Warriors of the Week - Christopherson, Dominquez, White, Sellers

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Chris Christopherson, Angel Dominguez, Tech. Sgt. Richard White and Chaplain (Capt.) Randy Sellers were named Warriors of the Week for their efforts in organizing military honors for the funeral of an active duty Airman from Little Rock AFB, Ark.

Mr. Christopherson, a native of Mountain Home, Idaho, is assigned to Mortuary Affairs with the 71st Force Support Squadron. Mr. Dominguez, from Phoenix, Ariz., also with the 71st FSS, is the Community Readiness Consultant with the Airman & Family Readiness Center here.

They spent several hours gathering ribbons, badges and name tags from the base exchanges at Vance and Tinker AFB, Okla., in order to prepare three shadow boxes for the surviving wife and two daughters. "Tech. Sgt. Bobbie White put a lot of work into making the three boxes look exactly right," said Mr. Dominguez.

Mr. Christopherson and Mr. Dominguez drove to Ponca City, Okla., on Sunday, Feb. 28, where the Airman's body was prepared for the funeral. They ensured his uniform and decorations were done properly.

Sergeant White, from Tucson, Ariz., is assigned to the 71st Communications Squadron and is the NCO in charge of the Silver Talon Honor Guard. Prior to the March 2 funeral, he and Mr. Christopherson put together a 21-person honor guard team that included current and past members of the team. Because an active-duty service is fairly complex, they spent a day training the honor guard to ensure they were prepared.

Chaplain Sellers, from Midwest City, Okla., volunteered to accompany the funeral team at the last minute. "He said he was led by God to come along and it was fortunate he was with us," said Mr. Dominguez. An element of a military funeral is the playing of taps on the bugle.

When the team arrived in Kaw City, Okla., where the interment was to take place, Sergeant White discovered they had forgotten the bugle. But it was not just any bugle. It was one of the electronic bugles that only requires an honor guard member to hold it to their lips. No musical skill is necessary. Chaplain Sellers told Sergeant White he had played the trumpet many years before and was willing to stand in. Mr. Christopherson went to a near-by elementary school and borrowed a trumpet. "After the first note, Chaplain Sellers performed taps flawlessly," said Sergeant White.

The efforts of the four Warriors of the Week and the Silver Talon Honor Guard resulted in a show of great respect for a fallen Airman.