By Air Force Senior Airman Stormy Archer 502nd Air Base Wing
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-KELLY FIELD, Texas, Nov. 3, 2017 —
Air Force Master Sgt. Benjamin Seekell, a wounded warrior and the 343rd
Training Squadron’s security forces apprentice course flight chief, flew with
the Air Force’s aerial demonstration squadron, the “Thunderbirds,” here
yesterday.
The flight gave Seekell the opportunity to experience the
precision flying of the Thunderbirds firsthand.
“When I think of the Thunderbirds, it takes me back 12 years
to when I enlisted for the first time,” Seekell said. “I gave my first oath of
enlistment at an air show with the Thunderbirds.
“They showcase military precision, which I’m a big fan of as
an instructor; along with their dedication to what they do and the pride they
take in their job. I relate to that on a lot of levels and I’m really excited
to just be a part of it.”
During a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan, Seekell, then a
military working dog handler, was injured in an improvised explosive device
attack and lost his left leg.
“Master Sergeant Seekell is hugely inspirational in how he’s
dealt with everything he’s gone through,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh,
the Thunderbirds' operations officer. “Everything he has done has been an
inspiration, not just to airmen, but to everyone. Taking somebody like him up
for a flight extra is special for all of us.”
The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform at the air show
and open house here Nov. 4-5.
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