Serving through the season: Staff Sgt. Adam Tisher

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. (AFPN) --  Like the members of any fire department, military or civilian, firefighters are tasked to be on duty 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, including Christmas.

But also like the firefighters of any fire department, the members build a close bond with their co-workers; most become their second families.

That's what helped Staff Sgt. Adam Tisher get through the holidays this year as he pulled a 24-hour shift on Christmas day.

"We are like family here," he said of his co-workers. "So we will have a good time anyway."

The 1999 graduate of Heclas High School in Hecla, S.D, is a firefighter crew chief who has been in the Air Force seven years -- enough time to adjust to working shifts and sometimes being away from home on holidays. This was his third Christmas at Malmstrom, and his third on duty as well.

Like Airmen in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ecuador, South Korea, other world hot spots and across the Nation during the holiday season, Sergeant Tisher knows about sacrifice. Airmen are warfighters. They are highly trained, skilled and valued members of the interdependent force fighting the war on terror. They are always ready to do their job, no matter what day it is.

Although Sergeant Tisher probably won't come under hostile fire this Christmas, he is still prepared to put his life on the line fighting fires if called to do so.

"I would rather be on a cruise to the Bahamas," he said. "But my wife and son will be able to spend the day with me, so we will have a good time. This is a normal Christmas for us."

Because his wife, Whitney, and 1-year-old son KC will be able to be with him, he still planned to celebrate on Dec. 25.

"We're going to have a big dinner and do ... well, what everyone else does on Christmas," Sergeant Tisher said.

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