BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
It began like any other drill weekend. On Saturday, Feb. 6, Reservists reported in as usual to the 940th Civil Engineer Squadron and routinely began the training tasks and administrative chores that await them every Unit Training Assembly.
The normalcy of activity that morning, however, was deceiving. The atmosphere at the squadron was noticeably somber, according to Senior Master Sgt. James Boyd, Superintendent of Utilities.
"It was pretty tough," Boyd said. "More of a low than I've ever seen in the 29 years I've been in."
At 10:30 that morning, computers were shut down, checklists laid aside, and training halted. More than 60 members of CES boarded two buses bound for Sacramento, Calif., to attend a Celebration of Life honoring fellow Reservist and long-time member of the 940th CES, retired Master Sgt Randall Lovett. Lovett lost his battle with cancer, passing away on January 29, 2010, in Sacramento, Calif., at age 56.
"Randy was really special. Life to him was always bright," said Chief Master Sgt, Stephen Nnodim, 940th CES Chief Enlisted Manager. "He touched different people at different levels, and he could always sense when someone needed help. That's what we can't replace. We're always going to miss him."
Staff Sgt. Michael McKeon remembered Lovett's helpfulness the day they met at Kirkuk Regional Air Base during a deployment to Iraq five years ago. It was Sgt. McKeon's first tour to Kirkuk. "As a supply troop, I got a lot of requests there, about a hundred every day. By the third week, I was pretty much burnt out," McKeon recalled. "Then, one day, Randy came walking in to my office with a big ol' teddy bear look on his face and said, 'Hey, Buddy, I came to see if you needed something.'"
"Truth is, I did need some help," McKeon said. "I had a washer and dryer that weren't working. In 15 minutes, Randy had them fixed up. I don't think we realize just how much we depend on each other, but Randy did. Instead of needing something, he was giving something back. When help is freely offered, that's just a real gift."
Master Sgt. Terrence White, NCOIC of Engineering, deployed numerous times with Lovett over the years. "Randy was always looking out for those around him, and he seemed like he never changed. No matter what the situation, he was always in a good mood, always a positive attitude. 'Hey, Buddy" was how he greeted everyone."
White said Lovett's positive attitude and willingness to work hard were inspirational. "He was older, so he had a lot of fitness obstacles to overcome, but he always gave 110 percent."
On one particular deployment, White recalled how Lovett struggled to keep up with the unit during physical training. "But he never gave up. He trained after hours, constantly running. We ran as a group two or three times a week, but Randy ran every day. That was the kind of determination he had. By the end of the deployment, he outran me!"
"The unit always knew him as a hard worker," said Senior Master Sgt. Boyd, 940th CES Superintendent of Utilities. "You could always count on Randy to volunteer. He liked what he did. He liked serving."
Boyd met Lovett nearly 20 years ago. The two men served together at the 936th CES at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif., before the unit merged with the 940th CES and moved to Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in 1996.
In 2003, they deployed on the same team to Southern Iraq. "We were boots on the ground two days after the war officially started as one of the first Reserve units to go in," Boyd said.
Boyd and Lovett ran the sewer pumper trucks at Tallil Air Base during a deployment to An Nasiriyah, Iraq. "It was a 24/7 rotating shift," Boyd said. "We operated the two trucks responsible for waste water disposal of tent city facilities, approximately 150 port-a-potties."
According to Boyd, Lovett never complained about the long hours or the hard work. "He always had a smile on his face and a 'Hey, Buddy' greeting for everyone."
Chief Master Sgt. Nnodim, had also met Lovett while at the 936th CES, McClellan AFB. He agreed. "You will not hear the man complain one day in his life."
"When war came in 2003, a lot of people bailed out , but that wasn't Randy. He wanted to volunteer. He wound up in Iraq. His team ran into hardships. They were under a lot of stress in hostile conditions," Chief Nnodim recounted.
When Lovett and his team returned from deployment, the chief met with each member of the group. "Each person who came in said, 'I had enough, this isn't for me, I'm leaving."
But his meeting with Lovett was a surprising change of pace, according to the chief. "Randy told me he'd operated his truck with pride and even made it on the front page of a newspaper."
Lovett told Chief Nnodim, 'I did us proud, Buddy! Our unit is number one! Of, course you can count on me to stay. I'll be here to the end!'"
Nnodim described Lovett as sincere and trusting. But what impressed the chief most was Lovett's dedication. "A lot of people look at the clock to see when time is up and they can go, but Randy didn't have a clock. He was patient, knowledgeable, and very good at training people. He never missed an opportunity to help out, and he was requested (by the Active Duty) to backfill a lot."
Colonel Jeffrey Mineo, Commander of the 940th Wing, agreed. "Sergeant Lovett embodied all things TFI. He was a prime example of someone who took precious time away from his family and his civilian job to serve his country admirably."
Master Sgt. Lovett's Celebration of Life in Sacramento was attended by more than 125 people, bringing his civilian and military family together for a time of remembrance and tribute to his family, faith, and country.