MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Reservists from the 446th Force Support Squadron Services Flight have been performing various duties with dignity, honor, and respect at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center, Dover Air Force Base, Del. since September 2010. The group has been working around the clock, working in different capacities from performing dignified transfers on carry teams to working at the Fisher House for families of the fallen to managing the operation center.    

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash.- They serve so others may live. They serve together as Air Force Reserve flight nurses because they both lost loved ones in war and hope they can save families from the same pain they suffered.

They are Capt. Beverly Davidson, native of North Bend, Wash. and 2nd Lt. Noel Carroll, a Des Moines, Wash. resident, both with the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here. Captain Davidson returned to service after a 12-year absence. Lieutenant Carroll joined two years ago.

Captain Davidson's former husband, Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, an Air Force pararescueman, was killed in an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan in March 2003. Lieutenant Carroll's brother, Staff Sgt. Timothy Davis, an Air Force combat controller, was killed in combat in Afghanistan in February 2009.

"I was an ER nurse, so I already had the desire to take care of patients," said Lieutenant Carroll, an ER nurse at Highline Medical Center, Burien, Wash. in her civilian career. "When my brother died, I knew I wanted to take care of wounded Soldiers."

Captain Davidson also felt the need to take care of injured troops in honor of her former husband.

"Mike gave his life for the rescue effort," said the ER manager at Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, Snoqualmie, Wash. "I wanted to come back to the Reserve as a flight nurse when he died. Now that my sons are grown, I'm finally able to do it."

Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander, shares her admiration for these flight nurses.

"Both of these women are excellent representatives of the type of people who fly aeromedical evacuations," she said.  "It takes strength of heart and mind, dedication to the mission and self sacrifice, which these two strong women have done both professionally and personally. They both have the strength to give back and support a tremendously important mission and are examples for others to look at in times of personal adversities. They demonstrate the Air Force Core Values- especially Service Before Self. I am proud to serve with both of them."

Individuals like Sergeants Maltz and Davis are the ones who are fighting on the front lines in the Afghanistan mountains. Captain Davidson and Lieutenant Carroll are part of the team, which makes sure these troops get back to their families, so they don't have to share their pain. 

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash.- About 35 McChord Airmen, 15 of them Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing, are in Christchurch, New Zealand where a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Feb. 22.

Based in Christchurch with their C-17 Globemaster III to support Operation Deep Freeze, the Airmen are all accounted for and uninjured. Likewise, the C-17 escaped any damage, although today's mission has been delayed.

"We had people in the hotel, at the airport, downtown, at stores when the earthquake hit," said Chief Master Sgt. James Masura, 446th Operations Group and currently deployed to Christchurch.

"The airport has power, so we have some of our folks there powering up their computers, checking the news and just standing by," the chief said.

According to Col. Lane Seaholm, 446th AW vice commander, the Airmen from McChord are currently waiting for instruction from higher headquarters as to what they'll be doing next.

"We're ready and willing to provide any assistance requested of us by higher headquarters. We had a mission set for today to carry 40 people and nine pallets in support of Operation Deep Freeze, but that's on hold," Colonel Seaholm said by phone from Christchurch.

Colonel Seaholm said that he's never been through an earthquake this big.

"It's quite an emotional event," he said. "Most everyone here has at least touched based with their families back home to let them know we're all okay."

Operation Deep Freeze is an annual operation that supports the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation's research at sites throughout the Antarctic continent. The Joint Task Force - Support Forces Antarctica operation is led by 13th Air Force and includes strategic inter-theater airlift, tactical deep-field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.