Page 2 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, Feb. 15 2019

2 February 15, 2019 www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb
news
Desert lightning news s. nevaDa
Facebook.com/NellisDesertLightningNews
One team:
Chaplain supports Tyndall Airmen in hurricane aftermath
Courtesy photograph
Chaplain (Capt.) Brian with the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., speaks with deployed Airmen at Tyndall AFB, Fla., after Hurricane Michael. Brian was among three other deployed chaplains who led religious services and offered spiritual counseling to base Airmen.
by Airman 1st Class Haley Stevens
Creech AFB, Nev.
As Airmen at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., were sifting through the belongings and memories left in the wreckage of their homes, military members from around the country were making their way to the sunshine state to provide support after a Category 4 hurricane.
Hurricane Michael left all of the 867 Tyndall homes and 99 percent of the base’s other buildings damaged.
Chaplain (Capt.) Brian with the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., was among those providing guidance for Airmen returning to their homes and life after the hurricane.
“When we’re spiritually fit, all areas of our lives are healthy,” Brian explained. “But in a tragic time, or when deployed, Airmen are away from their families, and it becomes more critical because there’s so much upheaval in their lives. They need
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Sean Carnes
that to rely upon. It strengthens them in those dif- ficult moments.”
While families arrived back at Tyndall and struggled to carry water-affected furniture, chapel members would stop to lend a hand. Helping load a sofa onto a trailer often led to talking about the family’s story, their experience, and how they are coping.
“Chaplain (Brian’s) passion is lived out in tire- lessly caring for people,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Zachary Nash, deputy wing chaplain for the 633rd Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. “His character and his enthusiasm and his desire to take care of our Airmen, was just incredible.”
Nash explained that even in moments when they had very little energy left after a long day, Brian still made time for one more Airman, one more commander or one more family when they needed him.
“I was proud to be there and represent Creech,” said Brian. “I was proud of what we do and to tell
our story, but I was also proud to join with every- one on that team to do something greater than I could do just by myself or we could as individuals.”
Members of the chapel focused on providing a sense of normalcy on base, and Brian accomplished this through small acts of service during each day of his deployment.
“He impacted Airmen and families the most through the small things,” Nash said. “Such as praying with someone at their house that no lon- ger has a roof and 80 percent of the contents are destroyed, helping someone carry a few belongings out of their house and being able to give them a word of encouragement or point them toward ad- ditional resources, and being willing to sit with someone (who is deployed) in the middle of the night who got bad news from home.”
In the midst of immeasurable change and un- certainty, Brian and many other religious affairs Airmen gave Tyndall families the spiritual support they needed to focus on the tangible issues at hand.
Chaplain (Capt.) Brian with the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., leads Catholic Mass at Tyndall AFB, Fla., Oct. 27, 2018. After Hurricane Michael swept the area, multiple major commands mobilized relief assets in an effort to restore operations to the base.
Desert Lightning News Staff
Paul Kinison, Publisher, Aerotech News and Review Stuart Ibberson, Editor
Tinna Sellie, Editorial Layout
Sandy Bueltel, Advertising Sales
CONTACT: Editorial Staff at 334-718-3509
For editorial staff: e-mail editor@aerotechnews.com CONTACT: Advertising Sales at 661-945-5634
For display ads: e-mail sbueltel@aerotechnews.com or billwhitham@aerotechnews.com
For classified ads: e-mail classifieds@aerotechnews.com
Desert Lightning News, So. Nevada edition is published by Aerotech News and Review, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. Contents of Desert Lightning News, So. Nevada edition are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, Aerotech News and Review, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force.
The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense, the
Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and Review of the products or services advertised.
Everything advertised in the publication shall be made available for purchase and use of patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
The deadline for submissions to Desert Lightning News is no later than Monday, 4:30 p.m., the week of desired publication date.
For all submissions, a name and phone number of a person to contact must be included in the event questions arise.
All material is edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity and conformity to the Associated Style Guide, to include military ranks and proper writing etiquette.
Corrections: Desert Lightning News staff members strive for accuracy each week. If you notice an error in fact, contact the Desert Lightning News staff at 334-718-3509, or e-mail editor@aerotechnews.com, and we will consider publishing a correction when appropriate.
Desert Lightning News, So. Nevada edition can also be viewed online @ www.aerotechnews.com Printed by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. (877) 247-9288 • www.aerotechnews.com