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Leadership school wall pays tribute to fallen heroes

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Woodward
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  In 2007, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley asked enlisted professional enhancement centers to honor enlisted fallen heroes. While there are many stories of fallen officers, there are not as many for fallen enlisted members. 

"Honoring our fallen heroes reinforces that we're all Airmen first," said Master Sgt. George Belsom, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Bud Andrews Airman Leadership School commandant. "Everyone is involved in risks. Whether you are a dental technician on escort duty or someone from the communications squadron on convoy duty, everybody puts their life on the line." 

Starting in fiscal year 2008, the school became the first ALS in Air Mobility Command to start the Fallen Heroes Wall. 

Each graduating class selects a fallen hero and does research to create a plaque.
The criteria for the Fallen Heroes Wall is that the member must be an enlisted Airman who was killed in action after 9/11 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Staff Sgt. Erin Ohlemacher, ALS instructor said, "The wall is important because it shows that these were everyday Airmen and it could have been any of us. It also shows us that it is a small Air Force, as many of the students know some of the people on the wall such as Master Sgt. Thomas Crowell, who was stationed at Scott." 

Sergeant Crowell was a member of the Office of Special Investigations and died Nov. 1, 2007 in Balad, Iraq. 

The Scott NCO Council purchases the plaques for the wall and presents them at each class graduation. 

Staff Sgt. Matthew Chute, ALS instructor said, "When the plaque is read it is a very somber moment. Staff Sgt. John Self (who is featured on the wall) was actually from the area so his family attended that graduation and it was very emotional." 

This wall is one that everyone does not hope to see grow, but there are unfortunately still names being added to the list. 

Tech. Sgt. Eric Matzek said what plans are in store for the wall. "We plan to extend the wall to the entire hallway as more classes graduate. We also plan to put a picture of a flag-draped coffin being carried from Dover on the wall." 

The wall is in the main hallway so that everyone sees it daily. The wall is lit 24-hours a day with energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs to pay further respect to the heroes.