Hill helper volunteers abroad

  • Published
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Long hours, exhausting heat and a heavy workload may discourage many from spending off-duty time for anything but relaxing. Those factors did anything but slow down one volunteer from Hill Air Force Base.

Master Sgt. Jason Byars, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron phase flight production superintendent, deployed to Iraq earlier this year. After some volunteer work in the hospital, he wanted to do more.

"After two weeks of volunteering and helping with the removal of injured U.S. military, Iraqi Coalition Forces and insurgents from helicopters, it was clear that medical could use all the help they could get," Sergeant Byars said.

Americans following the war might expect that only military members to be cared for in hospitals overseas, but they aren't the only ones treated. Injured civilians receive medical treatment as well.

"Many times Iraqi civilians were brought into the war," said Sergeant Byars. "Insurgents would run into homes for cover during their pursuit. Occasionally American forces would fire on opposing forces unknowing that civilian lives were in the mix.

"In some cases children would be involved. Insurgents attack shopping markets, and civilians would be in need of medical attention. When I saw this, I knew that many of them needed our help."

One case stood out to Sergeant Byars, and he took it upon himself to do whatever he could to help.

"In one instance enemy firepower was significant, and a MQ-1 Predator laid down a AGM-114 Hellfire missile to eliminate the threat," Sergeant Byars said. "Unfortunately, the insurgents were using a civilian house to fire from. A child named Sara was injured in the fight. Her legs were broken and she lost sight in one eye. Rods and pins were placed in her leg to help with the fracture. It was very powerful when Sara smiled at me with a gift in her hands, despite the serious injuries she had sustained.

"To find her next of kin, investigators started back at the origin of the firefight with a translator," Sergeant Byars said. "After an investigation, they determined her Aunt was killed in the house, but her mother was not in the house at the time."

In an effort to improve relations with locals, Sergeant Byars looked back at Hill AFB for help.

"We want to build good relations in that country," said Sergeant Byars. "Many locals asked us for help, housing and food so I looked stateside for answers."

The Top Four from Hill AFB heard Sergeant Byars' call, and they also deemed it a noble cause. Tech. Sgt. Randy Sweitzer, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron section manager and assistant first sergeant, headed up the effort.

"The Top Four were very helpful and responsive," Sergeant Byars said. "Almost as soon as I asked for help from our unit back at Hill, a huge box of stuffed animals arrived. We received donations from other places as well. A church in Idaho, and scouts from Alabama lent a helping hand. They sent blankets, toys, crayons, books and sheets out to us. The scouts from Alabama were the children of a former classmate I talked to at a high school reunion."

Sergeant Sweitzer took advantage of the opportunity to help the injured Iraqis as soon as he received wind of it.

"I found out a member from our unit was a volunteer at a Balad Hospital," Sergeant Sweitzer said. "He helped with the distribution of all types of items for injured children involved in the war when insurgents would use their homes as sanctuaries or for cover. I was glad to lend a hand."

The Top Four gathered all sorts of items that they felt could help the hospitalized. They packed these items in boxes and shipped them as often as they could send full loads.

"We collected toys and stuffed animals for the kids to occupy their time," Sergeant Sweitzer said. "More than 500 toys were provided to us. Coloring books, crayons, doodlepads and many other things were too. One member donated $1200 in materials that we sent overseas.

"In many cases the military can't afford to send every child away with a blanket," he said. "As long as we have donations, we will be sending blankets for children and infants."

Sergeant Sweitzer sees the efforts of Sergeant Byars as critical for Airmen to try and model.

"Airmen need to take a look at the basic creeds we have and outside their own lives," said Sergeant Sweitzer. "When we think of others, we can see that many times they have much less than we do."

At the time of Sergeant Byars' departure, the operation was still in the works.

"Efforts were continued even after I left," he said. "Many of our contacts helped us keep the effort alive. During my out processing I could still see items coming in."