An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Airman's partner, man's best friend

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Alexis McGee
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  A team of five 87th Security Forces Squadron members traveled to Maryland to visit a fellow SFS member June 22 who is undergoing medical treatment after sustaining injuries during his deployment in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Brian Williams suffered serious injuries after an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on a mission outside Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan April 25.

The active-duty Air Force staff sergeant was approximately mid-way through his six-month deployment when the explosion occurred. He suffered the loss of his left leg above the knee, as well as multiple shrapnel wounds.

Williams is continuing to recover at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and continues to receive support and visits from his fellow SFS teammates. Lt. Col. Jeremy Novak, 87th SFS commander was on his fifth visit to see Williams and brought a special gift for the recovering service member. Novak affixed a set of police lights to the back of Williams' wheelchair as the Military Working Dog handler greeted his canine in the courtyard at the medical center.

Master Sgt. Anthony Jones, 87th SFS police services superintendent joined Novak for the visit to check up on their squadron's recovering Airman.

Three of Williams' fellow MWD handlers also made the journey with MWD Carly in tow. MWD Handlers Master-at-Arms Sean Stull, Staff Sgt. Allison Price and Master-at-Arms 3 Rico Loza, all 87th SFS MWD handlers, brought Carly along for the visit to give him time to spend with his best friend and partner.

Editor's note: This is a follow-up article to "Injured Airman reunites with family just 4 days after IED attack" in the May 18 edition of the "Air, Land and Sea Times." Excerpts are taken from the original May 18 article.