BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California –
Just as the story goes. Watching a movie on a Saturday night can be two and a half hours on the couch watching other people’s lives in action. But in the life of Air Force Reservist Lt. Col. William M. Lucas, 940th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander and flight surgeon at Beale Air Force, California, he was doing just that but with a twist. He was the one who was the actor in front the camera.
So get Ready-Set and Action! After getting the phone call he had just two and a half hours to quickly pack and make calls. Also knowing how difficult it would be to arrange a flight to get him to Travis Air Force Base, California by 0830 the next day, he flew out the door and drove down the road in his car. He left the comfort of his house and without commercial interruption after being notified, Lucas stopped at his reserve duty location, Beale AFB to ready for mobilization and then continued on to Travis AFB to report for duty in New York City. Lucas in addition to being a traditional Reservist he has a big responsibility of operating his own private practice in Oregon.
Cutting to the next scene was Lt. Col. Patrick L. Keller, chief of 940th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. He is employed full time with the Department of Energy and is also a traditional Reservist. When he got the call to fill a vacancy for a much needed medical expert, Keller responded without hesitation to join other Reservist teams called up to fight against the COVID-19 virus in New York City this first weekend of April.
Not be shorthanded against the fight, Capt. Kamille J. Resetz, physician assistant, who now claims the 940th AMDS at Beale AFB and California as her new home was ready to roll out and put her skills to task. Resetz acted without hesitation to be of service for our American citizens. So coast to coast from the land of motion pictures to the city scapes of live theaters, she is another one of the stars on the stage and the New York audiences are thrilled see her as well as the other Reservist co-stars who are part of the cast in the very real fight against this viral threat.
And not to forget anyone in the credits for those much needed actors and actresses on stage are Reservists like Capt. Dawn M. Schultz, a nurse also with the 940th AMDS company of performers. All members of this team answered the casting call to combat the enemy COVID-19 on our country’s stage.
Schultz is one of six Air Force Reserve Medics from Beale and Travis AFB respectively and March Air Reserve Base, Calif. who responded on April 5.
The Air Force Reserve Command mobilized several units that totaled 120 doctors and nurses, respiratory specialists and technicians in recent days.
The U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Forces Land Component Command at JBMDL based out of New Jersey will process personnel prior to the medical staff arriving at the 3,000 bed field hospital configured for emergency use in downtown Manhattan at the Jacob K. Javits Center.
SMSgt. Amy M. Stultz, 940th AMDS superintendent at Beale AFB wrote, “The whole process was inspiring to see and be a part of. I am very proud of my team.”
The audience of one is now an audience of thousands for our mission-ready Reserve Airmen.
Across this land we call home, our thoughts are with each and every one of you. Thank you.