As we approach Memorial Day I thought we could be a little more proactive than just saying “Happy Memorial Day.”
Is there a person you knew who fought for our country that didn’t make it home? Tell us about him/her.
Brian A. was a 4N (enlisted nurse/medic) from the Kentucky ANG who served with me during OPERATION Iraqi Freedom. We were both assigned to the 486th Air Expeditionary Wing in Al Minhad United Arab Emirates. We had 21 assigned aircraft, a collection of C-130Es and C-130Hs.
Brian had brown eyes and sandy brown hair in compliance with AFI 36-2903 (Air Force Grooming standards.) He wasn’t very tall, 5”5’ 140 pounds, but he was physically fit. Brian could have easily been a model for recruiting purposes. Quiet by nature but gregarious none the less.
We had a flight doc assigned to our field hospital who despite being a gifted emergency room doctor, was a little absent minded and technology deficient. Brian took it upon himself to make sure Dr. Good (his real name- Call Sign “Feel Good”) was taken care of.
Brian made sure Doc Good had what he needed to care of the troops. For example, Doc Good had a special way of brewing coffee. The basket that held the coffee grounds would be filled to the top. The carafe would be filled with water and the brewing cycle started. Once the coffee was brewed, he would take the pot of freshly brewed coffee and put it in the reservoir to run another cycle. At that point Doc Good’s coffee was ready. In order to warn the rest of us about the coffee Brian made a sign called the “Doc Good Coffee Strength Meter” it went from
Weak-Normal-Strong-Feelin’ Good He would move the needle to the appropriate coffee strength.
One day we needed to expand our facility so the Commander, Dr. Cinco, ordered the group to assemble several additional “Alaska Shelter” modules.
Photo for example purposes only. Not the 486th AEW (but it looked just like this)
Rank held no advantage during the assembly of these shelters, everyone was expected to pull his/her own weight. However, despite the expectations of Colonel Cinco, Brian had his own plan. Anytime he saw a provider “doing something he shouldn’t” Brian intervened and took the support beams from the doctor carrying them, or took over for the operating room nurse driving a stake into the ground. Brian was constantly distributing water bottles and even made sure Doc Good had his “Feelin’ Good Coffee”
Even though we were in a “dry” country, SOMEHOW alcohol found its way to our base. The advantage of flying C130 from the desert to Ramstein AFB in Germany. Everyone on base got two tickets a week, each ticket redeemable for one beer. For some reason, every week, the beer would always run out pretty quickly. Not surprisingly, every week, Brian would always be near the front of the beer line. Brian didn’t drink. Members of our security forces team usually missed “beer call” because they were on duty. Brian would keep his beer and solicit donations from others. He would then give these beers to members of the Security Forces team as they came off their 12 hour shift.
Fortunately, our hospital didn’t see the mass casualties that were expected. After 8 months the resources of the 486th AEW were reassigned forward. The war in Iraq continued for another 8 years. After most of us went home, I heard Brian volunteered for several additional deployments in the theater to “help out the docs.”
I could continue describing how amazing Brian was but I think you all understand how truly incredible he was.
In 2007 Brian committed suicide after returning home from a deployment.
My heart goes out to his family. Brian was a healer, patriot, friend and brother.
I think of him every day and know he made an incredible impact during his short time here on earth.
Rest in Peace Dear Brother, I know there is a absent minded doctor in heaven you are helping.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/louisville/name/bryan-ala-obituary?id=7810074