Wingmen rally around Airman in need Published March 6, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Technical Sergeant Phil Walton always thought of the Air Force as a family. Only recently when suffering the loss in his own immediate family did he realize just how much others cared. Sergeant Walton, an aerial port specialist, was on temporary duty attending seven-level school at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas when his step daughter Destiny Owens fell ill due to complications of asthma. Destiny was hospitalized and later succumbed to the complications. "From the beginning everyone was great," Sergeant Walton said. "I was going through school with Staff Sgt. Kevin Connelly and he stepped in right away asking about me, and how he could help." Back at home station Master Sgt. Laurie Latchaw and Senior Master Sgt. David Simpson, both 49th Aerial Port flight members, were getting information together for me and helping him get back home. "It was truly a blessing how everyone steeped up and helped us out," he said. "It totally blew me away." Sergeant Walton has been at Grissom since 1993, and in addition to working in the aerial port arena, he also worked in aircraft maintenance. "The folks here got with the folks in maintenance and even they pitched in to help us out," he said. "The donations and outpouring of support was amazing." "This has been a terrible thing, but people stepped up to the plate and said 'hey I'm your wingman if you need anything let me know,'" he said. "And they did!" Sergeant Simpson, [the unit's first sergeant] came to my house," Sergeant Walton said. "My wife hugged him and she cried; we've all been overcome with emotions." The Waltons chose to have Destiny act as an organ and tissue donator. They received a listing of all the people their decision made on the lives of others. "We wanted to help others," he said, "so that maybe they wouldn't have to go through what we went through." Destiny was buried the day before here 15th birthday. Sergeant Walton admits he's never gone through something like this before and it has been tough but his family appreciates how base members haves supported them." "My wife Lisa wanted to be here today to hug everyone that helped us out," he said. "People really stepped up and that has made a difference for us."
