Serving then, serving now: From protecting our nation’s freedom to protecting North Carolina’s forestland
World War II hero and longtime American icon, James “Jimmy” Doolittle, who gained legendary status and personal valor for his long-range retaliatory air raid -- commonly referred to as “Doolittle’s Raid” -- on Japan four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, ultimately earning him the Medal of Honor, has long been attributed with the well-known phrase, “there’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” Whether Doolittle actually used those words or if that’s just a great line inserted by Hollywood into the 2001 film Pearl Harbor remains a topic of debate. While serving in the U.S. Armed Forces garners a regular paycheck like any other career path, it’s the calling to service and the willingness to sacrifice where the spirit of volunteering can be found in those who choose to enlist and take up arms.
“I enlisted before 9/11 when enrollment wasn’t as popular,” said Dave Hoffer, N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) Bertie County ranger. “I wanted to serve my country first while gaining valuable life experience and improving myself through education to establish a career after my military career.”
Hoffer gave 20 years of active duty to the U.S. Air Force where he served as a C-130 loadmaster. Hoffer’s responsibilities as a loadmaster included proper balance and weight distribution assessments of cargo and passengers throughout the aircraft, where he was part of a crew that conducted various high altitude, heavy equipment, paratrooper, container delivery and low altitude bundle drops. Pre- and post-flight inspections of aircraft and aircraft systems was a regular as well.
During a career spanning two decades, Hoffer was deployed 13 times for nearly six years to countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan among many others, several of which were places where he made repeat stops.
“During military service, you’re quick to develop a sense of camaraderie and bond with your fellow service members,” said Hoffer. “This is something I’ve experienced during my time with the N.C. Forest Service as well, especially while on wildfire dispatch.”
|
When ordered as a resource in response to a large wildfire on state- and privately-owned land, NCFS personnel are dispatched physically and mentally prepared to be away from home for as many as three weeks. This means personnel may find themselves sleeping in a hotel, tent or even the back of their vehicles if necessary.
Many members of the NCFS who possess dispatch qualifications also have the opportunity to incident qualify in a field different from their regular jobs. While Hoffer did not operate drones during his tenure with the Air Force, his aviation background and 5,500 flight hours equipped him with the insight and understanding to be an effective drone operator for the division. He also noted that the high paced, high stress environment during wildfire response is another element consistent with his experience serving in the Air Force. As a county ranger with the NCFS, Hoffer manages multiple employees and equipment resources.
“Serving is something that is engrained in me,” he added. “Fulfillment and a sense of purpose for me comes from helping someone else. Whether it was during my military career, various mission roles over the years with church, or now with the N.C. Forest Service.”
|
Wildfire response doesn’t always mean being on the other side of the state for an extended period of time. In North Carolina, wildfires are a daily occurrence for personnel who serve in initial attack positions. Initial attack, often referred to as “IA,” are the resources who are on the ground first. County rangers, equipment operators and smokechasers from the local units make up the backbone of the NCFS. These units are found in every county across the state to ensure that forest protection and forest management needs are met on a daily basis.
“Being a member of the military as well as the N.C. Forest Service is something that I’m grateful to be a part of,” said Richmond County ranger Brandon Van Buren. “Both are dedicated to service.”
Van Buren served in the 82nd Airborne Division with the U.S. Army for eight years.
“After 9/11 it was time to gear up. I always wanted to be a soldier and I always will be,” he added.
|
Serving as an Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems Specialist (AFATADS), Van Buren provided ground forces with artillery support where he spent a combined 36 months deployed to Iraq (Baghdad) and Afghanistan. He recalled one particular mission where the objective was to repel the enemy by sending artillery fire down range.
“It was about -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and the snow was heavily packed. The fire mission was scheduled for 0200. When my section was notified about the mission, we quickly grabbed our gear and ran to the designated area. It wasn’t a short run and by the time I arrived, my boogers were frozen. Something that I thought was pretty funny!”
