From the Frontlines: Tech. Sgt. Shannon Fisher

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  He's a social man whose face is always wearing a smile. He is known around base as "Fish."

If he was standing under a rain cloud, he would start dancing in the rain. He would turn a case of the Mondays into a case of the Fridays (if such a thing exists.) And in keeping this mentality, Tech. Sgt. Shannon Fisher said he found the pleasant side of being deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan.

Sergeant Fisher, 509th Medical Support Squadron's personnel and administration flight chief, left here Dec. 18, 2009 for his six-month deployment.

While deployed, Sergeant Fish was the 455th Expeditionary Medical Group NCO in charge of J-1, or the medical personnel section.

"Primarily, my responsibilities were to track in-bound and out-bound personnel and take care of personnel tasks such as decorations," Sergeant Fisher said. "I was also the unit travel representative, so I was responsible for everyone in my unit that was leaving the AoR."

Sergeant Fisher said his deployed duties were similar to his work here. "The only difference: the deployed work was more about readiness coordination in assuring people got home," he added. "We made sure everyone had their travel itineraries and orders before they left."

Last deployed to Al-Salem, Kuwait circa 2000, the sergeant said he enjoyed his first deployment in more than a decade, which gave him the opportunity to work alongside Soldiers and Sailors.

"We had an opportunity to interact and work with the Army and Navy, which was a rewarding experience," he said. "I believe experiencing how the other branches see and do things different from us was great. It gave us a chance to share knowledge between sister services."

Although his job came first and foremost, Sergeant Fisher found time for his spiritual side.

"I attended the Gospel Service at the Enduring Faith Chapel," he said. "I attended regularly and became the Minister of Music shortly after my arrival and was the service's main instrumentalist."

The chapel, which had an attendance of more than 170 when Sergeant Fisher arrived, quickly grew to more than 400 by the time he left, according to the sergeant.

"It gave you a sense of home and the fellowship was beneficial to the spiritual side that everyone needs in a deployed environment," Sergeant Fisher said. "It helped with the stress of being in a deployed environment. It was an opportunity to escape the thought of being in Afghanistan."

A dedicated worker and volunteer at the chapel, Sergeant Fisher also committed time to finishing his Bachelor's degree in Health Care Management.

"I think everyone should have an opportunity to deploy and get a chance to put to use what they do at home-station everyday in a real-world combat environment," Sergeant Fish said. "It really gives you a great appreciation for your job."

"Fish" returned July 6, 2010 with his eyes squinted and teeth showing ... his trademark expression.