Everyday heroes

  • Published
  • By Maj. Aaron Sasson
  • 436th Maintenance Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  What do you think about when you hear the word "hero?" We've all seen the headlines, so you're not going to get an argument from me if your answer is a firefighter, a police officer, an emergency medic, or a decorated combat veteran. But what is it that really makes someone a hero? Although there are a myriad of character traits that personify heroes, there are three that instantly come to my mind: selflessness, sacrifice and courage.

Heroes don't have to be on the front page of the newspaper and don't have to earn medals for their achievements. Heroes simply are people who have lived through an exceptional situation, rose to the enormity of the challenge, and with their courage, selflessness and sacrifice have overcome great difficulty. With that in mind, it is humbling to realize that in this line of work we are surrounded by heroes every day.

Here is the story of Airman 1st Class Truan Yoturi, a 436th Maintenance Squadron electro-environmental journeyman. Airman Yoturi's stepfather abused him and his siblings for many years, then abandoned their family. Learning about this horrible tragedy, his mother was unable to cope with the guilt and attempted to commit suicide. Though she survived, she became an absent parent while trying to provide for her children. Airman Yoturi, at 10-years-old, dropped out of school and assumed the role of "father figure" for his four siblings.
 
Eventually he got a job and earned enough money to purchase a homeschooling curriculum, taught himself from the books, and earned his GED. A few years passed and he worked full-time, got married and had a son, but he wanted more. Interested in joining the Air Force, his recruiter told him his GED was not enough to enlist, he would either have to provide a high school diploma or complete 15 college credits. Sacrificing even further, he dedicated time and money he did not have in order to complete these classes, all while holding a full-time job and raising a family. Today he is proud to call himself "Airman."

Next is the story of Master Sgt. Chuck Paul, 436 MXS production superintendent. While battling colon cancer, he found out that his daughter, the mother of a young child of her own, had been diagnosed with Leukemia. Though Master Sgt. Paul was able to beat his cancer, unfortunately the only child he ever knew and loved lost her battle.

The loss was so overwhelming for him and his wife that it pushed them to the brink. Severe depression and suicidal thoughts were commonplace, and their marriage barely survived. He survived due to a deep faith in God and an unconditional love for his wife, daughter and granddaughter. As a result, Master Sgt. Paul navigates each day with enthusiasm, love and a dedicated selfless spirit that inspires everyone around him.

Finally, I would like to share the story of a 436 MXS Airman (who asked to remain anonymous) whose child was murdered. Thinking that life could not go on, she was a split second away from swerving her car off a bridge and ending her life when visions of leaving her surviving daughter all alone convinced her to keep the vehicle on the roadway. She has rededicated herself, as a single mom, to raising her daughter with strength and courage. Her child is now an honors student and star athlete, and this Airman is an invaluable member of Team MXS.

These three Airmen have endured more than anybody should ever have to in a lifetime, and I do not envy them. They have something that each of us wants: knowing what they're made of. Each of these amazing people has faced the worst the world could give them and has come out on top stronger, better and brighter than before. They serve as a model of courage and a beacon of hope. They voluntarily chose to share their stories with you, their Air Force family, in the hopes that maybe they can help.
 
Their goal is to let you know you are not alone and to provide you hope so you know there is no limit to what you can handle. Heroes like these three are everywhere, in every shop, every squadron and every corner of our Air Force. They are the backbone of what makes our service so great. So if you are looking for a hero just open your eyes and look around - there's probably a hero right in front of you and you don't even know it.