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2 Desert Wings Commentary January 15, 2016
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Finding strength, resiliency through Air Force family
Three 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Airmen Air Force family
reach out to Airman 1st Class Christopher Thornbury,
front-center, Dec. 11 at McConnell Air Force Base, I received calls, texts and messages from many people
Kansas. Thornbury says his Air Force family has sending condolences and asking if there was anything they
been with him for over a year and helped him through could do. A vast majority of those people I had just met
the loss of his son, Emmitt Alan Thornbury. within the year and a half of my enlistment, not in my 24
years before; they were co-workers, mentors, instructors
Hardship and my leadership. It was my Air Force family that really
We didn’t have the chance to raise Emmitt. made the effort to make sure we were OK.
We’ll never know what kind of man he would be- We had the funeral in our hometown, so he could be near
family. It was a difficult day that I wish no parent will ever
come, if he’d have my blue eyes or his mother’s have to go through.
dimples. We won’t be able to take him to ball- Before the funeral, my brother came up to me and said,
“Your friends are here.” As I went to the back of the room,
games or pick him up after a fall. We won’t be I saw four familiar faces that I recognized from base. A
chaplain, two co-workers and my fearless leader traveled
able to hold and comfort him when he is upset — the 303 miles to be there for me and my family. I felt over-
whelmed with emotion to the point I could barely breathe.
because he isn’t with us anymore, but he is still
It may not be as obvious as time passes, but they are still
with us in our hearts. helping me; whether they know it or not, just by being a
friend, mentor and always understanding. I don’t know
His fragile body couldn’t support life outside his what would have happened without the resources provided
to my family by the Air Force and to my family back at
mother’s safe womb. He only lived a little over an McConnell, but I do know that because they picked me up,
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Colby Hardin hour but the impression he left will last forever. I can put my best foot
forward.
by Airman 1st ClassChristopher Thornbury We didn’t go in blind though. We knew Em-
McConnell AFB, Kansas mitt was going to face challenges when the doctors
spoke to us about his deformities caused by his condition,
I joined the military to provide for my family, but I never Trisomy 18. It was gut-wrenching when they began talk-
would have expected the challenges my family would face ing about how much time we would have with him. They
and how we would evolve. weren’t talking about years or even months, not even days;
they were talking about minutes and hours. Hearing this hit
When I enlisted in the Air Force I joined another family me harder than a speeding train and took me to an emotion
without intent. This family has been with me ever since, I didn’t know existed.
especially during my family’s darkest tragedy.
Family Leadership Courtesy photograph A picture of Emmitt Alan
Thornbury’s headstone,
After completing basic military training and tech school, My leadership was incredible. They made sure I was son of Airman 1st Class
my family and I made the 303-mile drive from our home- at every appointment and ensured I knew all my options Christopher Thornbury,
town, Lebanon, Mo., to McConnell Air Force Base, Kan- so we could take the best course of action. This allowed a 22nd Air Refueling
sas. We didn’t know anyone or anything about the area Emmitt and Kristina to go to one of the best hospitals in Wing Public Affairs
before arriving. It was only my wife Kristina, my daughter the nation for children with severe problems. If he had any photojournalist, laid to rest
Kierstin and myself. chance of survival, it would be there and my leadership in Lebanon, Mo. Emmitt
made it possible. passed away as a result of
My co-workers welcomed us and within a few months, his deformities caused by
I had made friends at work. We soon found out that our I was given emergency leave so we could stay at the his condition, Trisomy 18.
immediate family was going to grow. We were going to nearby Ronald McDonald House allowing us to be close
have a baby boy, who we decided to name Emmitt Alan to the hospital with the best care possible. In the end, the
Thornbury. doctors couldn’t save our son but knowing we tried has
made our situation easier to live with.
On Sept. 18, 2015, Emmitt was born.
Commander’s
Action Line
email: speak2cc@edwards.af.mil
The Commander’s Action Line gives all Airmen, re-
tirees, families and community members a direct link to
Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander.
The Action Line can be used to express constructive
points of view on the policies and procedures of the
base; discuss safety and security issues; and address
problems, concerns, or suggestions after traditional
methods have been exhausted.
The Commander’s Action Line should not be the
¿rst action taken to resolve an issue. Those seeking
a remedy to a problem should ¿rst follow the chain
of command and take up the matter with the of¿ce of
primary responsibility, supervisors, ¿rst sergeants or
commanders.
Action Line queries may be submitted by sending an
e-mail to speak2cc@edwards.af.mil with Commander’s
Action Line as the subject heading or by calling (661)
277-7325. Action Line submissions must be written in
a courteous and professional tone, and must include a
name, an e-mail address or an alternative method of
contact. The requestor’s contact information will not be
published in compliance with Privacy Act restrictions.
Any messages received without contact information will
not be routed, so please be sure to provide some method
for communication.