NCFS personnel and other wildland firefighters deal with ever-changing weather conditions throughout the year, sometimes daily. From the frost and freezing temperatures during the winter, heavy heat and thick humidity in the summer, sea breeze ricocheting off the Atlantic Ocean, steep and rocky terrain in Western North Carolina and deep pocosin soil found in the Sandhills. Embrace the suck. A mindset many service members and field personnel -- whether military or wildland firefighters -- accept. This is what we do and it’s not always pretty. Whatever it takes for as long as it takes.
“I have no regrets. All the discomfort, confusion, fear and triumph served a purpose. Am I fulfilled? Money was never the object of my intent. I do what I do because I am and want to be of service. To be part of an effort that is dedicated to helping people in some positive way, I find fulfillment in that and I’m happy to continue doing so,” Van Buren stated. “I can say it was certainly worth it.”
|
While the NCFS is the state’s lead agency tasked with responding to wildfires on state- and privately-owned land, personnel are also trained and equipped to support all-hazard emergency response. Most recently, the NCFS had an integral role to fill in the state’s effort to restore critical infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Chainsaw task forces were deployed to help remove storm debris and clear roads for accessibility. Geographic information system specialists (GISS) were dispatched to provide timely and accurate spatial information about the impacted areas to assist incident management personnel. Other critical needs such as building temporary bridges for residents to able to access their homes and providing them with non-potable water were among some of the other essential functions provided by NCFS personnel.
For Cory Wilmoth, NCFS District 2 equipment operator, Hurricane Helene recovery efforts came from multiple perspectives, not only as a member of the NCFS but also as a member of the Army National Guard.
“While on dispatch with the N.C. Forest Service, I was assigned to a skidder to get roads cleared from downed trees and mudslides following Helene’s destruction,” explained Wilmoth.
“I was deployed again, this time separate from the N.C. Forest Service, with the National Guard where I was responsible for establishing soldier units who were designated to carry out specific tasks depending on the need. We also prepped equipment resources for deployment on a moment’s notice.”
Wilmoth comes from a long line of military pedigree. His father was a marine, his grandfather served in WWII before joining the National Guard full-time where he helped establish the Elkin Armory, and his great-uncle was killed in action during the Pacific Theater in the Philippines.
As a forest fire equipment operator (FFEO), Wilmoth installs fire lines for many of the 4,500 wildfires that burn on North Carolina soil each year while operating a tractor-plow unit. He’s also responsible for transporting said bulldozer while operating a hauling unit as well as the loading, unloading, cleaning and maintaining of each piece of equipment. Fire lines are also established on private lands for woodland owners who authorize the NCFS to apply prescribed fire on their forested tracts.
“Not only am I a heavy equipment operator for the N.C. Forest Service, it’s also what I’ve done for the National Guard for several years,” Wilmoth added. “I’ve operated bulldozers, track hoes, motor graders, scrapers, compactors and several other construction equipment models.”
Like Hoffer and Van Buren, Wilmoth has also spent his fair share of time deployed overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“In Iraq, I was involved in a lot of convoys, grading work, and establishing concrete barriers for hospitals, police stations and checkpoints,” said Wilmoth. “While in Afghanistan, we built a base to facilitate equipment shipments through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.”
|
November is a time where our nation recognizes the many sacrifices made by the men and women serving in our armed forces. Many of whom will spend the upcoming holidays away from home, family and other loved ones as they fulfill their commitment to this great country. As a small token of appreciation, the NCFS offered a 20% discount on tree seedling orders through the end of November for all active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel. Many North Carolina woodland owners are veterans or current military members who work tirelessly toward keeping our state’s forests healthy and thriving. A goal shared by Dave, Brandon, Cory and the rest of the NCFS as they continue to serve the communities that they live, work and play in.
To all veterans and active military service members, thank you.
“The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.”
– DeAnn Hollis
|
