Yokota couple wins O’Malley award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katie Thomas
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) --  Sources have it that behind every good man stands a good woman.

Col. Mark Schissler, a former 374th Airlift Wing commander here, said he has to agree.

His wife, Marcia, and himself led the wing and its tenant units through two years of relief efforts, community relations events, inspections and exercises, and distinguished visitors. The couple was responsible for the welfare of 7,000 active-duty Airmen and 4,500 family members, providing them with leadership and care.

The Air Force has taken notice of the Schisslers and selected them for the 2004 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award. It is presented annually by the Air Force chief of staff to recognize the wing commander and spouse who best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership in a key Air Force position. The award is named after the former Tactical Air Command commander and his wife, Diane, who died in and aircraft accident April 20, 1985.

The Schisslers’ contributions were also noticed by those they serve with.

“I was honored to work with Colonel Schissler for the past 22 months,” said Chief Master Sgt. Robert Wicks, 36th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief master sergeant at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and a former 374th AW command chief.

“He and Marcia made a tremendous difference in the lives of the women and men at Yokota Air Base and the surrounding community,” he said. “His passion for people was second only to being a principled man whose character guided him daily to make sound decisions that were grounded ethically and morally.”

The Schisslers could be found at nearly every base function whether it was a promotion, retirement, award presentation or heritage month event. They are also frequent volunteers at the Department of Defense Dependents Schools here, reading to students and assisting with fundraising.

“Colonel Schissler really showed compassion by taking time to be at every event he could even if it was just to stop in and say hello,” said Tech. Sgt. Keith Fitzgerald of the Band of the Pacific-Asia and president of two base organizations. “He is a really busy person being the wing commander, but he always took time to show he cares about his people.”

Sergeant Fitzgerald said the colonel is a regular volunteer with one organization, helping them raise more than $40,000 during a race to give back to the community as scholarships and donations.

“Yokota has a strong volunteer program here, and we really saw that during the (race) when we had a record-breaking 600 base members come out to help,” Sergeant Fitzgerald said. “This kind of volunteerism comes down from the top, and it is an effect of the type of person the wing commander is.”

Together the couple created a support system for deploying Airmen and their families that can be seen from the initial deployment briefings given at the family support center to the welcome-back celebrations nearly every quarter.

The Schisslers’ influence can be seen in the dozens of award-winning individuals and units that have been recognized from major command to top Air Force levels, including an “excellent” rating during the 2004 Pacific Air Forces’ unit compliance inspection.

Their influence can also be felt off base.

The couple welcomed multiple new friendship associations with local towns and cities around Yokota throughout their tenure. The base originally boasted only one close tie to a local city. They were also invited to dozens of Japanese ceremonies and celebrations and held bilateral events with Japanese military wives.

“He has led us through many tough times and showed many times over that we can overcome adversity,” Chief Wicks said. “He believed in people and cared deeply about doing what is best for the troops and what is right. His ability to hone in on the important issues made such a difference for the base, the community and the people.”