Service gives Airman new sense of family pride

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The short 16 months I've served in the Air Force has helped me to see my grandfather in a different light and what it means to serve in his footsteps.

My grandfather is retired Master Sgt. Edward Owsianka Sr.

I've always thought of my grandfather as a straightforward, honest person who enjoyed life. Growing up, I never thought much about his past or service in the Air Force, I just knew he served for 20 years and had a rough life prior to serving.

Since both of his parents died before his 7th birthday, my grandfather had a harder childhood than many.

First, his mother died from complications giving birth to his younger brother. Then his father passed away two years later from kidney failure.

Because it was in the midst of the great depression, their relatives couldn't take care of them, so they spent time in and out of orphanages, and at times my grandfather survived by living on the streets of Chicago.

When he was 14, he moved to Michigan to stay away from gangs and was later adopted by a family.

At 17, although my grandfather had only an 8th-grade education, he decided to join the Air Force because he didn't really know what else to do. He said joining the military provided him with a steady meal and allowed him to learn a trade.

He entered basic training June 17, 1947, a few months before the Air Force was officially established. Because it was just following World War II, the Defense Department wanted to ensure every trainee was as mission-ready as possible.

Basic military training was 12 to 14 weeks long with two-weeks of field training.

When he finished basic, the instructors went down the line of Airmen and assigned each to a job.

He began his career as a military police officer stationed at Westover Field, Mass. My grandfather was terrified because he had never handled a gun before. Typical duties for the military police at the time were guarding gates, planes and prisoners. They also patrolled the flightline.

After serving as an MP for about eight months, he transferred to the fire department where he stood by both sides of the runway ready to respond to planes in case there was a crash landing. He did this job for six years before cross-training into services.

My grandfather wanted to have a safe job so he chose to become a cook and stuck with it until he retired July 1, 1967, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. As a services Airman, he worked 24-hour shifts with 48-hours off in a dining hall that seated 500 Airmen.
My military journey has been much different.

Even though my grandfather has six children and six grandchildren, I am the first Owsianka since him to join the military.

I decided to join the Air Force because I felt I needed to do something with my life. I had three-weeks notice to prepare when I found out I was leaving for basic military training, which began March 11, 2010, and coincidently happened to be my grandfather's 80th birthday.

Before I left for BMT, my recruiter offered me the job I currently have -- public affairs specialist. But I wasn't sure what the job would be like.

After I completed BMT, I began thinking about the hardships my grandfather endured and how my life hasn't been anywhere near as hard as his.

Upon arriving at tech school, I started my career in a similar fashion to my grandfather. I was told that I would be a journalist; I was shocked and nervous like he was because I never considered myself a writer.

Being a journalist in the operational Air Force has provided me with several opportunities to work with Airmen from all career fields. Interviewing and writing stories on our military police (security forces) and firefighters has given me a better understanding of my grandfather's job experiences.

Although our military journey was very different, our service to the nation is the same.

I didn't join because my grandfather served, but knowing he served has made my commitment to my job and to this country more significant.

The pride my grandfather has in me and the love and respect I have for him have made me want to follow in his footsteps and retire from the Air Force. I will also strive for the rank of master sergeant to honor him.