Airman gets a little help from his friends

Janet Taylor-Birkey

CFC helps when unexpected happens

Senior Airman Jason McGlawn took a few days in July from his job with the 27 Equipment Maintenance Squadron to go to Arkansas to purchase a new vehicle. He also planned to visit family and spend time with his girlfriend, Clarisa Little, who was within six weeks of giving birth to their child.

Airman McGlawn got much more than a new car and a visit.

Airman McGlawn was seven hours into the return trip home when Clarisa called him. There were complications with the pregnancy and the baby needed to be delivered early. That was the start of when everything seemed to fall apart.

“It hits you when you least expect,” said Airman McGlawn.

His leave was almost over, his cell phone was almost out of juice and his wallet almost out of cash. Sitting in the parking lot of a truck stop and waiting for permission from his supervisors to return to Arkansas was difficult.

“I was sitting at the gas station freaking out. Everything bad that could happen, happened,” said Airman McGlawn.

Not only did Airman McGlawn and Ms. Little face the crisis with their baby’s early birth, the toll of hotel bills and gas prices combined with the down-payment Airman McGlawn put on his car, left him with a deficit. It was then he found out how much he appreciated the support of the Air Force.

He received an additional 10 days permissive TDY, financial help for hotel rooms, food and gas, and funds for other costs associated with having to visit the hospital.

Airman McGlawn said he is grateful to Master Sgt. George Childers, 27 EMS first sergeant, for helping so quickly. “Before I could even ask if they could help me out, he was on his cell phone calling Friends of Cannon Families,” said Airman McGlawn. “He was all over it.”

After making a return trip, Airman McGlawn arrived in time for the birth of four pound, six ounce Alexander Little-McGlawn. The baby’s arrival brought a mixture of pride and fear for his mom and dad; little Alex’s lungs were not quite developed and there were other issues for a baby born too early. He had to be air-lifted to Little Rock, Ark., where he was put in intensive care and on a respirator.

Airman McGlawn’s experience taught him many life lessons, especially how important it is to allow other people to help. “Definitely talk to your first sergeant. They’ll help you out a lot.”

He encourages Airmen not to allow pride to over-rule common sense. “It’s not any reason to be embarrassed. Bad things happen to people all the time. They hit you when you least expect it.”

Airman McGlawn, known simply as “Daddy” to little Alexander said, “If you come to that point in time and it hits you and there’s nothing you can do about it, they [FOCF] are there for you. We [the Air Force] are kind of a family. We do help each other out a lot in times of need.”

As for little Alexander, his dad said that he is now up to seven pounds, “crying and definitely has some lungs on him.”

The Combined Federal Campaign started in 1961 and is the nation’s largest workplace charity drive and the only philanthropic effort permitted by law in the federal workplace. Since its inception, the CFC has raised more than $5.5 billion.

Last year the CFC raised $268.5 million in cash, check and payroll deductions.

This year’s campaign runs through Oct. 31.