Veterans Airlift Command volunteers flew 15 wounded heroes and a service dog to Mammoth Mountain for a week of winter sports with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra. The following video is courtesy of Denise Winston.
We provide air transportation for medical and other compassionate purposes to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.
As 2009 comes to an end, I thought it appropriate to reflect on the year and thank those who have made this effort/enterprise a success.
Looking back, I believe this was the year (our third full year in existence) that we became “established”. We reached a milestone of 1400 volunteer pilots and aircraft owners on our volunteer roles and increased our flights by 50% over the previous year (again). We have now transported over 1800 passengers well over one million miles since beginning in Nov 06. We have become known within the military medical community as a “quietly competent” resource which executes as promised. This is only possible because of our network of willing patriot volunteers who fly the missions, and the financial supporters who keep our flight coordination center funded and able to respond pretty much 24/7.
It is amazing to me that we can cover the mission requests, sometimes with as little as a couple of hours notice and provide such first rate service to our wounded warriors and their families. What a blessing to be associated with the caliber of volunteers that the mission attracts. Volunteers like Phil Tholen from Tulsa, who accepted two missions over the holidays to get two seriously wounded soldiers (one airman and his family and one single soldier… a double amputee) home from San Antonio to Chicago and Dayton respectively, in his Hawker Premier Jet. Phil took it upon himself to call an additional passenger (one he’d flown to Philadelphia previously) to see if he needed a lift as well. Turns out he did need a lift back to San Antonio, so Phil added that to his task for the return leg… thus completing his 31st mission for the VAC since he joined us just over two years ago.
If I had the time I would write a story about every mission we complete. It would be doable if my allergies didn’t kick in every time I hear about what our volunteers do and the difference that they make in the lives of our heroes. Or….even as common…the difference that these heroes make in the lives of our volunteers!
Without the financial support of great Americans like those named on our donor recognition page, this would not work.. THANKS to all those named on our wall for your participation. Patriots all!
We were shocked by a Congressman I met while in DC visiting Walter Reed a couple of Months ago. He heard a short pitch from me and seemed impressed when I described our mission. Six weeks later I got a call from Congressman Rooney’s office (district 6 in FL) advising me that he was planning a motorcycle ride around lake Okeechobee to raise awareness and funding for the VAC. He actually did it on Dec 13. Buck Williams and Paul Donahue, two of our volunteers flew one of our former passengers in for the event…Buck flew him down from Orlando and Paul flew him over the motorcycle route in his helicopter. A great day..captured on this newsmax video. Our story is being told in unique ways and we are gaining momentum. Thank you congressman Rooney and future Congressman Allan West for your leadership.
We are looking forward to expanding our efforts to serve our military family and especially our wounded warriors in 2010. Thanks for your part in the mission. This is important stuff!
Looking back, I believe this was the year (our third full year in existence) that we became “established”. We reached a milestone of 1400 volunteer pilots and aircraft owners on our volunteer roles and increased our flights by 50% over the previous year (again). We have now transported over 1800 passengers well over one million miles since beginning in Nov 06. We have become known within the military medical community as a “quietly competent” resource which executes as promised. This is only possible because of our network of willing patriot volunteers who fly the missions, and the financial supporters who keep our flight coordination center funded and able to respond pretty much 24/7.
It is amazing to me that we can cover the mission requests, sometimes with as little as a couple of hours notice and provide such first rate service to our wounded warriors and their families. What a blessing to be associated with the caliber of volunteers that the mission attracts. Volunteers like Phil Tholen from Tulsa, who accepted two missions over the holidays to get two seriously wounded soldiers (one airman and his family and one single soldier… a double amputee) home from San Antonio to Chicago and Dayton respectively, in his Hawker Premier Jet. Phil took it upon himself to call an additional passenger (one he’d flown to Philadelphia previously) to see if he needed a lift as well. Turns out he did need a lift back to San Antonio, so Phil added that to his task for the return leg… thus completing his 31st mission for the VAC since he joined us just over two years ago.
If I had the time I would write a story about every mission we complete. It would be doable if my allergies didn’t kick in every time I hear about what our volunteers do and the difference that they make in the lives of our heroes. Or….even as common…the difference that these heroes make in the lives of our volunteers!
Without the financial support of great Americans like those named on our donor recognition page, this would not work.. THANKS to all those named on our wall for your participation. Patriots all!
We were shocked by a Congressman I met while in DC visiting Walter Reed a couple of Months ago. He heard a short pitch from me and seemed impressed when I described our mission. Six weeks later I got a call from Congressman Rooney’s office (district 6 in FL) advising me that he was planning a motorcycle ride around lake Okeechobee to raise awareness and funding for the VAC. He actually did it on Dec 13. Buck Williams and Paul Donahue, two of our volunteers flew one of our former passengers in for the event…Buck flew him down from Orlando and Paul flew him over the motorcycle route in his helicopter. A great day..captured on this newsmax video. Our story is being told in unique ways and we are gaining momentum. Thank you congressman Rooney and future Congressman Allan West for your leadership.
We are looking forward to expanding our efforts to serve our military family and especially our wounded warriors in 2010. Thanks for your part in the mission. This is important stuff!
