An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Run for the Fallen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tim Chacon
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  More than 150 military and civilian runners logged over 911 miles in a 24-hour-run from 1200 March 23 to 1200, March 24 on Joint Base Lewis- McChord, Washington, to raise money for the Tactical Air Control Party Association and honor TACP Airmen who have died in combat or training.

This is the fifth year for the event and TACP's from all over the world participated in it, including six units at JBLM. Airmen from the 1st ASOG, 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, 194th Air Support Operations Group, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron and the 111th Air Support Operations Center, as well as other supporters, friends, family and retired TACP's all logged their miles on McChord Field.

"We have units as far away as Afghanistan, Germany, Kuwait [and others locations] all running at the same time, wherever they are," said Master Sgt. Jason Smith, 1st Air Support Operations Group standards and evaluations chief and event coordinator. "There are people on [Forward Operating Bases] doing laps, or even just running on treadmills."

Runners could run in teams or individually, but one person carried a baton that was constantly carried throughout the 24-hours.

Staff Sgt. Cris Galindo, 5th ASOS TACP, logged 14.5 miles and had the honor of carrying the baton for the last part of the run.

"This is for our fallen brothers," said Galindo. "We do this to honor everything they sacrificed."

For many runners including Galindo, the event is personal. Galindo went through Joint Terminal Attack Controller training with Senior Airman Bradley Smith, TACP, who was killed in action in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010.

"I run for everyone who died, but he is the one on my mind when I run," said Galindo. "This event is not to mourn their deaths, but to celebrate their lives."

The fundraising will continue until April 1, but at the time of the run the JBLM unit had raised $5,879.  For more information on the TACP Association 24-hour-run, visit http://usaftacp.org/24-hour-challenge/