THANKS FOR MY EVERYTHING

JAMES L. Devoss

First Lieutenant, United States Air Force
Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, Purple Heart
2017 Inductee, Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame


SPECIAL RECOGNITION

TONY WILLIS (and me): A Memorial and Special Recognition
Featuring: Lorenzo “TONY” E. Willis, Jr., USAF, TSgt Retired, Pararescueman
   Dr. David Hammer, Colonel, USAF Retired
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Going Off to Fly Jets

Dave Hammer and I first met at Grand Rapids Junior College. Dave had recently completed a tour as a Corpsman in the U.S. Navy basically serving Marine Corp warriors. He embraced that so much that he wanted to go to medical school to become a doctor to help even more folks. I just wanted to go to medical school so as to help others as doctors had helped my middle sister, Charlene. We were both in the Pre-Med program. Dave and I continued to interact as we both transferred to the University of Michigan, again both being in a Pre-Med program. Bottom line of that was Dave made it into Medical School, I did not.

Dave and I next met when I was invited to his wedding, his marriage to his beloved and beautiful Janis. As I recall, it was there that Dave asked me what I was going to do because I didn’t get accepted. As he frequently reminds me, I said, "Well, since I wanted to go to med school, graduate, then go into the Air Force to be a flying flight surgeon, I guess I will now just go off and fly jets!" Fortunately, I was able to do that!

The next time Dave and I met was after my Air Force experience and while he was in his residency at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had heard that I was talking of my experience and, given that he was in orthopedics, asked me to come up and share with him and his medical mates. I did that so he knew what had happened to me.

SOMA 2001

We kept in touch a bit through the years. Dave went on to do amazing things: Staff Surgeon, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Services, Scott AFB; Command Surgeon, USAF Academy and Commander, 10th Medical Group; Medical Corps Director and Medical Director of Medical Force Management, Office of the USAF Surgeon General; Command Surgeon, Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command--among so many other major accomplishments (you should see his "Awards and Decorations" wall). Even after his Air Force retirement, he went on to be the Chief of Clinical Programs for the Peace Corps!

I learned of his Air Force successes about the same time as my bride and I had started to winter in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, around the time Dave initiated contact and asked if I would be willing to come to Tampa to address the 2001 Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) Conference. I remember asking Dave, "What is SOMA?" When he satiated my ignorance, I replied, "You mean these are the people who are doing for our warriors today what those back in 1969 did for me--the PJs, the doctors, the nurses, the physical therapists?" When he responded, "Exactly!" I replied, "It would be my extreme privilege and personal pleasure to share my experience with THEM! I would be honored to tell the story."

Dave came back with, "No, Jim, I do not want you to tell your story. Yes, use your experience, BUT, what I NEED is for you to tell them how much what was done for you then means to you today." At the time, Dave was the Command Surgeon General for SOCOM (Special Operations Command)--he reported to General Tommy Franks, Commander of Global SOCOM and all that entailed, including conflicts in Kuwait, Iraq, soon Afghanistan, and so many other “hot spots” in the world. The wellbeing and mental fitness of all of those in SOCOM were Dave’s responsibility. At the same time, there were severe cutbacks in government support. What Dave briefly, but so very basically, explained to me was that too many were in fear of losing their jobs, were being paid at rates that enabled (required) some to government support programs like food stamps, etc. In short, many were thinking, "Why am I doing this; I could do so much better out of the military?" But, Dave knew the military needed them and maybe I could help them to understand how critical what they were doing was.

I, and so very many others, owed these individuals so very much. When my wife and I traveled to Tampa for the event I asked her to drive so I could really think about what should be said. When we arrived, Dave introduced me, and I thanked those incredibly wonderful people from as deep in the bottom of my heart as I could, then, feeling quite out of place, wanted off the stage as fast as possible. Frankly, I felt so very humbled to be in front of so many who were doing so much.

Jim DeVoss and Tony Lorenzo

But, Dave said, "Hold on there a minute, Lieutenant!" He asked, "Is there a Sergeant Lorenzo Willis in the crowd?" Tony stood up way in the back and immediately said, "Lorenzo is what my mother named me, but I prefer Tony--and I AM PRESENT, SIR!" I had seen the film of my rescue many times, and I recognized Tony immediately--even after 32 years. I literally jumped off the stage and started running up the aisle he was walking down. We met, embraced, and I clearly remember him saying, "I AM A PJ, I cannot cry!"  I responded, "Tony, I am a steely eyed fighter pilot, I will cry for both of us!!!" And I did.

Dave commanded us both back on stage. Tony shared some stories: He was in the Vietnam area three times, he was personally involved in the rescue of 10 downed air crewmen, and more. In truth, I just listened in awe--and supreme gratitude.

Even though we were seated together during the festivities and the dinner after, I had little time to talk with Tony. I did learn, however, that Tony was "PJ Legend." I heard so many congratulate him on his accomplishments. I also learned the story of his being with us that evening in 2001, even though he had retired in 1973 with over 30 years of service.

Finding Tony

At one point in his Air Force career, Colonel Hammer had been the Flight Surgeon supporting the PJ Corps. When I accepted his invitation to attend their event, he went to the "PJ Mafia," as he called them, and asked, "June 16, 1969; Northern Laos; rescue of Kingfish 1; WHO was involved?" Dave told me he received the names of both PJs involved. One, Tony, was retired; the other had gone on to Officer Training School, was currently a Lieutenant Colonel, and was unable to attend.

