Serving through the season: Staff Sgt. Mario Williams

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Larry van der Oord
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  While many Airmen are preparing to head home for the holidays, many others will be on duty working at home stations and deployed locations across the world.

One particular MacDill Airman won't be heading home, but he will be together on Christmas with a member of his family -- sort of.

Staff Sgt. Mario Williams, military working dog handler with the 6th Security Forces Squadron, will spend Christmas patrolling the base with his German Sheppard, Jago.

"We work with our dogs every day, and they really do become a part of our family," he said.

While he will miss his mother, brother and two sisters in his hometown of Lisman, Ala., Sergeant Williams said he has become accustomed to working during the holidays. In fact, he makes it a point to try and work on Christmas every year so others in the K-9 section can enjoy the time off.

The appreciation he receives from the other members of his unit helps him stay positive while working during the holidays, he said.

"Since I don't have any kids or family here in town, I'm happy to work during Christmas so those with families can be with their children."

Sergeant Williams understands the importance of his daily duties and knows that his job is something that must be done every day, even on Christmas. He and Jago will be conducting K-9 walking patrols, building checks and base entry point checks.

Like Airmen in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ecuador, South Korea, other world hot spots and across the nation during the holiday season, Sergeant Williams 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.

Still, like most other Airmen, Sergeant Williams, a 1993 graduate of Choctaw County High School, can list a few activities besides work he would prefer doing on Christmas.

"If I wasn't working, I would probably be at home taking it easy with the football game on," he said with a laugh.

As he prepares for a six-month deployment to Iraq in April, Sergeant Williams said that working on Christmas helps him keep the big picture in perspective. He understands the mission does not stop for the holidays.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page