A ray of sunshine

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Mann
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Winter is notorious for being gloomy, cold and stark.

North Carolina sees its fair share of gray skies, rain and, on occasion, snow during this time of year. Sunshine can be a welcome sight.

Amidst one overcast, rainy day in January, several beams of light shone brightly at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

In mid-January, Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing took some time to tour 11 youth afflicted with muscular dystrophy, and their families, around the base.

The tour was the idea of Senior Master Sgt. Joe Braden, 4th FW propulsion flight chief. Braden has been a camp counselor at Camp Carefree, a camp that caters to kids with MD, since 2010.

Braden explained that the kids can get depressed this time of year since there aren't a lot of activities for them to do. Most are bound to wheelchairs.

"None of these families have ever been on-base," Braden said. "We want them to experience new stuff."

While stationed in Japan, Braden volunteered working with special needs children. He wanted to continue his work when he came back to the States and found his calling when an email came out to the base populace asking for volunteers for Camp Carefree.
If they didn't get enough counselors the camp would be cancelled, said Braden. "Every kid who goes to camp has a dedicated counselor with them five days a week for 24 hours."

While setting up the tour here, Braden approached Senior Master Sgt. James Loper, 916th Command Post superintendent, to see if the 916th ARW would be interested in showing the kids a tanker.

Loper coordinated with various 916th offices to make a KC-135R static tour a part of the day. Several pilots and boom operators showed the kids around the outside and explained the mission of the jet and how it worked. A few of the children were even able to see the inside of the refueler.

Benjamin, a 7-year-old MD participant, was enthralled with his experience inside the cockpit. "I liked driving it and sitting in the pilot's seat," he said.

"They were given something they didn't ask for or deserve," said Braden. "We're trying to give back to them."