Ruck to remember

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Paul Labbe | Members of the 379th Expeditionary Security Force Squadron huddle together after completing a 9.11-mile ruck march Sept. 11, 2011, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The march was one of three base-wide events to commemorate the nearly 3,000 people, including the 55 military members and 411 emergency personnel, who lost their lives 10 years ago in the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

09.11.2011

Story by Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr. 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA - What started out as a ruck march from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to ground zero turned into an international affair with when airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron made their own sacrifice in honor of those who passed away Sept. 11, 2001.

"It's an initiative to remember the guys that have died from security forces and people that have paid the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001," said Tech. Sgt. Donald Ashworth, a ruck march participant from the 379 ESFS.

Since the Defenders are deployed and unable to participate in the stateside event they decided to put a march together for themselves, according to the Kansas City, Mo., native deployed from Elemendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

"I think it was very little compared to what others have suffered," said Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Pash, ruck march coordinator from the 379 ESFS.

The physically demanding event consisted of a 9.11-mile ruck march around the base while wearing combat boots in more than 100 degree weather. The St. Paul, Minn., native, deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., said the march started the march at 8:45 a.m., the same time that American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 with 92 people aboard, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

"I'm tired but I'm honored and glad we could show our support overseas," Pash said.

"We want to feel some of the pain, feel some sacrifice, in remembrance of what everybody went through ten years ago," said Lt. Col. Kevin Walker, 379 ESFS commander. "I've had quite a few people that I knew personally killed in the wars, some Defenders that I know and have led [have] been killed so it has some significance for me and everybody that went through this ruck march."

• Date Taken: 09.11.2011
• Date Posted: 09.13.2011 07:07
• Story ID: 76930
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)