RAF Mildenhall Airmen share experiences of loss, sadness at Storytellers event

U.S. Air Force Col. John Howard, 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, shares his personal story at the “Storytellers” event Nov. 18, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Howard told the audience how his friend U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, Lt. Col. Frank Bryant, was shot by an Afghan officer in April 2011, along with several other members of their team, while they were deployed together. The vice commander said after that experience, he now ensures he lives life to the fullest and enjoys it in every way he can. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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RAF Mildenhall Airmen share experiences of loss, sadness at Storytellers event

A copy of the Air Force Times newspaper forms part of a slideshow which shows the story of how a pilot and other military members were gunned down by an Afghan military member in April 2011, in Afghanistan, during a “Storytellers” event Nov. 18, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Storytellers was created to encourage Airmen to share their experiences and help others; it also serves as an avenue for Airmen to share their paths of resilience with others. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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RAF Mildenhall Airmen share experiences of loss, sadness at Storytellers event

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Christiansen, 100th Security Forces Squadron flight chief, shares his personal story at the “Storytellers” event Nov. 18, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Christiansen is a Wounded Warrior and was injured during a series of explosions while deployed, one of which threw him backwards and caused injury to his spine. As he shared his experiences, the flight chief described how hard it is accepting the fact he’s a Wounded Warrior and dealing with the struggles that go along with it, such as being a father and playing with his children. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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RAF Mildenhall Airmen share experiences of loss, sadness at Storytellers event

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Travis Laws, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron operations compliance superintendent, shares his personal struggle of post-traumatic stress disorder at a “Storytellers” event Nov. 18, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Laws was part of a convoy in a deployed location, which left him with PTSD. Laws shared his story of dealing with his PTSD and how he overcame it, with the help of his wife. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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RAF Mildenhall Airmen share experiences of loss, sadness at Storytellers event

Team Mildenhall members listen to personal accounts of emotional stories from three Airmen at the “Storytellers” event Nov. 18, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. The three Airmen shared their stories of how they overcame struggles with loss, injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Storytellers was created to encourage Airmen to share their experiences and serves as an avenue to share their paths of resilience with others. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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RAF Mildenhall Airmen share experiences of loss, sadness at Storytellers event

Published Nov. 22, 2016
By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- U.S. Air Force Col. John Howard, 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, shares his personal story at the “Storytellers” event Nov. 18, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Howard told the audience how his friend U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, Lt. Col. Frank Bryant, was shot by an Afghan officer in April 2011, along with several other members of their team, while they were deployed together. The vice commander said after that experience, he now ensures he lives life to the fullest and enjoys it in every way he can. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)