Page 19 - Desert Lightning News Sept. 2015

Desert Lightning News September 3, 2015 19

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an almost unchanged number men and contractors gather at “We’re family,” Saad said. more than a thousand miles in
of American and Thai civil- “Drifter’s Reef,” the only bar and “Even though everybody kind each direction.
ian contractors again work to the only gastronomy establish- of has their group, we stick to-
maintain and operate the is- ment in addition to the dining gether. This is our home.” “It’s a once in a lifetime ex-
land’s airfield. facility. People bring food to the perience, because travel to the
bar and share in highly antici- Until their tour is over, the island is extremely restricted,”
“We’re a part of history,” Saad pated bingo nights. Airmen wake up on Wake Is- Reitz said. “Only few have
said. “This island and base have a land, ready to bridge the emp- even heard of Wake and there
lot of history. Knowing we are part Sharing life with those brav- ty vastness that is the Pacific is only a select few who really
of that history is special. We’re as- ing the isolation of Wake Is- Ocean during emergencies and know what it’s like to be here.
signed to Wake Island and not a land, Saad said, will be one of contingencies. When the time It’s an awesome feeling to ex-
lot of people can say that.” his favorite memories of this comes, they are the closest re- perience that.”
special assignment. fueling and repair station in
For major holidays Air-

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Reitz and Master Sgt. Yusef Saad, both contracting representatives with Detachment 1, Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, stand in front of the passenger terminal at
Wake Island Airfield, July 21, 2015. A small team with four Airmen from Det. 1 supervises contractor operations and ensures mission success on the remote atoll in the Pacific.