Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Published Aug. 25, 2015 By Col. Michael Underkofler 514th Air Mobility Wing commander JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- My children don't like history. They don't like taking history courses in school. They put up a fight whenever I make them go to museums or historic sites. And they don't like hearing about our family history; where the family came from or the challenges they have overcome. At least that's what they say, but over time I think they'll repeat the stories I've told them to their families because knowing where you come from can serve as a touchstone in challenging times or inspire you to do even bigger things to make your ancestors proud. For the last five years, I've used most every opportunity to tell the stories of our Reserve forefathers, especially those who created the way we serve or those within our wing who have done phenomenal things. Even if you, like my sons, don't like history I'm hopeful the stories I've told will serve as touchstones for defending the way we serve or help you see the greatness in what you and your fellow Citizen Airmen do. I'm continually motivated when I read or hear their stories. Here are some of my favorites. The mayor of New York thinks and serves beyond the five boroughs Mayor John Purroy Mitchel, the boy mayor of New York City, advocated for universal military service, specifically in a large, reserve force different from the state militias. Despite running the world's largest and most important city, and ushering in huge anti-Tammany Hall reforms, he gave up his summers to train and think about how the nation should be defended, creating the reserve readiness movement. Starting in 1915 the mayor went to summer camp at Plattsburg, N.Y., for six weeks. He and others who attended, paid their own transportation costs, bought their own uniforms, and paid for their food--over $28 for the encampment, a princely sum at the time, for the opportunity to perform "annual tour." These campers, or early reservists, received no pay and worked incredibly long hours, drilling in the day and talking about defense in the evening. Mayor Mitchel led from the front. He allowed 35 New York Police Department officers to join him at camp. Other key city leaders, like the police commissioner and the port collector, also joined him. Instead of going into a comfy law firm when he was defeated for a second mayoral term, the middle-aged Mitchel sought a Reserve commission to go and fight in WWI. The former mayor became Major Mitchel, a Signal Corps pilot. Unfortunately he died in a flight training accident before being sent to an operational squadron in Europe. So proud of his service, New Yorkers demanded that an auxiliary field on Long Island be named for him. That field grew to become Mitchel Air Force Base, the home of the 514th from 1949 to 1961. Despite social and economic privilege, another Roosevelt eagerly serves Also joining Mitchel at summer camp were the Roosevelt boys, the four sons of former President Teddy Roosevelt. Quentin, the youngest and the boy the nation saw grow up in the White House, was just 17 when he went to his first encampment. He loved aviation, and as soon as he could, he accepted a Reserve commission and took up flight training. Despite his privileged social status, he yearned to get to France and fight. At 20 years old, Lieutenant Roosevelt was leading on the ground and in the air. His additional duty was as an aviation supply officer. He advocated hard, almost to the point of being disrespectful to senior officers, for clothing, supplies and equipment for the enlisted mechanics and ground-support personnel fixing the airplanes out in the elements without the protection of aircraft hangars. Sadly, Roosevelt was shot down over France, the same day that Mitchel was buried in New York. Roosevelt's death was not only hard on his family, but also the nation. Like Mitchel, an auxiliary field on Long Island, not far from his boyhood home, was named for Roosevelt. Quentin Roosevelt, a young Reservist served well and honorably, making the ultimate sacrifice. A student politely asks for respect becomes one of the most respected In 1960, a student at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University in Greensboro, N.C., and three friends sat down at a lunch counter and politely asked for service but were refused. When asked to leave, they calmly remained in their seats--an early example of passive resistance to help affect change and social justice. Three years later, young Joseph McNeil accepted a commission through Air Force ROTC and headed off to navigator training. Shortly after his flight school graduation, the fight Lieutenant McNeil now confronted was in Vietnam. Upon completion of his active-duty service obligation, McNeil joined the 514th. Like many of you, he balanced the demands of family, civilian job and Reserve duty to rise through the ranks. He commanded a flying squadron and served as the wing's vice commander before leaving for more senior leadership positions. That young lieutenant became Major General McNeil, a role model of selfless service to the nation. Courage to execute the mission In the spring of 1975, Master Sgt. Rene Fougeray, a 514th loadmaster, took a week off from his real estate job to fly with his Reserve unit. He expected to bounce from island to island in the Pacific Ocean, moving routine cargo and people. One day his mission changed. His new one: transport Vietnamese orphans for the Pearl S. Buck Foundation to new homes in America. The mission was far from routine as South Vietnam was quickly falling under the control of communist forces. Four C-141 aircraft were dispatched to transport the special cargo waiting at Ton Son Nhut Air Base, outside of Saigon, however, only two landed at the base. Only Fougeray and his crew stayed long enough to receive those fleeing the country. This highly experienced Reservist quickly loaded 189 passengers, buttoned-up the jet and took off, narrowly escaping enemy fire. Shortly after the aircraft climbed out, Fougeray discovered an unresponsive infant lodged under some seating, resting along the aircraft's cold interior wall. Acting quickly, he performed CPR and applied a crew oxygen mask to revive the infant. His actions saved not only the oxygen-deprived baby, but those of 188 others. After more than 24 hours on the job, Fougeray could finally relax, probably not fully aware of the impact of his actions that day, From homeroom mom to commander and hero Paulette Schank had gone to college and raised her children before she could answer the "military calling" she had always felt. In civilian life, Schank was an operating room nurse, after a direct commission into the 514th, she became a flight nurse, responsible for the safe and effective air movement of patients for definitive medical care. Immediately after joining she built another family, a military one, who she would love and protect as much as her familiar one. In civilian life she continued her education, becoming a nurse anesthetist. She did the same in the military, completing medical and professional military education courses. Schank would later move to senior leadership positions in ground-based medical squadrons, finally serving as the commander of the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. Her compassion and willingness to lend her time and talents to others has been well known within the wing since the day she joined, but the CBS 60 Minutes piece "A Fighting Chance" let the whole world see these traits. Producers highlighted the pace of operations in a Baghdad field hospital during the height of the combat operations in Iraq. Despite all the grittiness and surrounding death, Schank's natural, caring leadership was quickly identified by the CBS team and became another focal point of the story. Schank demonstrated the incredible skill sets that reservists bring to our military--not just technical, but mature, compassionate leadership that rallies ordinary citizens to do extra ordinary things. Giants in civilian life, giants in the military A lawyer turned mayor of New York. The nation's and a president's beloved son. A young student who had the courage to challenge the status quo. A full-time realtor, part-time loadmaster. A mature mother who knew she too wanted to serve. Mitchel, Roosevelt, McNeil, Fougeray and Schank. Five reservists. Five giants upon whose shoulders we all stand. There are others, many others, in our wing whose model of service is equally genuine, motivating and sustaining. I wish I could have told their stories too. But you don't have to have served in combat to be a giant or to offer up your shoulders for others to stand upon. The story of the reservist who recently rode his BMX bicycle from his home to his first unit training will sustain me for years. He rode his bike from his home in Jersey City to the train station there, took the train with his bike to Trenton, and from there rode his bike all the way to McGuire. That's dedication and passion to serve. Take time in your units to document and tell the stories of accomplishments and of those who make sacrifices to serve, rally others to serve or defend the way we serve as reservists. Our history as a component and as a wing from Mitchel to McGuire is full and rich--we are truly standing on the shoulder of giants. Despite what your kids might think, history can come alive and inspire you to become the giant for future generations of reservists. Thank you for allowing me to share some of these stories.