Wingmen remember brother, lived life with no regrets

Published May 7, 2012
By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England -- On Aug. 8, 1996, Staff Sgt. Thomas Perkins, graduated from basic training and entered the Air Force.

After 16 years of active duty service, Perkins, previously assigned to the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance shop, died of cancer on April 25, 2012, and a memorial service was held in his honor May 7 at Bldg. 675 here.

"He wasn't just a mechanic, he was a son, a brother, a community member, an Airman and a valuable team member," said Maj. Timothy Voruz, 100th LRS commander. "Today we honor him."

Upon completion of technical training school, Perkins first assignment was at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Following this assignment, he was assigned to Osan Air Base, Korea, where Perkins' flight received the first ever 100 percent error-free vehicle inspection from Pacific Air Forces inspector general.

Perkins' next assignment took him to McDill Air Force Base, Fla., where he deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and Baghdad Airport, Iraq, as a mechanic. Perkins also deployed to Iraq as an interrogator for the U.S. Army, before receiving his final assignment to Royal Air Force Mildenhall.

"When Perkins wasn't deployed, he was a servant of the community," said Voruz.

At the memorial service, Voruz shared some recollections about Perkins' character from his fellow Airmen.

"He never spoke ill of another person," said Voruz. "He would always take care of families. He was always the first to offer a ride, the first to pick someone up from the airport and he would always volunteer to stay late to help someone finish their work."

The memorial service continued with Perkins' friends and co-workers who shared their memories of him.

"The last time I got to talk to him, he was in the hospital at Lakenheath," said 1st Lt. Joshua Locke, 100th LRS. "He was getting ready to hop on a plane to get a ride to the states because he required extensive impatient treatment. I'll never forget standing there in the hospital and Perkins said the only good thing about the situation was that [Senior Airman Samuel] Parker, (Perkins' medical escort) got a free ride back to the states."

The next person to speak was Master Sgt. Daniel Ammerman, 100th LRS, who shared a story about Perkins' ride back to the states.

"The man was a talker," said Ammerman laughing. "It didn't matter where you were or who you were. A few days before the flight, [the 100th LRS] found out that a distinguished visitor was going to be on the plane."

Ammerman told the audience that Perkins fell asleep so Parker decided to nap as well. When Parker woke up, Perkins was no longer sitting next to him, the bathroom was empty and the cockpit door was closed.

"Sure enough, when Parker looked to the back of the plane, there was Perkins talking to the general," said Ammerman. "The general was General Mark Welsh, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander. He probably never mentioned why he was going to the States, but how proud he was to serve."

"He was an inspiration to me, not only in his work ethic but his selflessness too," said Senior Airman Ryan Timm, Perkins' subordinate in the 100th LRS. "He was a great man."