The Brooke Army Medical Center Burn Unit's Burn Flight Teams (BFTs) have once again demonstrated their dedication to saving lives. Two BFTs, accompanied by a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT), recently undertook a high-stakes mission to transport survivors of the Āliamanu (Salt Lake) fireworks disaster on New Year’s Eve from Hawai‘i to a specialized burn treatment center in Arizona. The joint effort was critical in providing immediate and advanced medical attention to those with severe burn injuries, ensuring continuous care while in flight to the mainland.
Intense coordination between various military and civilian teams was paramount for the operation's success, including the Hawai‘i Air National Guard and military ambulance support, these professionals worked closely to secure the seamless transition of patients from Queen’s Medical Center and Straub Benioff Medical Center to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, after which the patients were flown to Arizona on a C-17 military aircraft it's clear that such thorough teamwork played a vital role in the mission's effectiveness. According to a report from the U.S. Air Force, Brigadier General Walter R. Ross visited the medical personnel post-mission to commend them for their exceptional service, as reported by the Office of the Governor.
During his visit, Brig. Gen. Ross personally recognized the display of resilience and professionalism exhibited by the BFTs, gifting military coins with the Hawaiian word 'Ho‘omau, meaning to persevere. As Ross stated, the term embodied the spirit with which the BFT members conducted themselves throughout the critical mission. Their care and dedication indeed epitomize what it means to carry on in the face of adversity.
The commemorative coins not only feature the word Ho‘omau but also don seals from the state of Hawai‘i and the symbols of the five U.S. military branches, representing the solidarity and combined efforts of all parties involved in the mission. Brig. Gen. Ross spent about an hour in discussion with the teams, thanking them for their outstanding contribution. He noted that the recognition symbolized much more than the mission itself but also the commitment to service and the unwavering support for those in need.