Pictured: Austin Spencer, SSG Bradley Gruetzner, and VAC Pilot Scott Zodin
It was a great honor flying a Purple Heart recipient from Palestine, TX to Camp Hope, Farmington, MO. Camp Hope is formally known as Chris Neal Farm, in memory of Chris Neal who died fighting for his country in Iraq several years ago (www.chrisnealfarm.com).
Our hero/passenger was severely wounded in Iraq. While on patrol, the Humvee he and his comrades were traveling in struck an improvised explosive device (IED). Three soldiers perished, two survived.
This soldier will tell you that he was just doing his job. That he is nothing special. I beg to differ. This young man has a fine disposition, and positive attitude. He answered all questions with a yes sir, and no sir. He did not complain about the pain he obviously felt cramped in the back seat of the plane or the turbulence we hit coming into Farmington. In general, he was a fine example of what is “good” about the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
It is a useful when things are not going our way to remember the great sacrifice these soldiers are making. At least in my case, problems seem petty and insignificant compared to those of a wounded hero.
Phil's San Luis Obispo Trip Report
All went well - no, GREAT - on the trip out to SBP. Tim is the most gregarious, up-beat person you can imagine. Also very bright, and empathetic. Gabe is a little more timid (or seemed so in contrast to Tim) but also a really sweet young man. What was really interesting was the metamorphosis that occurred during our 10 hours together.....
I met Tim and Gabe at Landmark Aviation (FBO) at San Antonio. They were in the FBO terminal building when I landed, and it was obvious which of the passengers in the terminal were my pax; Tim stomping around in shorts and one metal leg, and Gabe in a wheelchair. We went thru introductions and some light banter as I was re-fueled. We then loaded and boarded my PC12. Both soldiers were impressed with the style in which they were going to travel. I told them it was the least we could do for them given what they had done for us. It was odd, but the looks they gave me made me think this was the first time they had heard that remark.
We stopped in SDL for fuel/pee/stretch/whatever on the way out (they had hinted about bladder endurance). When they disembarked at the FBO, there seemed to all of a sudden be a more jovial camaraderie going on. 2 hours later we arrived at SBP and were greeted by the host organization, AMPSURF.org. It was only then that I found out both Tim and Gabe were returning surfers, having also participated last year, and were greeted by "old friends" who swept them off to the hotel - with wide grins on both their faces. But what happened later was even better.....
At 6:00 p.m. we were all meeting at the hotel lobby to ride over to a restaurant where a "meet and greet" would take place (with food and beers). When it got to be about 6:15, Tim and I were in a discussion with Dana Cummings (founder/host with AMPSURF.org) when in comes Gabe - not in a wheelchair, not on crutches, not even his cane! Just walking in, grinning and basking in the glow of all his buddies (old and new). It was then that it finally hit me - what you've been "selling" all these years - the powerful recuperative effect of having your friends and extended family nearby seriously out-powers the best medical facilities around!!! Gabe did not experience any miracle; he was able to move around into and out of my plane on his own. But it was not until he was surrounded by that emotional support that he chose to cast off the crutches (figuratively and literally) and step-out on his own. And the pride and compassion the swelled in Tim as we watched was evident. What a moment......
They don't need us - but we sure can help, and it is most rewarding to do so.
Keep VAC in there for them - and for us!
Phil
I met Tim and Gabe at Landmark Aviation (FBO) at San Antonio. They were in the FBO terminal building when I landed, and it was obvious which of the passengers in the terminal were my pax; Tim stomping around in shorts and one metal leg, and Gabe in a wheelchair. We went thru introductions and some light banter as I was re-fueled. We then loaded and boarded my PC12. Both soldiers were impressed with the style in which they were going to travel. I told them it was the least we could do for them given what they had done for us. It was odd, but the looks they gave me made me think this was the first time they had heard that remark.
We stopped in SDL for fuel/pee/stretch/whatever on the way out (they had hinted about bladder endurance). When they disembarked at the FBO, there seemed to all of a sudden be a more jovial camaraderie going on. 2 hours later we arrived at SBP and were greeted by the host organization, AMPSURF.org. It was only then that I found out both Tim and Gabe were returning surfers, having also participated last year, and were greeted by "old friends" who swept them off to the hotel - with wide grins on both their faces. But what happened later was even better.....
At 6:00 p.m. we were all meeting at the hotel lobby to ride over to a restaurant where a "meet and greet" would take place (with food and beers). When it got to be about 6:15, Tim and I were in a discussion with Dana Cummings (founder/host with AMPSURF.org) when in comes Gabe - not in a wheelchair, not on crutches, not even his cane! Just walking in, grinning and basking in the glow of all his buddies (old and new). It was then that it finally hit me - what you've been "selling" all these years - the powerful recuperative effect of having your friends and extended family nearby seriously out-powers the best medical facilities around!!! Gabe did not experience any miracle; he was able to move around into and out of my plane on his own. But it was not until he was surrounded by that emotional support that he chose to cast off the crutches (figuratively and literally) and step-out on his own. And the pride and compassion the swelled in Tim as we watched was evident. What a moment......
They don't need us - but we sure can help, and it is most rewarding to do so.
Keep VAC in there for them - and for us!
Phil
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