Randolph squadron hosts "Wings for Wounded Warriors" Published June 30, 2008 By Sean Bowlin 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A training accident that caused the loss of his left leg, multiple burns and resulted in fifteen surgeries still couldn't keep Marine Corps Capt. Ryan Voltin, an AH-Cobra pilot, out of the cockpit June 27. "It's been a while since I've sat in the seat," Captain Voltin, 27, said after taking a computer-simulated flight around San Antonio and Randolph Air Force Base. "And it's a great confidence boost." Captain Voltin, from Lyons, Ore., was flying a T-6 simulator after hoisting himself into an actual T-6A Texan II on the flight line because a Team Randolph squadron commander and a senior non-commissioned officer decided to honor him and 12 other warfighters recovering from serious injuries in the nearby Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Called "Wings for Wounded Warriors," Lt. Col. Jimmy Donohue, 559th Flying Training Squadron commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Page, 12th Flying Training Wing command chief, came up with the program to encourage the wounded. "Chief Page and Lt. Col. Donahue were talking about wanting to do something for the wounded soldiers at BAMC," said Maj. Craig Jasper, the 559th FTS Wings for Wounded Warriors project officer. "They wanted to thank (them) for their dedication to our country." That showing of thanks started Friday afternoon, June 27, with the arrival at the squadron's headquarters of the bus bearing the wounded warriors. While cameras flashed and rolled, both instructor and student pilots from the 559th FTS lined the main hallway and clapped and cheered as their fellow warriors entered the building. After a briefing and welcome by wing and squadron leaders, the guests made their way to the flight line, where they took turns touring the cockpits of T-6A Texan IIs and having their pictures taken alongside the aircraft. Those photographs were displayed later that afternoon in frames with names of the warriors labeled on them on the "Warrior Wall" that was dedicated in the squadron headquarters hallway. From the flight line encounter with real T-6s, it was on to the simulator building, where the warriors were split into three groups for a computer-based "rides." While waiting to take her flight, Army Sgt. Lelina Benning, from III Corps at Ft. Hood, Texas, said the visit to the base's simulators was an unexpected and special treat. Sergeant Benning, wounded by rocket shrapnel in an arm and a foot in Iraq, added that every Friday she and fellow wounded warriors usually leave the Center for the Intrepid on outings as part of their occupational therapy. "But when I heard we were coming to the flight simulator, I said, 'Oh, yeah!'" said Sergeant Benning, who spent nine months in the hospital. That enthusiasm for the flight simulator was echoed by Airman 1st Class Kevin Krogh, an amputee from the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Langley AFB, Va. Airman Krogh, a Medford, Minn., native injured in an auto accident in March, said he had great time in the flight simulator. "Here we all are together, doing something fun," Airman Krogh said. "For me, this means the Air Force is keeping up with their brotherhood." Another part of that brotherhood shown by the air warriors of Randolph's 559th FTS to those wounded warriors included a commemorative coin with a set of pilot's wings superimposed on an image of a Purple Heart Medal and a commemorative T-shirt. This group of warriors was the first, but not the last, group the men and women of Randolph intend to host. "We can't give them back their arms and legs," Colonel Donahue said, "But we can honor them for their service and their sacrifices."