"Now I'm not going to say that we first sergeants were looking to change the world with our event, but we did aim to bring the McChord family closer together," said Master Sgt. William Baker, first sergeant for the 627th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Baker, who is part of the McChord Field First Sergeant Council, is referring to the group's first random act of kindness event, which took place April 27 at the gas station by the AAFES shoppette on base. The kindness came in the form of $25 gas gift cards, which they distributed over the course of a two-hour period that day, to 40 E-1 through E-4s who'd shown up to fill their tanks.

The $1,000 funding came from the Operation Warmheart (OMH) fund, which falls under the council. Baker, who also serves as the OMH president, had been looking to be proactive with the funds and give back to the community since the OMH funds can be used to execute morale and welfare programs that benefit the needs of McChord Field and associated unit personnel. The OMH fund receives donations to support McChord Airmen through the McChord Officers' Spouses' Club, the Pierce Military Business Alliance, donations made at the base chapel and through the Combined Federal Campaign.

"This was our first time out with this and it definitely provided temporary morale boosts," he said. "We didn't fill up anyone's tank, but we certainly helped to alleviate the burden."

Though the event was not advertised beforehand, after the first few Airmen found out, word spread fairly quickly. Predictably, every one who received a gas card was not only surprised, but also extremely grateful. Baker and the other first sergeants manning the event were greeted with yells of "Hey, you made my day" and "I feel richer now!" from the smiling Airmen.

"There will be more random acts of kindness in the future (the council plans to do them quarterly), but keep in mind that only the first sergeants will know when and where the next one will be," Baker teased. "We have some ideas, but nothing has been finalized ... yet!"