ACC's best honored at banquet

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  More than 200 Airmen from across Air Combat Command gathered at Embassy Suites hotel in La Vista, Neb., April 21 to honor the command's best at the ACC 2010 Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet.

Of the 29 nominees, six Airmen were selected as award winners and now go on to compete for Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year honors.

The night started as Master Sgt. Tonya Miller, Langley AFB, Va., and Roger Williams, an ACC government affairs officer, the night's masters of ceremonies, welcomed all in attendance.

"On behalf of the commander of ACC, Gen. William M Fraser III, welcome to ACC's 18th Outstanding Airmen of the Year recognition banquet," Sergeant Miller said.

"Tonight we gather to celebrate and recognize the best of our enlisted performers from across the command," Mr. Williams added.

"Tonight's 29 outstanding airmen of the year nominees represent the United States Air Forces Central Command, the United States Air Force Warfare Center, Headquarters ACC staff, and the 1st, 9th and 12th Numbered Air Forces," Mr. Williams said.

The nominees were selected from more than 55,000 enlisted men and women throughout ACC and have achieved incredible standards of superior, sustained performance and their accomplishments clearly set them apart from their peers, Mr. Williams said.

As each nominee entered, many accompanied by their guests, they were greeted by thunderous applause as they walked through a saber cordon provided by honor guard members from bases across ACC.

The night's festivities included a warrior tribute honoring all servicemembers past and present who have fought for freedom, a performance by Heartland of America Band's ensemble Nightwing and a video tribute to ACC Airmen that have supported Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

Chief Master Sgt. Martin S. Klukas, ACC command chief, introduced one such warrior, a man he'd met earlier in his career and has considered a friend for several years.

"I just arrived at Hill AFB, Utah, I was coming out of the base exchange (when) I got this phone call, that (Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro, a Tactical Air Control Party operator,) was hit with an improvised explosive device and he may not live," Chief Klukas said.

The chief dropped the phone in disbelief. The news got worse as Sergeant Del Toro, who was deployed to Afghanistan, spent more than three months in a coma. After the chief learned that Sergeant Del Toro had awakened, he worked up the courage to call his friend.

"Hey DT this is Marty Klukas, how you doing buddy," the chief recalled. Sergeant Del Toro answered, "Packers suck." "I knew right then that he was going to be OK," Chief Klukas said with a smile.

After that, the chief introduced Sergeant Del Toro, the evening's keynote speaker.

During his address, Sergeant Del Toro, stressed the importance of being a good Wingman, especially in combat.

The sergeant was a member of a TACP unit tasked with calling in close air support during his deployment to Afghanistan. On a mission to disrupt Taliban supply routes on Dec. 4, 2005, his up-armored Humvee was hit by an IED. The explosion resulted in third degree burns charring 80 percent of his body.

Shortly after being hit, Sergeant Del Toro said, he could feel the intense heat on his left side. He exited the vehicle and tried to run to a creek about 200-meters away, but was overtaken by flames and fell to the ground.

He wouldn't be lying there long.

"I heard my lieutenant say, 'Hey DT you're not going to die here,' he said. The lieutenant managed to get Sergeant Del Toro to the creek and extinguish the flames.

The sergeant was transported to a hospital in San Antonio where he slipped into a coma for more than three months. Doctors gave him a 15-to-20-percent chance to live. The sergeant said, he was told, that if he did live, he wouldn't be able to walk and would have to be on a respirator the rest of his life.

Today, he walks and breathes on his own and recently became the first 100-percent disabled person to re-enlist in the Air Force. An achievement he credits to the Wingmen that saved his life on that fateful December day.

The night's premiere moment came when General Fraser, Chief Klukas, Sergeant Del Toro and Arthur Myers, principal director of military community and family policy, presented the awards. With every name announced thunderous cheers filled the room.

Being named the best in ACC was amazing, said the winner of the Senior NCO of the Year Award, Senior Master Sgt. Timothy J. Green, Southwest Asia.

"I'm very humbled," he said, "the (Airmen I've worked with) are the reason why I'm here right now, without their hard work and dedication to getting the mission accomplished every day there's no way I'd be here, I'm very humbled to represent all of (them).

"Over the past 12 months I've met some of the best Airmen our Air Force has to offer and those Airmen, despite harsh conditions, made the mission happen," Sergeant Green said.

Tech. Sgt. Stacey R. Hines, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC., the ACC Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year winner, echoed Sergeant Green's comments.

"You win these type of awards because of the people you work with," she said. "I would never have got here without (the support) of the Airmen that work with me."

General Fraser closed the ceremony by thanking the nominees and award winners for all their hard work.

Congratulations to all 2010 Outstanding Airmen of the Year award winners:

Outstanding Airman of the Year

Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Aton, Fort Hood, Texas

Outstanding Non-commissioned Officer of the Year

Tech. Sgt. Darrell K. Demotta, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

Outstanding Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year

Senior Master Sgt. Timothy J. Green, Southwest Asia

Outstanding Honor Guard Member of the Year

Airman 1st Class Ulla B. Stromberg, Nellis AFB, Nev.

Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manger of the Year

Tech. Sgt. Stacey R. Hines, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.

Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year

Master Sgt. Darryl D. Ross, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho