OC-ALC volunteers show Wingman spirit

Moving from England, buying a home and setting up a new household near Edmond involved a good amount of snags and challenges for Staff Sgt. Fred and Cheryl Gilmore and their two children, 5-year-old Fred and daughter Kairi, 1.

So what happened Aug. 6 to Sergeant Gilmore, 27, a B-1 bomber avionics technician with the 550th Commodities Maintenance Squadron, was “just icing on the cake in terms of things getting worse,” the sergeant said.

After clearing out a small portion of his roughly acre-sized, overgrown backyard that had been neglected before the Gilmores moved in, the sergeant had built up a brush pile to burn. He decided to use a small amount of gasoline to start the flames.

The plan backfired. 

“The fumes caught before the actual gasoline did and it just blew up in my face,” the sergeant said.

The flames seared second-degree burns on Sergeant Gilmore’s upper forehead, lips and nose. Fire burns also reached his right arm and leg.

The injuries left the sergeant unable to work during treatment and recovery. After the initial emergency care, he was taking pain medication, which meant he also couldn’t drive.

Master Sgt. Jean Todd, the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group production superintendent, said the news spread quickly in the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex about the family’s predicament and the burden on Mrs. Gilmore having to care for their two kids and her husband.

It was also known that the yard, which Sergeant Gilmore described as a “mini-forest,” was dangerous due to snakes and ticks.

Sergeant Todd said Chaplain (Capt.) Kory Capps suggested setting a day aside for volunteers to clear the backyard. Staff Sgt. Allen Bonds, a B-1 Avionics Team member, took on the organizing tasks. 

Volunteers, including a chapel team, showed up as early as 7:30 a.m. with chainsaws, rakes and other tools and worked about six hours on the yard. The chapel group provided pizza and beverages for lunch.

“When they actually started showing up it was kind of like, ‘Wow, they’re actually here to do some damage!’” Sergeant Gilmore said. “What they did was impressive because this was going to probably take me months to clear by myself, especially with no chainsaw and no experience cutting trees down. I was amazed.”

The volunteers cleared so much foliage that the Gilmores discovered they had a nice view of a cow pasture.

Sergeant Todd said “the event was great to be able to come together and help an Airman in need and his family, especially when they’re going through so much. I’m just glad we were able to.”

Chaplain Capps said the volunteer effort, which included several senior leaders, OC-ALC and 72nd ABW chaplaincy members, family and friends was “a powerful illustration of the Air Force caring for their own and leaning in as a community to serve a fellow Airman. I was humbled to watch and participate.”

Sergeant Gilmore said his prognosis is good for his skin returning to normal in several months to a year. He thanked all the volunteers and those who prayed for him and his family.

“It’s amazing to see and good to know what people will do under unforeseen circumstances,” the sergeant said. “My family really appreciates it. They did a great job.”