Escape from Alcatraz: Airman honors dad

Published June 26, 2015
By Senior Airman Charles Rivezzo
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Andrew Mujica, 60th Maintenance Group NCO in-charge product improvement, took to the chilly waters off Alcatraz Island early Sunday morning and swam a mile and a half to the Crissy Field shoreline with one thing on his mind - his father.

Donned from head to toe in a full-body wet suit and hoodie, the 38-year-old battled currents, winds, waves, chop and frigid waters during the iconic Alcatraz Challenge triathlon.

Arriving to Travis Air Force Base in 2000, Mujica immediately became "addicted" to the triathlon circuit in California; routinely competing in one to two events a month during the season.

But for the first time in his competitive career, the Georgia native was racing for much more than a set time or medal, he was racing to raise funds for his father, Noberto Mujica, who was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis disease, better known as MG, in 2008.

MG is a chronic neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the muscles of the body. For his father, the disorder affects everything from chewing and talking to simple facial expressions and walking.

"It's a tough disease to see," Mujica said. "Witnessing how this has affected him over the years, I just wanted to do something more to help."

Approximately a week prior to the event, the maintenance master sergeant took to the Internet to search out alternative ways to raise funds for MG research and share his story. In just a week's span he raised nearly $600; surpassing his initial goal.
"It just so happened that this race was on Father's Day and I thought this would be a great opportunity to honor him," he said.

For 56 minutes and 53 seconds, he honored his father in the cloud-covered waters of the San Francisco Bay, enduring what he called "the most difficult swim I have ever done."

"It's a little bit intimidating because you have nothing to support you out there," he said. "At one point, you are three-quarters of a mile away from any shoreline. It's just you and the water, and there is definitely no bottom of the pool to be looking at."

While ordinarily accustomed to the physical exhaustion associated with open water swims, the whitecap waves crashing down on Mujica made it difficult to breathe and get in a rhythm. On that day, Father's Day, he relied on something more than experience and training. He relied on the strength of his father.

"Whenever I would get tired and needed that extra motivation, I'd think about him," he said. "He gave me the strength to push a little harder."

Mujica did not compete in the run portion of the Alcatraz Challenge stating that he wanted to simply complete the swim one more time before his impending permanent change of station.

"I started to kick myself when I saw the runners on the drive home," he said with a laugh. "But I just wanted to do the swim one last time.

"I'll probably never be swimming from Alcatraz Island again, so I just wanted to take my time, soak it all in and enjoy the view of the Golden Gate (Bridge) from the middle of the bay."

After arriving on the shoreline of Crissy Field, all that was left was a simple text and phone call to his father.

"He was proud," Mujica said. "I just wanted to raise awareness about MG anyway I could; to inspire others to try and do the same. This was my way of honoring my father on Father's Day."