DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- The 919th Special Operations Wing held its 2024 Annual Awards banquet to honor its finest Citizen Air Commandos here on March 1, 2025.
Formal awards ceremonies have been a long-standing Air Force tradition to honor its members that go above and beyond for mission success.
“Tonight’s event is a rare opportunity to pause…with unwavering pride…and thank some great Americans for their commitment and dedication,” said Col. Scott Hurrelbrink, 919 SOW commander. “These awards and the members we recognized set the standard for all Citizen Air Commandos. I have no doubt our members will continue to embody this standard of excellence while serving valiantly in support of a mission that never stops!”
The event offered a rare perspective from a former Vietnam Prisoner of War who spent six and a half years in captivity after his aircraft was shot down 60 miles northwest of Hanoi.
(Ret.) Col. Ed Hubbard shared his story and said one of his last bad days occurred 59 years ago when his aircraft was shot down by two surface to air missiles.
“For the first 150 days, I thought I was going to die,” said Hubbard. “I had a terrible attitude and was filled with self-pity.”
But something changed for him on Day 151.
“I remembered a quote from someone who said ‘I cried because I had no shoes. Then I met a man with no feet.’”
He thought of those worse off than him and began adopting a more positive attitude. Hubbard and his fellow prisoners began communicating using a tap code using a series of knocks on the walls to spell out words. This gave the prisoners a task to do to pass the time while staying sharp mentally.
Hubbard said he and his fellow prisoner also managed to incorporate exercise by doing pushups to build their strength despite living in a 6-by-6 room.
“Competition helped us survive,” said Hubbard. “It will help each person in the 919th too. Competition gives us purpose and direction each day. Members of this Wing are high achievers, but I challenge you to continue looking for ways to integrate competition into your lives.”
Hubbard’s message also encouraged all those in attendance to be open to new perspectives. "If people are open to a different perspective, it can make the world a better place," he said.
919TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
Airman of the Year: Senior Airmen Michael Thompson
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech Sgt. Lorena Rangel
Senior NCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Jack Frasier
Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Benjamin Bolin
Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Aaron Christenson
First Sgt of the Year: Master Sgt. Derrick Davis
Squadron of the Year: 2nd Special Operations Squadron
Civilian Category I of the Year: Juliette Simms
Civilian Category II of the Year: Brandon Wilson
Civilian Category III of the Year: Kelley Gwin
Congratulations to the 2024 Annual Award winners! Keep up the amazing work you do for our community.