ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
More than two dozen medics from Andrews and Bolling were recognized by their supervisors and selected to accompany Maj. Gen. Gar S. Graham, 79th Medical Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Derrick D. Crowley, 79 MDW command chief master sergeant, to a naming ceremony on Nov. 20, in Mississippi.
Before a crowd of approximately 350 Active Duty military, National Guardsmen, political leaders, and veterans, Mississippi adjutant general, Major General Harold A. Cross, designated the C-17 Globemaster III, tail number 3113, as the "Spirit of the Purple Heart."
"These planes are literally saving lives transporting our wounded warriors out of harm's way, said General Cross. "It is only fitting that we name this plane in honor of these men and women who bear the scars of battle."
For some of the Airmen, it was their first encounter with the aircraft at all, and for others it was a somewhat familiar setting from a recent time when while deployed they either cared for and/or transported sick and injured servicemembers from Iraq and Afghanistan onboard the aircraft.
"The opportunity to fly on a C-17 and attend the [ceremony] was definitely rewarding and an awesome experience," said Senior Airman Jazan S. Siapno, aeromedical medical technician, 579th Aerospace Medicine Flight. "It was good knowing that our patients returning from the AOR are provided with this type of comfort during their [nine hour] flight home. I think it would be very beneficial for nurses/medics to receive this same opportunity because it allows us to feel how our patients are transported."
During the two-hour ceremony the group heard from Purple Heart recipients Gordon H. Mansfield, Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and Medal of Honor recipient, Mr. Jack H. Lucas, who to standing ovation shared their war experiences and thanked the medics who cared for them.
"I'm proud to join you in the dedication of this aircraft that transported me and so many others...most of all, I'm honored to share this day with my comrades in arms," said Secretary Mansfield.
"I like the way the [speakers] tied the aircraft into the mission by connecting it to the care they received while on the plane," said Chief Crowley. "I'm glad our folks had an opportunity to meet some real heroes."
The whole experience of hearing from a Medal of Honor recipient and Purple Heart recipients was truly an honor, said Senior Airman Siapno. "Their stories really made me realize the true meaning of absolute dedication to our country."