Ellsworth Airman tours country to recount Iraq experience

  • Published
  • By Maj. Karen Roganov
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE S.D. --  One Airman has seen his fair share of travel over the last two years. From convoys in Iraq to communities throughout the United States, Tech Sgt. Howard Watkins, dispatch operations non-commissioned officer in charge, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron, has lived and is now giving a first-hand account of the front lines. 

Sergeant Watkins is one of two Air Force members service-wide selected to recount his war experiences during a three-month tour of the country as part of the Department of Defense's Why We Serve speakers outreach program. The program is intended to connect servicemembers with the American public by answering the call for more first-hand stories as seen through the eyes of the uniformed man or woman, according to www.whyweserve.mil. Sergeant Watkins shares this with two counterparts each from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps all who have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan, Iraq or the Horn of Africa in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. 

Audiences "get to see another side" in addition to what is in the popular media, said Sergeant Watkins during a telephone interview following a speaking engagement to an audience of 150 children for the Holden Boys and Girls Club in Detroit. Speech topics centered on his experiences as a commander for a 20-to 65-vehicle convoy supply route during his nine month training and deployment. They were shot at by enemy fire and attacked with improvised explosive devices. 

The Why We Serve tour, which ends in Sept for this round of speakers, also provides Sergeant Watkins with the opportunity to share the good-news stories neglected by mainstream media, like restoring running water, power and other humanitarian efforts for the local people. His online biography states he earned a Bronze Star, but Sergeant Watkins never mentioned the fact, preferring instead to highlight group accomplishments. The star was awarded for meritorious service which included saving the life of a third country national while en route from Logistics Support Area Anaconda, Iraq, to Kuwait. 

Concern for life and others seems to be mantra for Watkins; and he bears the emotional weight that accompanies that. He most remembered "the feeling of fear," he said. "Not for myself, but from knowing that I was personally responsible for 23 military personnel and upwards of about 40 civilian contractors." During their convoy runs, they had zero loss of life. A few military members received wounds from hostile fire and IEDs as they covered about 20,000 miles of terrain outside the wire without security forces protection. It was only themselves and firearms to defend against attackers, he said. 

When not gone on all-night treks across Iraq with his convoy, he displayed the same concern at the vehicle yard for "everyone, not just his crew," said Airman 1st Class Ermin Husidic, 28th LRS vehicle operator. Along with Sergeant Watkins, Airman Husidic was part of the original 13 LRS members deployed from Ellsworth. 

Their 70th Medium Truck Detachment, headquartered in Kuwait, needed to move thousands of pieces of supplies, trucks, trailers, tools and temporary buildings from one vehicle yard to another. In temperature as high as 140 degrees, Watkins would "work alongside the team" instead of just overseeing, said Husidic. "He ensured we received our specified rest breaks." 

When not working long hours and taking care of his people in Iraq, Sergeant Watkins kept families ties strong through telephone calls home to his wife of 16 years, Jennifer; their 10-year-old son, Nathan; and their three-year-old daughter, Christina. 

Growing up a military brat I was able to "handle most things without giving him one more thing to think about," said Mrs. Watkins, who mentioned several times how proud she was of her husband. 

Watkins seems a natural selection, the epitome of Air Force values, and was nominated for the Why We Serve program by his squadron leadership based on his deployed accomplishments, work ethics, communication skills, and leadership in a time of war.
For more information, or to host a Why We Serve speaker, visit www.whyweserve.mil.

Sergeant Watkins; words from the trenches:
"Even though being separated from my family with the past deployment and current temporary duty is very difficult, I know I'm keeping them safe by doing what I do to make it possible for them to do what they like to do during the summer and to not have to worry about terrorist attacks." 

"I met a 94-year-old veteran, Pete Tocco, from the American Legion while speaking in Detroit. Mr. Tocco said he also took care of the transportation fleet. It was during his first assignment with the Army 1st Cavalry, only the fleet was horses and he was a stable boy. So besides telling of my own experiences, when I come home I will have more stories about fellow Americans."