Citizen Airmen Brown balances deployment with civilian responsibility

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
  • 442d Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LENEXA, Kansas --  Some Airmen might have a first deployment when they're 18 years old. For Senior Master Sgt. Leo Brown, a first sergeant at the 442d Fighter Wing, his first deployment came after 18 years in the Air Force.

As a traditional Reservist, Brown balances his Air Force career with teaching theology, church history, morality and New Testament at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic high school in Lenexa, Kansas, where he's worked for almost 20 years. Brown was preparing to deploy to Bagram, Afghanistan, in the spring of 2014.

"I figured they might be planning something," he said, recalling his last day at the high school before he left. "But I wasn't too concerned."

During his last class of the last day, one of the school's principles interrupted his class and asked him to leave to complete paperwork.

"I was annoyed," said Brown, "I was in a lecture and asked him if it could wait 30 minutes, but he said no."

The principle walked him down the hallway, but as they turned the corner 150 silently waiting students erupted into cheers.

"His class knew," added Mr. Brian Schenck, another of the school's principles. "All 150 kids stayed quiet until he turned the corner. The seniors were lined up in that hallway chanting and cheering and that took him to the next hallway."

Brown led a one-man parade through the halls of the high school while its thousand students cheered for him.

"I was totally overwhelmed with high-fives, hugs, "he recalled, "and I remember thinking that it was nuts."

Then, the walk ended in the school's cafeteria, where the school's band and choir greeted him with the Air Force song and more students, parents and alumni were waiting to cheer for him.

"If we'd had doves, we would have released them," Schenck joked.

A priest was waiting to bless Brown.

"In a school of one thousand students it's hard to keep a secret that big," said Schenck. "But we succeeded. They wanted to make it special. And that speaks to how much they admire him."

In addition to the surprise party, the students wrote letters to Brown, which he received in bundles in Afghanistan. Each night he opened an envelope with three letters, which he read.

"Once a month I got a box," he described. "They had gummie bears and school envelopes with the date I could open them. And none were generic- they were heartfelt. Some were about memories, or jokes, or concerns. I was very disciplined and every night I only opened one because I told myself 'I need to savor this.' It was a small thing, but I was away from everything familiar."

One of the letters that he found most impactful was from a student whose locker was near the door of his classroom. They'd spoke casually as often as three times a day and she'd written to tell him how meaningful his jokes, advice and conversation had become.

"She'd typed a three page letter and told me I was like a second father," he said. "I kinda choked up when I read that, to know she held me in such profound respect. What an obligation, to be worthy of that admiration. It made me think, how can I be worthy of these opportunities I've been given."

The entire experience, he said, left him with an appreciation of his life.

"I would see A-10s come back with bullet holes," Brown recalled. "It was a humbling realization of how vulnerable we all are."

Similarly, the administration at the high school said the students grew from the experience.

"It's a powerful message," said Schenck. "The students saw someone uproot themselves to serve the greater good."

Dr. William Ford, Brown's head principle, overcame the challenge of logistically filling his teaching position for seven months; it was the first time a faculty member had deployed in at least 20 years. Ford said seeing Brown deploy broadened the students' world view. Ford's previous teaching position was near Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where many students had parents who deployed. Lenexa, Kansas, however, is less affected by deployment.

"I dealt with the Vietnam War," he said. "I remember my neighbors being drafted. These students don't know anyone affected by war. To them, it's a video game. It was all fun and games until he walked in with orders and then it became real. That's something that is important for the future."

Several students kept in contact with Brown during his deployment. One wrote to tell him they were planning him a welcome home party, but the school had another idea.

While the departure had been a surprise for Brown, the return was a surprise for the students, none of whom knew the day he would be returning. It happened to be on the day of a pep rally. The theme was thankfulness.

Brown drove to the school in ABUs as soon as he returned to Kansas. He hid behind a curtain on stage during the rally. One of the principles spoke and began listing different causes the school had for thankfulness.

"He said, 'Here's one more thing we're thankful for," recalled Brown. "And he drew back the curtain. The kids went crazy."

As a citizen Airman, Brown balances his civilian job with his military responsibilities as a first sergeant. However, he believes the two are very similar- he says his job is to care about people.