Warrensburg schools win Reserve support award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Johnston
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Master Sgt. Don Murphy knew he had an outstanding civilian employer.
When he was called up for deployment, short-notice temporary duty or annual training, his employer was always there to help him through both support and by vitally backfilling his position.

Murphy, the noncommissioned officer of optometry for the 442nd Fighter Wing here, has worked for the Warrensburg, Mo., R-VI School District for more than 15 years. As one of only six maintainers in the district, he and his crew are responsible for 16 facilities supporting more than 3,600 students.

"When I have to leave to do military duty," Murphy said, "the facility director jumps in and often fills in for me. I come back to work and no project has gone unfinished. When I'm deployed or TDY, I don't have to worry about what's going on at work or even at home."

Not only has the immediate supervisor helped make the military-to-civilian transition easier for Murphy, but the other five maintainers have also provided vital assistance to Murphy's family while he was away.

"Once, while I was on military duty, my furnace went out," he said, "and my wife called my supervisor. In less than 24 hours, they had sent someone to my house and had it completely fixed."

It is for reasons like that, that Murphy has nominated his employer for awards given by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

"Last year, I put the district in for a Freedom Award," he said. "It didn't win, but they got a great certificate showing them my appreciation."

While the district was grateful for a certificate of appreciation, Murphy said he wasn't ready to give up on a well-deserved award.

"I have an awesome employer," he said. "The first year, I worked really hard on the award. The second year, I worked even harder - and not because they wanted the award or because I wanted it for them - but because they truly deserved it."

In August 2012, Murphy's hard work and dedication paid off. The Warrensburg R-VI School District was awarded the Pro Patria award, a state-level award given to only three employers.

"There are not many jobs where an employee wants to go in an hour early just because he loves being there," Murphy said. "But I do. There are times when I don't even use all my vacation time because I just enjoy being at work so much. I work with a bunch of people who don't gripe about doing a job. They do their work, and they're great supervisors and employees."

While Murphy said there are only a few active guardsmen and reservists in the district, there are many veterans, and even more students whose parents are service members.

As if that wasn't enough, Murphy said each school in the district has a veterans' recognition list on the wall of those who work in the building. It serves a dinner each year for its veteran employees and other service members in the community.
Murphy said the Pro Patria award was a great honor to receive for his district. But he's not done just yet.

"Next year, I'm going to work even harder and put them in for a national award," he said. "They have done so much for me over the last 15 years that it's the least I can do to show my appreciation for their service to guardsmen and reservists."

While the district ultimately received the award from the ESGR, Murphy wanted to make sure the supervisor who makes his life so easy at times was recognized.

"I want to recognize a supervisor who is doing great things for reservists and guardsmen," said Brig. Gen. Eric S. Overturf, 442nd Fighter Wing commander, at a Warrensburg school board meeting, Sept. 18. "Lyle Kreisel is there for our reservists - when they deploy, when they have drill weekends, and whenever they need time off to serve their country. It's because of supervisors like him, and employers like the Warrensburg School district, that great Americans can serve their country and defend our freedom. So thank you for your service to our country."