it's Friday and what another grand day to behold. Tonight Charlene, Dominique and I will celebrate the culmination of three years of challenges, great times, forged friendship and one incredible ride. Thank you for the memories. 

We've watched Airmen come and go only to have others pick up the baton and continue the marathon. That's the amazing thing about this great institution; we seem to have a reservoir of superstars. Sure, we feel a little sadness when a comrade departs and often times uncertainty emerges, causing us to wonder if the mission will suffer because of their departure. Every time without failure, after a proud professional leaves, those left behind pull up their boot straps and take precision and reliability to new heights. 

Tomorrow we'll fly home for a little relaxation and then we're off to Osan Air Base, Korea to begin a new chapter in our memoir. As we drive off the base for the final time we'll look back and smile knowing you won't miss a beat because you're the best at what you do. 

Fredrick Douglas is quoted as saying, "Men may not get all that they work for in life but they must certainly work for all they get. Team Travis, without a doubt, you are the crown jewel of Air Mobility Command and you definitely have worked hard for all that you have received. 

We've certainly enjoyed our time together and consider ourselves blessed to have watched in awe as you set the pace for Air Mobility Command. We hope and pray that our family may has somehow touched your life, as you've left a lasting imprint upon ours. 

This reminds me of a story I once heard: One day a father finally got the opportunity to take his son camping. He borrowed his friend's log cabin located high up in the mountains. Off the two of them went and just as they reached the cabin it began to snow. 

After they unloaded the car, darkness fell upon them and the temperature drastically dropped. They collected fire wood from a pile of logs stacked high against the side of the cabin. They truly enjoyed the fire that night and the rest of their trip. When it came time to leave they packed their things and the young lad eagerly raced to the car. His father laughed and said, "Our work here is not done! We have to chop fire wood to replace the logs we used." With a puzzled look, after seeing the pile of logs against the cabin was still plentiful, the young lad turned to his father and said, "Why dad? There's a lot of wood left." And the father replied, "We must leave the pile higher than it was when we found it. 

Son, whatever you do in life should always do your very best to leave it better than it was when you found it." 

Team Travis we did our best to help you make Travis a better place to live, work and play for our Airmen. Until next time; may God bless and keep you as only he can, may God bless Travis and these United States of America! As always have a great weekend; be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around.