Friday, January 16, 2026
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SACRIFICING FOR OUR FREEDOM

Laura Emrick 2 min read

Front row left to right: Tsgt Gregory Emrick, Ssg Robert Rzasa, Sra Aaron Krieger, Msg Travis Jacquay. Back row left to right: Msg Charles Rasler, Ssg Mike Havens, Ssg Shawn Kerzman, Ssg Christopher Ritter, and Tsgt Patrick Rasler.
Front row left to right: Tsgt Gregory Emrick, Ssg Robert Rzasa, Sra Aaron Krieger, Msg Travis Jacquay. Back row left to right: Msg Charles Rasler, Ssg Mike Havens, Ssg Shawn Kerzman, Ssg Christopher Ritter, and Tsgt Patrick Rasler.
In January members of the 122d Civil Engineering Squadron of the Fort Wayne Air National Guard unit left their homes and their families to support the war on terror.

Currently, several of these members are serving in Iraq for 120 days. Amongst them are the members are the Utilities specialists. Utilities play a vital role in mission support as the duties are focused on water and wastewater systems.

At their current location these members drive large trucks to deliver 120,000 to 140,000 gallons of water per week for general use, and deliver 28,800 bottles of water per week for drinking. In addition, they provide emergency response support for the Fire Department and Crash Rescue, all while checking, repairing, and maintaining over 30 shower and latrine facilities (over 300 showers, sinks and toilets), and three laundry facilities daily.

This team of specialists maintains 24-hour operation, provides a stand-by status to promptly respond emergency calls, as well as maintain two distribution pumps, which supply over 500,000 gallons of water per week.

Although all that is enough to keep them busy, they also take on numerous projects to improve, rebuild, or construct new base facilities.

Thank you to our community news sponsors!

The elite of the Fort Wayne Utilities are always ready to face a job that is never complete, and proud to have this opportunity in support of a greater effort. With every day, new challenges await, they are eager to face them, and trained and prepared to overcome them.

The members are also very thankful of the support from home. In most cases family members graciously endure heavier responsibility in the absence of their loved one, while many more continue to provide unprecedented appreciation and support. The members anticipate a safe return in a couple short months and will return to their lives and jobs that they left behind for four months, but will carry with them many memories and an experience that will last a lifetime.

The Waynedale News Staff
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