Photo By Senior Airman Kathy Duran | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. China Ojikutu, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency medic,...... read more read more
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The path to a once-in-a-lifetime Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission was anything but easy for U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. China Ojikutu, a 59th Medical Wing medic. After three rejections and years of determination, Ojikutu finally achieved her goal of joining a DPAA recovery mission- one dedicated to bringing America’s fallen heroes home to their families.
“I thought it would be a profound honor to be part of a mission dedicated to returning our fallen service members to their families," said Ojikutu. “The opportunity to provide closure to grieving families and ensure that our POW/MIA heroes finally come home is one of the most meaningful undertakings I can imagine.”
Short term individual augmentees travel from all across the Department of Defense and join efforts to pursue DPAAs mission in returning missing personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation. Augmentees fill various roles and responsibilities such as medics, communications, life support investigators, explosive ordnance disposal technicians and linguists to ensure the mission’s success.
Ojikutu said she had been eager to join a DPAA mission since learning about its work as an Airman 1st Class in Germany. Inspired by a coworker’s involvement in recovering a World War II fallen service member, she was deeply moved by the agency’s efforts.
After years of trying, her determination paid off when she was selected to support DPAA. She was thrilled to begin her first recovery mission in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), an effort she deeply admired for its focus on location and repatriating fallen service members from past conflicts.
As she arrived in the LPDR, she served as one of the primary three medics responsible for providing care to her teammates and assisting the medical outreach initiatives which oversaw more than 140 patients within the local community.
Additionally, she performed excavation efforts such as helping the recovery team dig in units and wet screening tons of soil in search of any incident-related items, such as osseous material, life support equipment, or material evidence.
Her dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed. Ojikutu’s dedication earned her recognition as one of the hardest workers on the team and a special coin from DPAA’s Senior Enlisted Advisor.
“Her work ethic set the standard, whether it was digging or wet screening, she never ceased putting the mission first,” said Master Sgt. Eric Lawson, a DPAA team sergeant. “Day in and day out, she went above and beyond her medic duties for the betterment of the entire team.”
The mission provided Ojikutu with a unique opportunity to learn from two medical experts on the team, allowing her to work closely with peers from diverse medical backgrounds, gain valuable insights, and enhance her skills—an experience she believes will benefit her as she pursues her goal of commissioning in her career.
“The learning opportunities are truly limitless and I am deeply grateful for the mentorship and expertise I gain from shadowing professionals across various healthcare professions,” said Ojikutu. “It was a chance to grow professionally while contributing to something greater than myself.”
U.S. Army Col. Scott Grogan, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) family physician, spoke highly of Ojikutu, praising her enthusiasm and dedication to learning. Throughout the duration of the mission, Ojikutu shadowed the other medics, assisted local patients who sought treatment for a range of issues, including muscle aches, cuts, rashes, medications, vitamin deficiencies and much more.
“Ojikutu embodies the spirit of intrinsic motivation,” said Grogan. “Her assistance with medical outreach was instrumental in improving our efficiency and creating a safe, educational environment for her, the linguists, and the patients.”
In her downtime, she enjoyed bonding with her teammates in the basecamp setting through workouts, yoga, and card games, further strengthening their connections.
“Despite the bugs, heat, and mud, I’m grateful for the unique environment that allowed us to rely on one another, form lasting friendships, and truly connect,” she shared.
During her time in the LPDR, Ojikutu said she fully embraced the experience. One of the most rewarding aspects of her stay was connecting with her teammates and the local community—whether by practicing Lao phrases with villagers, sampling traditional dishes, or learning about the country's rich history.
Ojikutu’s journey highlights the power of resilience, teamwork, and service, showing how one person’s dedication can make a meaningful impact.
“Every member of the team played an indispensable role in the success of this mission, and I am truly grateful for the friendships and bonds I have formed during this time. I believe I have made lifelong connections and look forward to staying in touch, with the hope of reuniting again.” said Ojikutu. “I would definitely return for a mission and highly encourage that every service member experience it at least once in their career. It is an extraordinary honor to be part of this team.”
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2024 14:19 |
| Story ID: | 486798 |
| Location: | LA |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, From Determination to Dedication: Staff Sgt. China Ojikutu’s DPAA Mission in Laos, by SrA Kathy Duran, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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