These Air Force units provide a special experience for chronically ill children. USAF photo by Joel Martinez

Alex Langlee and Capt. Phillip Johnson. By Bruce D. Callander

70 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2000 These Air Force units provide a special experience for chronically ill children. Pilots for a Day

few months after he received his proclaiming him a member of the 560th wings at Randolph AFB, Texas, Flying Training Squadron. A Alex Langlee’s luck ran out. He was not the victim of a training accident How It Began or a casualty in some contingency opera- The idea of bringing such children to tion. For Alex, a malignant hepatoma— the base for their special day originated in other words, liver cancer—was the with then–Capt. Rory Blackburn,­ a giant enemy. He was six years old. of a man known as “Ox” in the 560th, Alex was one of many youngsters where he was a pilot at the time. who have “joined” the Air Force under In 1994, Blackburn’s wife had been Randolph’s “Pilot for a Day” program, hospitalized and, visiting her, the cap- which brings chronically ill children to tain had seen youngsters whose lives the base one at a time for a brief taste had been taken over by their chronic, of Air Force life. often fatal, illnesses. Thinking that What began as a grassroots project some might benefit from a little spe- by one pilot at Randolph has spread to cial attention, he developed the idea several other bases. The format varies of bringing them and their families to by installation, but the objective remains the base and making them honorary the same: Give youngsters an unforget- members of the squadron known as table experience and, if only for a mo- the “Chargin’ Cheetahs.” ment, help them get their minds off of It was not an altogether unprec- the diseases that dominate their lives. edented concept. Open houses and VIP The procedure is simple. Each child visits long have been routine at US is invited to spend a full day at the base, Air Force installations throughout the world, and individual USAF members By Bruce D. Callander is welcomed like a visiting general, outfitted in gear like a pilot’s, allowed traditionally have been involved in com- to sit in the cockpit of an airplane, and munity projects from the Boy Scouts to given a “flight” in a simulator. athletic programs for underprivileged Alex Langlee may have realized children. Black­burn simply put these deep down that it was all make-believe, elements together and came up with a but he had been as proud of his short plan to single out a few chronically ill Air Force career as any pilot who ever children and, for a few hours, make trained at Randolph. On one of the last them the center of attention. days that he was able to attend school, He sent letters to a number of agencies he had insisted on wearing the tiny flight that dealt with young cancer patients. suit he had been given at Randolph. Several agencies showed interest and He was particularly proud of the patch soon the program was up and running.

AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2000 71 Social workers helped select children life-support facility to try on a parachute They visit the Taj Mahal [Randolph’s who were both seriously ill and had and oxygen mask. ornate headquarters building] and ride evinced an interest in aviation. The the old elevator.” squadron did the rest. In “Combat” Johnson added, “I have had letters “These children usually end up A tour of the flight line usually fol- from the moms telling how much the spending more time in the hospital lows. The child sees aircraft (a variety of kids appreciated their day.” One told than they do with their families and training airplanes and a C-21) on static him that her son had passed on and was friends,” Blackburn later remarked. display. Each airplane has the child’s buried in his flight suit. “We were trying to ease the pain of name painted on the side, below the “These are great kids and it’s terrible losing a childhood, ... to give back a cockpit. A pilot from the 560th stands to think what will happen to many of little something after they’ve had so by each aircraft to answer questions them,” he said, “but we love to have many things taken away from them.” and help the youngster climb into the them come. We have a Pilot for a Day The captain played host to the first airplane. The child is encouraged to sit wall in our squadron with pictures of several children. When he moved on to in the cockpit, feel the controls, and do them and the host pilots. We don’t another assignment and, eventually, to what youngsters do best—pretend they forget them.” a civilian airline, other pilots carried on are pursuing the Red Baron or his Star After leaving Randolph in 1997, the tradition at Randolph. Capt. Phillip Wars counterpart. Blackburn was assigned to the 77th Johnson, also a pilot with the 560th, The children’s medical conditions Fighter Squadron, known as “The now coordinates the visits, handles the preclude their making actual flights, Gamblers,” at Shaw AFB, S.C. He logistics, and hosts many of the visiting but, after lunching with members of promptly organized a “Fighter Pilot youngsters. the squadron, they experience the next for a Day” program there. From the start, Pilot for a Day has best thing. In the simulator facility, they The Shaw program closely follows been a volunteer project, sanctioned “fly” missions in a T-1, T-37, or T-38, the Randolph model but it has acquired but not financially underwritten by the often losing themselves in the virtual some local embellishments. One is the Air Force. At Randolph, most funding reality of the high-tech trainers. For a presentation of a squadron coin to each comes from the Officers’ Wives Club few minutes, they play with what, to of the pilots for a day. In the tradition and the chapel fund. Squadron per- an active youngster, must seem like the of the World War II “short snorter,” sonnel donate their time to man static ultimate video game. squadron members are supposed to displays, demonstrate equipment, and The whole day is designed to make produce their coins when challenged. otherwise entertain the young guests. the child feel like part of the unit, said If one isn’t carrying it, the member is Typically, a child’s day begins with Johnson. “We have their names on the obliged to buy a drink for the challenger. “suiting up.” The child is issued a scaled- marquee at the gate when they enter. The first guest pilot at Shaw was down flight suit, flight cap, and scarf, We do a fire station tour where they 9-year-old Heston Zeller. He had been along with a set of “wings” and squadron can get into the trucks and squirt the under treatment for two years for patches. The young “pilot” then tours water. We take them to the [aircraft neuroblastoma, a cancer that attacks the squadron, meets its commander or control] tower so they can watch air- nerves and bones. Heston received his another representative, and visits the planes come and go and turn on lights. coin from Maj. David Minto, squadron operations officer, who explained its significance. Later that day, the boy dug it out when he met Col. Chuck Rogers, then–vice commander of the parent 20th Fighter Wing. When the colonel could not come up with his matching coin, he bought the boy a soda. Shaw also has the advantage of hav-

USAF photo TSgt.by Brian Jones ing simulators that duplicate the actions of a real fighter. Heston not only “flew” the ground-bound F-16 but reportedly scored a few hits on enemy aircraft in the process.

The Idea Spreads Other bases heard about the program at Randolph and asked for particulars with an eye toward setting up their own. At least half a dozen installations in the US and overseas now host pilots for a day. In the cockpit as a pilot for a day at Charleston AFB, S.C., nine-year-old Eric Thompson had a chance for a little while to think about something other than his At Charleston AFB, S.C., however, illness, sickle-cell anemia. the program developed in a different

72 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2000 way. Capt. Brian Doyle, a pilot with the 17th Airlift Squadron, remembers. “In September 1997,” the captain said, “SSgt. Brian Williams and I were talking, and we agreed we wanted to do more char- ity work. We were living pretty well and

