TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Airman Far From Tampa

ADVERTISEMENT

By JACK BRADEN Army & Air Force Hometown News Service

Published: October 31, 2007

KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - On a remote stretch of land 100 miles from the border that separates democratic South Korea from the communist North, and surrounded by the Yellow Sea and rice paddies, the daughter of a Town 'N Country couple is helping keep a fragile peace.

Senior Airman Christina J. Rutherford, daughter of Jack and Karen Rutherford of Woodbridge Boulevard in Town 'N Country, is an air traffic controller with the 8th Operations Support Squadron, a part of the 'Wolf Pack,' a fighter unit with the important mission of keeping the skies over South Korea safe. She is in the fourth month of her assignment.

'I directly support the mission by ensuring that the aircraft operations are safe and expeditious. I enjoy my job because it offers a new challenge every day,' said Rutherford, who graduated in 2000 from Leto High School in Tampa.

As part of a warrior base, the men and women of Kunsan have a mission of protecting South Korea from aggression, if necessary. When not supporting the air-to-air and close-air support-training missions of the F-16s assigned here, they spend their time staying fit and learning about their host country.

'My time here has been very memorable thus far. There are many opportunities to travel and venture out to experience the culture. It is very different from the United States, but I am enjoying all of my time here,' she said.

Working with their Korean counterparts gives Rutherford and her crew additional opportunities to learn the local culture.

'The Korean people are very humble and friendly. I am lucky enough to work side by side with two of them. We are constantly learning about each other's cultures and occasionally share a few laughs,' Rutherford said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT