Heritage Wall honors Whiteman Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Bryan Vandersommen
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Whiteman Air Force Base enlisted Airmen have engaged battle hardened enemies in Afghanistan, fought off insurgents in Iraq after suffering blast injuries, and refused to leave Airmen behind in the carnage of the Khobar Towers terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia. 

Whiteman's legacy of valor is also wrought by less harrowing stories of airmen torquing bolts, filling fuel tanks, processing documents and serving hot meals - achievements harnessed by our leaders to ensure our allies sleep soundly, our enemies sleep with one eye open, and terrorism in all its guises is put to rest forever.

In Whiteman's Professional Development Center the vision for honoring these achievements is currently being built. It begins in the Airman Leadership School hallway where there is a wall of plaques, photos and medals.

"When history remembers the Air Force's contributions to the global war on terror it will be in sorties flown, bomb tonnage dropped, cargo moved or fuel passed," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Hornback, 509th Bomb Wing command chief. "Often over looked are the contributions of our most valuable resource - our people.

"This is our way of capturing those contributions of the silent enlisted professionals that ensured sortie rates, bombs dropped, cargo moved and fuel passed," the chief said.

The wall, to be headed "A Legacy of Valor: Airmen in the Fight," honors airmen through chief master sergeants recognized for outstanding achievement, exceptionally meritorious service, actions of valor, and wounds received in action. It is the beginning of what will be an enlisted heritage hall comprising the PDC ground floor.

"It's good to know that our base has not forgotten those who are working behind the scenes," said Airman Lauro Gomez, 509th Security Forces Squadron. He went on to say "It's an encouragement that leadership see us and what we do."

Whether inspecting an engine at Whiteman, or providing cover fire for convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan, these great men and women shouldering our nation's strategic deterrence, global strike and Global War on Terrorism missions will be recognized.

They do not try to be heroes, but simply wake up thinking "time to go to work" and heroic deeds follow. Could a legacy of valor be anything else? 

This legacy is honored by Whiteman's Heritage Wall, but it is simply a day's work for some of the finest enlisted in the Air Force. 

"The 509 Bomb Wing has a long history of valor and whether it be in combat or deterrence, Airmen have contributed," said the Chief. "However, we have not done very well in capturing those contributions - this is just the start."