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SNCO’s selfless behavior protects Airman, family

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Aaron Wiley
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores (AFPN) --  An Airman’s failed suicide attempt and subsequent disappearance from here recently highlighted why taking care of people is one of the distinguishing qualities of a true leader, and why wearing the rank of senior noncommissioned officer in the Air Force is a distinguishing symbol of leadership.

Senior Master Sgt. Oakley Coleman, 65th Mission Support Squadron military personnel flight superintendent, exemplified leadership through selflessness when he quietly took care of the Airman and his family in their time of need.

In December, Sergeant Coleman was briefed by then-65th MSS commander Maj. Suzanne Wheeler that an Airman had tried to take his own life and was at a local hospital recovering. It was all Sergeant Coleman needed to know to trigger a natural reaction of genuine concern.

“When the commander informed me of the suicide attempt, I volunteered to go to the hospital and stay with the member until he was released,” Sergeant Coleman said.

Once released, Sergeant Coleman drove the Airman home, stayed with him and helped him begin the physical and emotional healing process.

“I became his liaison, ensuring he made medical and religious appointments, and was his confidant when he needed to talk or share his feelings,” Sergeant Coleman said.

Recently, however, the Airman went on leave. He told his spouse he would be back on an earlier date than he gave his supervisor and Sergeant Coleman. When he did not return, his spouse called and asked if Sergeant Coleman had heard from her husband.

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach the Airman at the emergency leave number, Sergeant Coleman informed the commander of the spouse’s concerns. They decided to give the Airman until the date he had given his supervisor before taking further action.

“We asked (his spouse) to be patient,” he said. “(At least) until that plane arrived.”

But when the Airman did not return on the date he had given his supervisor, the commander and Sergeant Coleman became more concerned; not only about the Airman’s whereabouts, but also for the welfare of the Airman and his family, he said.

His spouse was not an American citizen and had limited knowledge of the military and its financial systems, Sergeant Coleman said.

“She was really distraught over him not returning and expressed doubts about whether she’d be capable of taking care of the children and family matters in the member’s absence,” he said. “I agreed to be the family’s liaison officer until the member returned.”

With the help of Master Sgt. Shannon Parker, of the 65th MSS, Sergeant Coleman helped the Airman’s family by taking the spouse to all of her appointments, picking up their mail and taking care of any other temporal needs of the family. He looked in on them every day and made himself available any time there was an emergency, telling the spouse to call him at home at any hour of the night or day.

He also made arrangements for the spouse to receive financial counseling and education to help her better understand the military system.

“Sergeant Parker also played a key role in assisting the Airman’s spouse while he was away,” Sergeant Coleman said. “She helped her shop for groceries, attended a school appointment for one of the children and offered a female’s perspective and ear to the spouse during this ordeal.”

Subsequently, when the Airman’s absence continued to grow, his spouse became more despondent, he said.

“I made arrangements for medical appointments and took her there and back,” Sergeant Coleman said. “I also took her to the credit union to help her ascertain (their) financial status and to open an account in her name.”

For more than two weeks, Sergeant Coleman acted as the family liaison until the Airman, who apparently was not planning to return, was located. When he heard the Airman had been found, Sergeant Coleman volunteered to escort him back to the island. He made the trip and brought the Airman back here.

“The Airman told me he felt like he was under a lot of stress that he hadn’t wanted to share, and felt he needed time away to think,” Sergeant Coleman said. “I let him know we all cared and we just wanted him to come back and we would provide him all the assistance we could if and when he returned.”

During the short time the Airman had back on the island before he retired, Sergeant Coleman agreed, via power of attorney, to ship his household goods, clean the house after goods were shipped and ensure the house passed its final housing inspection.

For his assistance to the Airman, Sergeant Coleman received special recognition.

“Sergeant Coleman was the recipient of the 65th MSG commander’s first wingman coin for going well beyond the call of a wingman,” said Maj. Craig Green, 65th MSS commander. “Not only did he help prevent an Airman from another suicide attempt, but he also helped that Airman’s family for almost a month during his disappearance and then retrieved the Airman from a potential absent without leave.”

Sergeant Coleman said being a wingman must be a selfless act and often is a collective effort. The commander, first sergeant, chaplain, doctors and other squadron Airmen had key roles in helping the Airman and his family.

“You must be willing to do what has to be done, regardless of the inconveniences and without expectations of any rewards … other than knowing your efforts have helped an individual resolve a situation or at least make it easier to deal with,” he said. “I guess what I’m saying is it takes a village to truly be a wingman.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)