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ALS grads stand out in class

  • Published
  • By Howdy Stout
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Senior Airman David Koch watched crews unload wounded soldiers from the C-17 transport.

Two buses emblazoned with red crosses waited to take the wounded to the base hospital. Airman Koch, a member of the 552nd Maintenance Squadron, watched the scene at an air base in Germany last April during support work for a presidential visit to Europe.

"I sat there and watched quietly," Airman Koch recalled.

But when one of the wounded-filled buses drove away, leaving the other, empty bus behind, Airman Koch was puzzled. Until he saw the flag-draped coffins. Soldiers slowly carried them down the C-17's loading ramp and onto the second bus.

"It seemed like this went on forever," he said.

It was then, Airman Koch recalled, that he understood the price of freedom. He bowed his head and prayed.

"It didn't hit home until that day," he said.

That scene, and his reaction to it, served as the inspiration for Airman Koch's award-winning essay "What Freedom Means to Me." Airman Koch, a graduate of the Airman Leadership School, read the emotionally-evocative essay during the graduation ceremony for Class 09-D last week.

"The flag is my freedom," he said. "Without it flying high, we wouldn't enjoy the gift of being free."

Airman Koch was just one of a number of award winners from Tinker's latest graduating ALS class. Senior Airman Wesley Davis earned the accolade and approval from fellow classmates by winning the Leadership Award. The award is based on demonstrated leadership and candidates are selected by classmate votes.

Senior Airman Jordan Fitzgerald of the 31st Combat Communications Squadron, and Senior Airman Dawn Gilmore of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron, each received the Academic Award as a result of scores on academic evaluations.

Distinguished Graduate Awards, based on leadership and academic excellence, went to Senior Airman Daniel Deboodt of the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron and Senior Airman Dawn Gilmore.

Senior Airman David Smith of the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron won the John L. Levitow Award for exceeding the standards of all aspects of the school. The award is named for the late Airman 1st Class John Levitow, the lowest-ranking Air Force Airman to ever receive the Medal of Honor.