Story and photos by Senior Airman Felicia Juenke
Date: 09.27.2009

Father and son deployed to Bagram Airfield

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Missing family members is a common feeling many Airmen have while deployed, but for two Airmen, serving with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, that feeling is a little less prominent. This father and son duo from a family of Airmen deployed to war together.

Lt. Col. Bartley O’Toole, 774th EAS director of operations and his son, Senior Airman Bartley O’Toole, an aircrew flight equipment journeyman, are both deployed here for several months from the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard.

A third O’Toole, cadet Brogan O’Toole, is serving his country as a senior at the Air Force Academy.
Back home as the 192nd Airlift Squadron commander, Col. O’Toole felt it was his duty to volunteer for the deployment with his squadron.

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Lt. Col. Barltey O’Toole (left) and his son, Senior Airman Bartley O’Toole (right), both from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, hold the University of Nevada flag while deployed together at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 24, 2009. Col. O’Toole graduated from the University of Nevada and Airman O’Toole is currently a student there. Col. O’Toole is the director of operations and Airman O’Toole is an aircrew flight equipment journeyman. “It’s different, I know he’s an Airman, but every time I talk to my wife she asks about him,” said Col. O’Toole. “So there’s that parental feeling there too.”

“To watch the squadron deploy without me prior to becoming squadron commander was tough,” said Col. O’Toole “Now that I am the squadron commander I could never father the thought of the squadron deploying without me.”

Airman O’Toole also volunteered to deploy, “The squadron asked for volunteers, so I took the opportunity,” he said.

Col. O’Toole has had nine previous deployments in 25 years, but for Airman O’Toole, this is his first deployment.

The two could have been separated and sent at different times, but it was the luck of the draw that they were deployed on the same rotation to the same destination. They enjoy being deployed together, and in some ways it’s the same old routine — the family at home worries about those far away.

“It’s just like being at home station, except my dad always tells me to call my mom,” Airman O’Toole said.

“I understand he’s an Airman [and an adult], but every time I talk to my wife she asks about him, so there’s a parental feeling there too,” said Col. O’Toole.

“I am glad my father is there to look after my older brother on his first deployment,” said Cadet O’Toole.

Not only did Airman O’Toole make his father proud by joining the Air Force, but he is also attending the same university his father graduated from. Col. O’Toole graduated from the University of Nevada with an Agricultural Science degree in 1987. When he’s not fulfilling his duty with the Air Force, Airman O’Toole also attends the University of Nevada, Reno.

Airman O’Toole is only 30 credits short of finishing his degree in Criminal Justice which should take about a year.

Upon graduation, Airman O’Toole will work towards becoming an officer in the Air National Guard and hopes to be a pilot or maybe a navigator just like his dad.

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Cadet O’Toole also has aspirations of becoming a flyer, seemingly a family tradition. He is slated to enter pilot training after graduation from the Air Force Academy.

Lt. Col. Barltey O’Toole (left) and his son, Senior Airman Bartley O’Toole (right), both from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, hold the Nevada State flag while deployed together at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 24, 2009. Col. O’Toole is the director of operations and Airman O’Toole is an aircrew flight equipment journeyman. “It feels the same as being at home station,” said Airman O’Toole. “We keep a professional attitude while at work and leave home at home.”

“I am very proud of my family and the fact that all three of us are in the military,” said Cadet O’Toole. “I do worry about my father and brother quite a bit when they are deployed, but I am still very proud of both of them.”
Associated Images