Airman answers calling
In October 2002, Airman 1st Class Jesse Burkhard was one of many Air Force firefighters who responded to a commercial airliner crash on Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. Burkhard was the lowest ranking of three Airmen assigned to the only rescue truck on the base. Their role was to find and save people, and if necessary pull them from the danger zone, treat them, and put them in the hands of the emergency medical team. With help from Burkhard and other firefighters, those who boarded the aircraft that morning survived the accident, and the flames were extinguished. (U.S. Air Force graphic/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)