it was time to give something back. The USAF photo TSgt.by Brian Jones more we talked, the more we felt that we could do something right at the base and the idea for pilot for a day resulted. “Sergeant Williams had heard some- thing about a program at Ran­dolph, but he didn’t know how it worked so we pretty much built our own program from scratch. We contacted the Children’s Hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina. They put us in touch with one of their child-life specialists, a person involved with helping kids Leukemia patient Chris Banks, 12, also became a pilot for a day at Charleston. The adjust to long stays in the hospital. He base is one of several that have helped chronically ill children with an interest in set up the arrangements at that end.” aviation enjoy a day of being an Air Force VIP. Since then, the process has become a familiar routine. About every two and the pilot’s wings for the youngster. simulators, visiting the control tower months, Doyle contacts the Medical At Charleston, these are underwritten and fire department, and meeting the University and says the base is ready by the 17th AS Enlisted Fund. Trans- base’s four-legged K-9 patrol. to host another child. The hospital portation and other forms of support As at Randolph, each of the children makes the selection and has the family are provided by base public affairs, is outfitted in a model flight suit. Those complete a questionnaire, giving infor- as they would be for any base tour or at Eielson receive not only pilot’s wings mation on the child’s illness, physical open house. but also first lieutenant bars. Nor does and dietary restrictions, and interests, So far, 12 children, ages 7 to 15, the pilot’s day end when the child leaves including favorite foods. have been through the program. Their the base. Every year, the wing invites its With help from TSgt. Brian Jones, illnesses have included liver failure, former guests back to the annual open a community relations advisor in the heart disease, leukemia, sickle-cell house and “promotes” them to the next base’s Public Affairs Office, Doyle anemia, and cystic fibrosis. Doyle acts higher grade. In 1998, the Thun­derbirds works out the logistics for the day. About as host on most visits, but he has been officiated at the promotion ceremony. two weeks in advance, Doyle phones encouraging other pilots to take on the Recent Eielson pilots for a day have the child and the family to explain the role so the program will go on when included Amber Stephenson, an 11-year- plans. “I like to get to know them and he is not there. old with a heart defect, and 12-year-old answer any questions they have,” said Elizabeth Vukmir, with a growth-stunt- the captain. “Sometimes it’s a little North to Alaska ing genetic disease. daunting for a 6- or 7-year-old to show In 1998, the Pilot for a Day program In one case, Eielson could not play up at a big base and meet 100 people he moved north. Inspired by the Randolph host to a child on its schedule. Zac has never seen before. I think it helps example, the 354th Fighter Wing at Hansen, son of a base noncommis- to read them in on the plans.” Eielson AFB, Alaska, wanted to do sioned officer, was taken to McChord The plans also include any siblings the something similar. Capt. Joe Porrazze AFB, Wash., shortly before he was to selected child may have. “We encourage and SSgt. Julie Grippo developed the have his day, so Eielson asked folks them to bring their brothers and sisters local program, but, rather than limit it at McChord to substitute. Maj. Tim along,” said Doyle. “The philosophy is to a single squadron, they decided that Zadalis of McChord’s 62nd Operations that siblings may not always get as much the Eielson “day” should involve the Support Squadron picked up the ball. attention as the sick child so we make whole wing. He presented Zac with a pilot’s scarf this their day, too. The [sick] child is The result was a basewide effort with and other gifts and arranged for him to the center of it, of course, but we don’t various squadrons taking turns to act as “command” a refueling flight. want the other kids to feel left out.” hosts for a given day. Last summer, for Air National Guard Capt. Gil Del­ For all the youngsters, there are ample example, the 355th Fighter Squadron, gado read about the Randolph program souvenirs of the day. As it ends, they welcomed 6-year-old cerebral palsy vic- in an Air Force press release and be- are loaded up with stickers, T-shirts, tim Joshua Coffey. Capt. Rich Beavers gan shaping a similar Pilot for a Day posters, and other mementos donated acted as his “wing man” for the day, program at the 184th Bomb Wing, an by base and tenant organizations. introducing him to the unit’s A-10s. ANG unit at McConnell AFB, Kan. The main out-of-pocket expenses for Joshua’s day at Eielson included Delgado is a weapons systems operator the program are lunch for the visitors sitting in real airplanes and flying on the wing’s B-1 bombers.

AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2000 73 “I read about the program at Ran­ of the 10th Flight Test Squadron as his profit organization supporting seriously dolph on the Internet,” said Delgado. escort officers, Jimmy received his flight ill children. Make-a-Wish has 81 local “I called Capt. Rory Blackburn on the suit, toured the fire station and tower, chapters across the country. phone and picked his brain about the got a weather briefing, and flew the One unit involved was the 116th contacts he made to get the program E-3 simulator. Since then, Tinker has Bomb Wing of the Georgia ANG. When up and running. We followed his lead scheduled quarterly pilot for a day visits. that unit deployed to Nellis AFB, Nev., but personalized ours a little.” In 1997, Air Force Television News last summer, it entertained 35 such chil- Each month, the 184th invites a seri- followed Jason Moon, an 11-year-old dren all in one day. The visit, organized ously ill youngster to enjoy VIP status with a congenital heart defect, through by SSgt. Tracy Tharpe, included a tour and bring along the child’s family and a his tour as pilot for a day at Whiteman of the wing’s B-1 aircraft, souvenir T- few friends. In December 1999, Teasha AFB, Mo. The base, home of the 509th shirts for all the children, and a pizza Decaire, a 14-year-old leukemia patient, Bomb Wing, hosted four youngsters that and snow cone party. was the honoree. year but then had to suspend its program Make-a-Wish Foundation also due to its high operations tempo. works with the Thunderbirds to host Ranking Officer “The last two years have been pretty children at bases where the T-birds fly With friends from Grace Baptist busy for us,” said TSgt. Dee Ann Poole, demonstrations. The team invites local Church, Teasha was welcomed by Col. with 509th public affairs. The wing, Make-a-Wish chapters to send children Ed McIlhenny, wing commander, who which flies B-2 stealth bombers, has with life-threatening diseases and their promptly made the girl an honorary been involved in a number of operations, families to their flight shows in select brigadier general and, for the moment, including action in the Balkans. “We cities. The special guests meet the pilots, ranking officer in the unit. She was just didn’t have the people to keep up tour the airplanes, take photos, and col- dressed in her flight suit and issued a the Pilot for a Day program,” said Poole. lect autographs from team members. flight cap with a single star on it. However, the base plans to revive Said Christina L. Carmony, public Capt. Scott Waddell, helps Del­gado the tradition soon. “We expect to host relations manager for the foundation, with the program and serves as host another child during the first quarter “We’re pleased to partner with the Thun- for some visits. “We work with several of 2000,” Poole said. As in the past, derbirds and grateful for the warmth and local hospitals,” Waddell said. “Each is visits will include tours of the B-2, base generosity extended by the pilots to the assigned a specific time during the year. operations, the weather shop, the tower, families and children.” As their month comes up, the hospital and the fire department. The young Charleston AFB teamed with Make- selects the child and we work with the pilots will find their names on one of a-Wish Foundation in one instance to youngster and the parents on the plans.” the airplanes as they do at other bases. find its pilot for a day. Paul Smiley The 184th BW experience includes At Whiteman, however, the names will from Northern Ireland spent a week in a tour of the 127th Bomb Squadron, an be on removable plates that the children the US under that group’s sponsorship introduction to the fire station’s canine can take home with them. and, during the week, received VIP mascot, and a visit to life support, Whiteman’s program is spearheaded treatment at the South Carolina base. where the child is fitted for the day by the 509th Operations Support Squad- At Eglin AFB, Fla., F-15 pilot Maj. with a helmet and harness and briefed ron, but it is a wing effort supported by Brett Loyd also drew on the Randolph on egress procedures. volunteers from all units. example to found a program for the “After the static displays,” said Wad- 40th Flight Test Squadron. In late dell, “we take them to the runway where, Sneak Previews at Whiteman 1997, the unit welcomed its first guest usually, two jets will take off, circle, While Whiteman had to suspend its pilot, a 4-year-old with a rare form of and do an honorary flyby. The kid gets Pilot for a Day program, it managed muscle cancer. to talk to the pilots on the radio.” to host some special visitors another Pictures of the event show Michael The guest pilot, parents, and friends way, by offering a sneak preview of “Flash” Dosedel manning the cockpit then are treated to a special meal its annual air shows to seniors and of a fighter, his head bald from cancer before moving on to the B-1 simula- disabled persons. The day before the treatments and his surgical mask low- tor. For Teasha Decaire the meal was shows opened to the general public, ered briefly for the photo op. If only donated by a local pizzeria. The day the special guests are given a VIP tour for a day, he was a full-fledged member ends with presentation of an honorary of the base’s B-2 stealth bomber and of the 40th. unit member certificate to the child and other displays. When a local reporter asked if Mi- lithographs from the squadron and the Other bases that don’t have ongoing chael would be allowed to keep his Thunderbirds. programs also have hosted children who child-size flight suit, Loyd asked, In July 1998, Tinker AFB, Okla., are referred to them by the Make-a-Wish “Would you like to try and take it away also heard of the Randolph program Foundation of Ameri­ca, a national, non- from him?” ■ and used it as a model for its own effort. Tinker’s first guest was Jimmy Reyes, Bruce D. Callander, a regular contributor to Air Force Magazine, served tours of 13, a leukemia patient at Children’s active duty during World War II and the Korean War. In 1952, he joined Air Force Hospital of Oklahoma and son of a man Times, serving as editor from 1972 to 1986. His most recent story for Air Force stationed at the base. With Maj. Pat Magazine, “New Rules on Dual Compensation,” appeared in the January 2000 Penland and Capt. Kurt Birmingham issue.

74 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 2000