When Dave called Tony to see if he would be willing to attend, Tony later told him he thought, "Ya, a COLONEL calling me! Which one of my jack@&& buddies is pulling my chain THIS TIME?" Later, when he realized it was all legitimate, Tony told me he asked his wife if she wanted to go along with him. He told me her response was, "Are YOU kidding me? I have been to all too many of these events with YOU: I have seen how you have MISBEHAVED! I will most definitely NOT GO!" Yes, he did accentuate those capitalized words. And, yes, Tony did have a reputation, mostly incredibly phenomenal but, also, at times, well, colorful (as he put it to me).

I asked Tony later in the evening (at one of the rare moments he was not talking to one member or a crowd of the current, at the time, PJ Corps) what time he was leaving in the morning. He told me, "I have an 0700 pickup scheduled to go back to Patrick AFB/the Kennedy Space Center [where he and his wife had retired]." I merely told him, "Wow, that’s early, Tony. It has been such an incredible honor to meet you again and spend some time!"

That was said fully knowing my intention was to be at Tony’s room to carry his bag to whatever was transporting him back home. I knew that Dave, being at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida, had arranged personal transportation for Tony to and from his home on Florida’s east coast to Tampa and back. I did knock on Tony’s door at 6:50am, and he did allow me to carry his bags to the lobby.

"One pretzeled Son of a B!^@#"

Given there was no one there yet, we sat down and started to talk. Tony explained all about his first thoughts when contacted by Dave, what his mind went through when preparing to be in attendance, and, as he said, ESPECIALLY, what was in his mind when we met. His words were so incredibly thankful for everything that had been done for him--as opposed to how thankful he was for what he had been able to do, through and for duty, for me! Tony Lorenzo painting

He also explained that he dabbled in watercolors. Immediately after saying that, he produced a painting. He said to me in presenting it, "Lieutenant, when I realized Colonel Hammer was no phony, my mind went back and this is what I pictured." I could not see it then through his eyes, but with mine. Looking at the painting, I knew that must have been EXACTLY what he was seeing. Tony also told me, again, that he had personally been in on the rescue of 10 downed pilots. He said that noting that, "And, YOU are the only one I have ever seen again. And, know, Lieutenant, that you were the absolute last I would ever have thought I would see again. You, Sir, were one pretzeled Son of a B!^@#; so messed up that I thought there was no way you could make it." Nope, Tony was not one to mince words!!

Funny, but after about two hours of talking I again asked Tony, "What time was your pickup scheduled?" When he replied, "I thought 0700 hours.” I replied, “Well, it is now after 0900 hours and, as much as I have thoroughly enjoyed this private, personal time together, we had better figure out where your ride is--or, where YOU are supposed to be!" We found out where that was, and we had one huge embrace before he and I both went on our separate ways, getting back on with our personal lives.

An absolutely incredible, almost unbelievable experience. But, it did happen! As it turned out, also, just in time. It was obvious that Tony was under the weather even at the conference. Tony passed away from cancer just 18 months after the conference. We shared several other email messages, always reflecting upon our experience together, but we never did see one another again.

Tony, Bravest Warrior, Rest in Peace! For sure, I owe YOU My Everything!

IN MEMORY

Lorenzo "Tony" E. Willis, Jr.
USAF, TSgt (Ret)
Pararescueman

On 28 May 2003, the Special Operations Community suffered the loss of one of its earliest and most enthusiastic warriors. Lorenzo "Tony" Willis passed away after a long bout with cancer. Perhaps best known within the SOF community for his participation in the rescue of Kingfish 01 (see “Thanks for My Everything,” JSOM, Volume 2, Edition 2/Spring 02), Tony was a warrior to the end.

Originally from Vincennes, IN, he began his military career as a US Army infantryman in 1946. By 1948, though, the newly created US Air Force won him over and put him into the earliest form of what has evolved into today’s Pararescue corps. As a PJ, he served at some nineteen assignments in the US, Africa, and Asia. The variety of early aircraft on which he served in support of rescue missions reads like a journey through the Air & Space Museum: A-10 Catalina, SA-16 Albatross, C-47 Gooney Bird, C-119 Flying Boxcar, H-21 Flying Banana, HH-3 (original) Jolly Green, and T-10. As a Master Parachutist, Tony deployed on such seemingly ancient parachute systems at the E-1, T-5, T-7, and T-10. As a combatant, he served three tours of duty in Southeast Asia, participating on numerous CSAR missions.

Due to the diversified mission of Pararescue, Tony found himself in unique and historic situations and locations. As the US launched its program for conquest of space, he was a member of NASA’s earliest spacecraft recovery programs MERCURY, GEMINI, and APOLLO. In both the MERCURY and GEMINI programs, he and PJ teams were sent to the farthest reaches of the globe to cover a great range of possible splash-down locations. Although the APOLLO program reduced some of the more distant travel requirements, he still found himself at various far-flung locations throughout the world.
Tony retired from the USAF in June 1973.

this piece originally appeared in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine

© 2017 James L. DeVoss
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