COVID-19 Heroes: Vietnam Veteran ‘Does It All’ For Team Barksdale

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Wade Robinson Hero Award Presentation

Barksdale AFB Express Associate Wade Robinson, Jr., center, receives the Hero Award from Col. Mark Dmytryszyn, right, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, and Ellen Henderson, left, AAFES general manager assistant, Dec. 1, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Philip Bryant)

Wade Robinson Jr., a laborer at the Barksdale AFB Express, said he has been “on top of the world” since receiving an Exchange Hero Award during a Dec. 1 ceremony.

The award honors associates who have gone above and beyond to protect the force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It felt really good to be recognized,” Robinson said. During the ceremony, “I was speechless. All I could do was say, `Thank you.’”

Since the pandemic began, Express Store Manager Andera Godwin said, Robinson has “stepped up to make sure that everything is clean and sanitized for shoppers. Anything we ask him to do, he jumps on the task. Whether it’s cleaning spills, moving items or building displays, Wade does it all.”

Robinson, who served as an Army corporal during the Vietnam War, credits his strong work ethic to lessons learned from his mother, great aunt and uncle. He said he and his sister were raised “to always put forward the effort and do our best.”

A self-described “military brat” (his father served in both the Army and Air Force), Robinson recalls shopping at the Exchange when growing up, but did not expect to work at an Exchange store before joining the Barksdale Express team more than five years ago.

“What I like most about my job is the fact that we work together,” Robinson said. “We work hand in hand and side by side.”

Although it has been a challenging year because of the pandemic, Robinson said he is “thankful to have a job and to be able to come to work every day. It’s a blessing.”

Wade Robinson Hero Award

Wade Robinson, Jr., center, receives the Hero Award from Col. Mark Dmytryszyn, right, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, and Ellen Henderson, left, AAFES general manager assistant, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Dec. 1, 2020. Robinson was recognized as a do-it-all staff member who has been instrumental to the Barksdale AFB Express at maintaining operations during COVID-19 and to a safe working and shopping environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Philip Bryant)

 

6 Comments

  1. K. McDuffie on January 12, 2021 at 10:28 pm

    Congratulations, Mr. Robinson and THANK YOU for your service!!

    • Lisa Ferguson on January 13, 2021 at 7:26 am

      Thank you for you comment. Glad you enjoyed the story.

  2. Marla S. Randolph on January 13, 2021 at 3:50 am

    These are the stories that make you smile while reading. Thank you for your service – past and present, Wade Robinson, Jr.

    • Lisa Ferguson on January 13, 2021 at 7:25 am

      Thank you, Marla.

  3. Mary Campbell on January 17, 2021 at 4:31 am

    We here at Fort Sill Military Clothing want to say Congratulations and thank you for all your service and your family’s service

    • Loyd Brumfield on January 19, 2021 at 8:09 am

      Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, Mary!

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