Honoring the legacy of Lt. Helton Published Sept. 23, 2011 By Col. James Hodges 6th Mission Support Group Commander MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- This past week I had the honor of leading the 2011 "Helton Haul" 5-K run named for the late 1st Lt. Joseph Helton. I was privileged to be flanked by his mother, Jiffy Helton. She was deeply moved by the tribute shown by members of the 6th Air Mobility Wing and Team MacDill in honor of her son. For those unfamiliar with the story of Lieutenant Helton, he was a member of the 6th Security Forces Squadron who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq on Sept. 8, 2009. While on patrol near Baghdad, during the second of two consecutive deployments for which he volunteered, Lieutenant Helton was hit by an explosively formed penetrator, one of the deadliest types of improvised explosive devices. The story of Lieutenant Helton's life exudes the essence of the Air Force Core Values. He signed up for the military by entering the United States Air Force Academy in 2003 at a time when America was confronting international threats in the post-9/11 era. After graduation from the Academy and receiving a commission as a lieutenant, he actively sought to serve his country to the best of his abilities. During his Security Forces technical training, he was selected as the "Top Cop" by his peers. As a new member of the 6th Security Forces Squadron, he aggressively learned the home station mission while volunteering for any deployment downrange that came along. He simply hungered to serve America in the most impactful way possible. He soon got his chance in 2008 when he deployed for eight months as a flight commander with the mission of training and operating with Iraqi Security Forces during the famed "surge" that turned the tide in that operation. When he finished his deployment, he saw there was another flight commander position that would be vacant. Rather than see that mission go unfulfilled, he volunteered to remain in Iraq and answer his nation's call once again rather than return home to comfort and safety. Sadly, in just the second month of his second deployment, he gave the ultimate sacrifice. That's where our magnificent team steps in. The 6th Security Forces Squadron named its building in his honor and annually undertakes the "Helton Haul" so others can know of the lieutenant's example. Lieutenant Helton should be an exemplar for us all in carrying out our home-station and deployed duties in a manner that raises the bar for our personal and collective commitment to the Air Force Core Values. It's clear his embodiment of the "Service Before Self" ethic is unquestionable. How else could we describe his example in volunteering for a second consecutive tour downrange rather than see the mission suffer without an assigned flight commander to lead and train Iraqi security forces, especially when he had such fresh experience? His record also shows a personal internalization of "Excellence in All We Do," especially in being chosen as the "Top Cop" in technical training and earning a flight commander position in combat as a young lieutenant. Joseph Helton is an example for us all and personally challenges me to passionately pursue excellence and to seek opportunities to serve sacrificially. The occasion of the recent "Helton Haul" gave us all a chance to reflect on Lieutenant Helton's service and to honor his sacrifice. I ask each of you take a moment and think about that young officer taken in the prime of his life the next time you pass by Helton Hall. Remember his inspirational story and re-commit to your own personal, professional, and organizational pursuit of "Integrity - Service - Excellence." We miss you Joe, but your story lives on with us, the members of the 6th Air Mobility Wing and all our partners on Team MacDill.