News

Robins civilian gets taste of deployed life

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78 ABW/PA
Richard Newton spent 20 years in the Air Force but it wasn't until recently, as a civilian at Robins, he was afforded the opportunity to serve in a war zone.

Newton, 62, jumped at the chance to do a one-year tour in Afghanistan, with a compelling reason to go. His son, Richard, is serving in the country as a civilian in the Army Corps of Engineers. Newton, who works as an electronics mechanic in the 566th Electronics Maintenance Squadron, also happens to have a background in construction.

His son told him a civilian position was available as a construction quality control inspector and Newton saw it as an opportunity to see what it was like to serve in a combat area while being with his son.

"I just sat down and thought about it, and I wanted to be over there with him to watch out for him," he said.

He went over in April and recently came back for a three-week break. He visited his coworkers in the 566th, where he works on the Pave Penny targeting system in the Avionics and Instrument Flight.

Flight director Ronnie Massengale said Newton is a key member of the Pave Penny team, but he had no qualms with letting him go for a year, considering the situation.

"It's totally understandable that he would want to watch out for his son," Massengale said. "It's a rare opportunity."

Rusty Hodge, Newton's supervisor in the Pave Penny area, said Newton is a mentor to younger members of the team and worked hard before his departure to make sure others were trained to fill his duties.

"He's the best," Hodge said. "He's a workaholic, and he's always in a good mood, except for when Georgia Tech loses."

Newton said he is aware of other father-son pairs in Afghanistan, but they all work in separate areas. Although he and his son don't work together during the day, they are together when they are off duty. He admits at times he has had second thoughts about his decision, but plans to stick it out.

"I told my son I will be there as long as he is," Newton said.

He has armed Afghan guards who go with him wherever he goes and are "like family." He said he has to wear a 35-pound protective vest and helmet, which he said took some getting used to in the sweltering heat.

Seeing the squalid living conditions of the Afghan people has given him a new appreciation for what most people here take for granted.

"They are so primitive over there," he said. "Anybody who does not appreciate America should be put on a plane and sent over there."