In my writings on my military career, I mainly focused on the things that affected me negatively. Well, this post is about something positive. One of the best, kindest, and full of integrity Generals (Gen) I have ever met, Lt General William Welser III. I first met Gen Welser when he was appointed the Wing Commander. He was a Colonel (Col) at that time. I was the kennel master overseeing the military working dog section. He enjoyed coming out during certifications and viewing the dogs, as was required.
One dog in particular, whose name was Boeuf, was a Bouvier-de-Flander. Not the typical dog that the Department of Defense would acquire. If you are not familiar with Bouviers, they are a long-haired breed. They also have a noticeable tuft of hair under their chin that makes it look like the dog has a beard. One day, as a joke, one of the handlers cut Boeuf’s beard off. His handler was furious and complained endlessly. At any rate, Gen Welser called Boeuf his “powder puff” dog because his hair was soft like a powder puff.
In 1992, Homestead Air Force Base (AFB) was decimated by hurricane Andrew. Prior to the hurricane, its residents who were not mission essential were told to evacuate to a Safe haven. This meant that personnel were to evacuate to an area out of the path of the hurricane and were paid per diem for their essentials. Most people evacuated to their relatives house to wait out the storm. When Andrew passed through Homestead and an evaluation was made it was determined that Homestead was a loss and not worth restoring. All personnel in Safe Haven status were informed to go to the closest air force base to report in. Most people did as there were positions available for their career fields. At least most people knew where their career fields were located.
For one family the career field worked against them. I don’t remember the career field, but there were very few people in the career field and even less bases that had positions for that career field at their bases. This family went to the nearest air force base and was told there were no positions for them and were directed to go to another air force base. Each base they went to there was no position for them. Between bases they had a baby. A baby born in a strange location, with no family members except for the nuclear family. They waited for travel to be cleared and then off to the next base only to be told to try another base. In between bases the baby died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Now the family, no home, no possessions, in a strange city, no place to call home, had to bury a newborn. Several bases and turn downs later they wind up at Dover AFB. Into the personnel office they attempt to check in to be told there was no position for them and to try McGuire AFB in New Jersey. The mother broke down, started crying and yelling about their experiences and how she was fed up with the bureaucratic red tape and the constant travel and constant rejections. Gen Welser happened to be walking through the personnel office at the time and heard the commotion. He inquired as to the nature of the issue. Again, the mother dumped on Gen Welser. Being the kind and passionate person he was, he listened to her story. When she was finished, Gen Welser told the father, a Technical Sergeant (TSgt) to go and check into the billeting office, get a good nights sleep and come to his office the next morning.