First sergeant steps up in time of need

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
  • Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) --  On Jan. 3, Alec Fonoti, a mechanic for the quartermaster laundry here, was preparing dinner with his family to take to a friend's house. With the meal packed, the family of nine loaded everything into their vehicle and left.

"The fire report said the burner on the left was still slightly on," Fonoti said. "A fire caught and it destroyed the whole house."

The Fonoti's checked on their neighbors first, making sure they were safe. Fortunately, the fire had been limited to their house -- but everything was destroyed.

"I couldn't think right," he said. "For a big family like mine, I got so stressed that first day. At that point, I thought I might end my life. It was so hard for me, it was painful."Fonoti, who was once an Army corporal mechanized infantryman, served in the Army from 1987 to 1994.

In mid-February of 1991, the 1st Battalion, 42nd Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division, was the first to breach the Saudi Arabia border in Operation Desert Storm. Fonoti was among the Soldiers in that unit.

"I was in the middle of combat," Fonoti said. "We came out and fought, I saw a lot of what was going on, dead people."

He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

After the house fire, Fonoti said he couldn't focus on work, and told his supervisor as much. Word of the situation spread to first sergeants across the base, and that's when Master Sgt. Robert Chastain, who at the time was the 673rd Force Support Squadron first sergeant, stepped in.

"I knew the house had burned down," said Chastain, now the 673rd Communications Squadron first sergeant. "I could see how bad it was really affecting him -- he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He couldn't even navigate through the electronic process to order a refill for his PTSD medicine."

The first sergeant helped Fonoti get the medicine refilled. He also reached out to other first sergeants and explained what happened.

"He came over and said he was going to help," Fonoti said. "The two weeks I didn't have PTSD medication, he was there, doing everything for me."

According to Chastain, there are many Air Force programs available to help out when there's a need.

"Most of the programs are for military," he said. "So I told (the other first sergeants), ‘Whatever you can get me, I need. If you've got something that you don't need, I'll take it.' We were able to replace (a lot)."

The first sergeants were able to find the Fonotis a house downtown they could afford, he said.

"Before we did that, they were going to the homeless shelter -- that's how serious it was," Chastain said. "Think about that, a family like that in December (with) sub-zero temperatures on the streets. Helping them really and truly became my whole focus and purpose."

Helping the Fonotis was among the many actions that earned Chastain the 673rd Air Base Wing First Sergeant of the Year award.

"(First sergeants) don't do it for recognition or a thank you, but we came in the next day (to see) two huge posters made by all those children that said, 'Thank you, Master Sergeant Chastain, for this,' and there's a laundry list of things they received," the first sergeant said. "It gives you a warm feeling. We displayed that inside Building 600 for a couple weeks so everybody could see how their efforts helped. It wasn't just me; I only reached out for help."

According to Fonoti, Chastain’s actions helped save his life.

"I (felt) like I'd been in combat again -- when you fight, they fight with you like a band of brothers," Fonoti said.