Friday, September 07, 2018

Face of Defense: Namesake Davy Crockett Descendant Serves in Iowa Air Guard


By Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Kelly, 132nd Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

DES MOINES, Iowa -- At the 132nd Wing here, Air Force Master Sgt. David "Davy" Crockett, the 132nd Medical Group’s laboratory noncommissioned officer-in-charge, tends to airmens’ medical needs.

While he may not have been "born on a mountain top in Tennessee" or "killed him a bar when he was only three," Crockett is a direct descendant of the famous American of the early 1800s.

"It’s fun to connect to your past," Crockett said. "A lot of people nowadays don’t know where they came from, so I’m very fortunate to have a strong lineage to a historical individual."

Naming the firstborn son of each generation David is a Crockett family tradition that started when the legendary Crockett was named David after his grandfather. When it came time to name Crockett though, his parents had a bit of a dilemma.

"My father wanted to name me David, but my mother was worried I would get picked on by other kids," Crockett said. "Ultimately it was my uncle, who is also named David, who convinced them that everything would be fine."

Fortunately for Crockett, he was not picked on by other children but did receive added attention. With a very recognizable name, Crockett grew up often hearing about his ancestor from other kids, usually in the form of the song, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" by George Bruns and Thomas W. Blackburn written for the Disney television mini-series "Davy Crockett" in 1954.

"Kids, when they saw my last name, would usually just sing the song," Crockett said. "People later did the same when they saw the name on my uniform, and then I tell them my first name and lineage and that would really blow their minds."

Family Pride

Crockett said growing up he was proud to represent his heritage and didn’t mind the extra attention. He embraced his identity and used it to educate others on just who his famous ancestor was. Crockett said that many people now think of Davy Crockett as an American myth or often confuse him with Daniel Boone.

"I think it’s funny that people think he wasn’t a real person," Crockett said. "Some people think he was a Paul Bunyan- or Johnny Appleseed-type mythos creation."

Nevertheless, tall tales and the ability to sell a joke with a straight face are also traits Crockett displays from his ancestor. Even though he’s never claimed the ability to grin raccoons out of trees or ride alligators down streams, Crockett has a reputation for subtle jokes, bad puns and deadpan humor. His fellow airmen at the 132nd MDG said his ability to spin a good yarn always keeps them on their toes.

"He constantly keeps everyone on their toes because he seems so serious when he tells stories, and he is such a good actor that you want to believe him, even if what he is saying is just crazy and ridiculous," said Air Force Senior Airman Danielle Koster, 132nd MDG medic. "Once he"s tricked you so many times, you don't believe him when he is actually telling the truth."

The truth is the Crockett name has served the family well over the generations, leading to chance encounters with astronaut John Glenn, dinner invitations from actor Fess Parker and job offers from Walt Disney himself. But despite the fame of his ancestors, the Davy Crockett of the 132nd Wing said that resiliency is one of key takeaways of his ancestor’s life.

"Davy Crockett failed in a lot of endeavors, almost died on numerous occasions and even while in Congress wasn’t liked very much," Crockett said. "But he was resilient and knew how to connect with people and build good relations with others."

Crockett uses these lessons in his day-to-day life in the Air National Guard, and he enjoys building up others around him while serving his country, family and friends.

Whether or not he becomes another American legend someday remains to be seen.
"Connecting to your heritage as a whole is a really great thing," Crockett said. "You learn a lot from the past and it’s cool just to see how connected everyone really is."

U.S. Airmen Participate in Colombian-Led Search, Rescue Exercise


By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz, 12th Air Force

RIONEGRO, Colombia -- Two U.S. Air Force aircraft and more than 90 U.S. airmen are participating in Angel de los Andes, a Colombian-led international search and rescue training exercise here that began Sept. 3 and runs through Sept. 14.

The Air Combat Command No. 5 unit at Arturo Lema Posada Air Base is the staging ground for the exercise. This is the second time the Colombian air force has conducted Angel de los Andes. The first was in 2015.

“I’m confident that Angel de los Andes, with its mission to save lives, will extend and further our relationship, cooperation and exchange of best practices which will benefit the U.S. and Colombian air forces,” said Gen. Carlos Eduardo Bueno Vargas, the Colombian air force’s chief of staff. “The significant importance of the U.S. being here is that we have the opportunity to strengthen our relationship so we can be prepared to confront future threats together.”

Globemaster, Hercules Aircraft

A C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, and a C-130 Hercules from the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Squadron are among the eight U.S. Air Force active, Guard and Reserve components participating.

“The U.S. has been our ‘big brother’ for many years, and we have a special relationship based on gratitude and respect, and that is why they are our guest of honor to this important exercise,” Bueno Vargas said. “While all of the participating countries are important Colombian allies, the U.S. has a special relationship with Colombia, since they have helped us overcome our most difficult moments, not only for the Colombian air force, but also for Colombia as a whole against narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking threats.”

The first week of the exercise is focused on responding to natural disaster scenarios that include earthquake response, forest fire and open-water rescue, as well as responding to an aircraft crash. The second week will focus on close air support and combat search and rescue techniques.

“In a real-world humanitarian assistance disaster response relief event in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, we would expect to work with these same partner nations that are participating in this exercise,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Juan Pazarro, a 12th Air Force spokesman.

The exercise features more than 400 participants from 12 nations’ air forces. In addition to airmen from the United States and Colombia, airmen from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Panama, Peru and Uruguay are taking part.

“I think the Colombians have done a great job at integrating all of these different countries and all of the capabilities that they bring to this exercise,” Pizarro said.
Other U.S. units participating in the exercise include the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California; and the 48th Rescue Squadron, 306th Rescue Squadron, 612th Air Operations Center, 943rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron and 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), all stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.