Honor the fallen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Wolf
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Three Airmen from the 442nd Fighter Wing are far from "traditional reservists."

For Staff Sergeants Zachary Walker and Joseph Embrey, and Senior Airman Adam Catts, being a reservist means working every day, in uniform, with active-duty Airmen from the 509th Bomb Wing in the Whiteman Honor Guard.

On the weekends, Sergeant Walker works as a services specialist in the 442nd Services Flight; Sergeant Embrey is an A-10 crew chief in the 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Airman Catts is a supply technician in the 442nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. During the week however, their main mission is to honor the fallen.

In addition to the Honor Guard's primary mission of providing funeral services for servicemembers, veterans and retirees who have served honorably, they also attend civic events and encourage community support.

"We have performed at football games before," Sergeant Embrey said, "and we get to tell kids about the Air Force and leave an impression on them."

It's important to remain sharp and professional when representing the Air Force, he added.

Not only do these Airmen try to represent the Air Force honorably, but their supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Dave Giberson, 509th Forces Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of the Whiteman Honor Guard, said they also represent the 442nd with pride.

"We try to show camaraderie (with the active-duty Airmen)," Sergeant Walker said. "Working together, we realize that we have the same mission and goals in mind."

For Sergeant Embrey, also formerly an active-duty Airman, it helps unite the two wings.

"Active duty and reservists are all on the same team and we can see each other's jobs as just as important as our own," he said.

Not unlike most reservists, the lives of the three 442nd Honor Guard Airmen can get hectic at times.

Airman Catts serves as a team leader to 22 Honor Guard Airmen, a responsibility that few lower-enlisted Airmen have.

"I had to become a leader," he said. "It required me to develop leadership skills much quicker than I would have otherwise had to."

Additionally, he helps new active-duty Airmen get acclimated to the area, an advantage, he said, since he's lived here his entire life - something active-duty Airmen are usually unfamiliar with.

Sergeants Walker, Embrey and Airman Catts also have responsibilities beyond leading their teams. They are responsible for ensuring the vans are maintained for safe travels; they ensure weapons accountability and they assist Sergeant Giberson with coordinating funerals. A few times a year, they are also responsible for being role models, such as on Veterans' Day when they attend nearby schools to perform and answer questions about the Air Force.

Sergeant Walker said that although it feels like he's still on active duty sometimes, it's different now that he's a reservist on the weekends and the lead trainer for the Honor Guard during the week.

"Like most reservists, I feel like I'm still balancing two different jobs," he said.

Airmen familiar with that concept are those from the 131st Bomb Wing, the Air National Guard unit at Whiteman, who have also been extended an invitation to join the Honor Guard.

"I think it will be good if they join, because it will (more easily unite) the National Guard, reserve and active duty," Airman Catts said.