940th Wing Public Affairs
9/12/2013 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Preparing for bed involves a number of small, seemingly minor decisions: brushing teeth, turning down the bed covers, and turning off a cell phone may be part of a nightly routine, but Air Force reservists, especially supervisors, may want to rethink switching off that phone.
If Tech. Sgt. Wesley Mosure, cyber transport supervisor with the 50th Intelligence Squadron's communication flight, had switched off his phone one night six months ago, he wouldn't have received an urgent call from his co-worker, Senior Airman Michael Hargon, cyber transport technician, who had pulled over to the side of the road because he was experiencing double-vision.
That incident became a crucial piece to Hargon's puzzling behavior that Mosure had been mulling over for months.
Since joining the unit in 2011, Hargon had always been a cheerful, outgoing person who enjoyed his role within the flight, but earlier this year Mosure said he noticed a drastic mood shift plus Hargon complained of headaches.
"He went from being super optimistic, joking, hanging out with everybody to pulling me aside and questioning if his Reserve job was worthwhile," Mosure said.
Mosure had questioned him about his personal life and civilian work, trying to ferret out if Hargon was experiencing major personal upheavals that might account for his withdrawal.
The roadside incident took Mosure's concern beyond conversation after he made sure Hargon was okay, Mosure urged him to visit a hospital the next day, even helping him apply for Tricare.
When Hargon was released from the emergency room with medication, however, when his symptoms worsened, he saw another doctor. He was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of bone cancer.
"The tumor had been pressing on his optic nerve, so that's what had caused his headaches," Mosure said. "Thankfully his cancer was operable, and he was quickly scheduled for surgery."
Immediately after surgery Hargon's cheerful mood returned.
The positive attitude that had made him popular with other flight members has won over the medical staff and other patients where he receives his chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Mosure said.
"He's been in treatment the past six months, so I try to text, e-mail, or call him. When both our schedules permit, I visit with him," he said. "The flight is always giving me cards or asking me to pass on 'get well wishes' to him."
"The unexpected health problem of one of our member's has brought the flight closer together," Major Alan Andreas, communications flight commander said. "We want to provide him with all the emotional support that he needs."
Hargon's close family friend organized a benefit concert and auction to raise money for his living expenses, and the flight wanted to help out, he said.
"Just within our unit we've collected around three thousand dollars to donate to Hargon," Andreas said.
Had it not been for the flight wholeheartedly embracing a wingman philosophy Hargon's condition may have gone untreated.
"It was evident that there was something really wrong," Major Alan Andreas, communications flight commander, said. "I try to be aware of all our flight members' situation. If I know their normal baseline personality I can judge better if something is wrong."
Mosure and Andreas are both advocates for knowing their people.
"Be an active listener to build a relationship with your people," Mosure said. "When your co-worker or family member feels like you actually care, that helps them feel comfortable sharing their problems with you."
Being attentive to an airman's mood changes can be crucial to discovering if they are experiencing post traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, sexual abuse, as well as medical conditions and helping them seek treatment.
"Suggesting co-workers seek out the resources available to them like seeing a civilian or military medical provider, on-base mental health professional, or calling Military One Source for off-base treatment may be lifesaving," Lt. Col. Julie Clement, 940th Aerospace Medical Squadron commander, said.
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