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Rise from the ashes: Barksdale Airman recovers from house fire

  • Published
  • By By Senior Airman Curt Beach
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Most people will never have to watch helplessly as roaring flames and black smoke reduce their home and possessions to a heap of ashes.

 

When tragedy struck the family of Senior Airman Kitana Grable, 2nd Security Force Squadron installation access controller, her mother and three siblings were left without a place to call home.

 

Kitana had gone home to visit her family in Macon, Georgia, for the Independence Day weekend.  While there, she and her sister had gone to visit their grandmother when they received a panicked phone call from their mother, saying their building was on fire.

 

The Grable girls rushed back to their home to see raging flames.

 

“As we drove closer we saw the smoke and the massive fire,” Kitana recalled.

 

Praying for the best, but expecting the worst, the girls sprinted from their car to their residence, unsure of what they might find.

 

Kitana described the feeling of time standing still as she frantically charged the scene, praying for her family’s well-being.

 

“I finally found my mom and brothers, and luckily they were all unharmed. I gave each of them a big hug and thanked God everyone was safe,” she said.

 

After the fire, the family had nowhere to go.

 

A generous Barksdale defender and coworker of Kitana’s offered up her home to the family for nearly two months. Amazingly, the generous host was seven months pregnant, yet was graciously concerned with taking care of her defender family in addition to her blood family. 

 

Kitana, who had been living in the base dorms at the time, was granted an exception to policy to relocate to larger base housing where her family could join her.

However, the family had lost everything and was still in dire need of some help. The 2nd SFS Airmen rallied to support.

Master Sgt. Allen Foster, 2nd SFS first sergeant, who pushed for Kitana’s early release from the dorms, then contacted the Air Force Security Forces Foundation and applied for a $1,500 grant, which was later awarded.

 

A second Defender started a website fundraiser to accept donations to help the family get back on their feet.

 

In addition to approving the grant, the Security Forces Foundation invited the Grable family to the 2016 Air Force Security Forces Association Annual Banquet in Bossier City Sept. 24.  At the banquet, the guest speaker, retired Col. Jerry Bullock initiated an effort to "pass the beret."  In doing so, more than $1,000 was raised and presented to the Grable family that evening.

 

“What has most amazed me about the whole situation is that, nearly four months later, the support keeps coming,” said Maj. Ryan Natalini, 2nd SFS commander. “We take care of our fellow Airmen, and Defenders will not let fellow Defenders go through challenges alone. Being a Wingman is not a catch phrase, it’s a part of who we are.”

 

The Grable family are now back on their feet and say they’re incredibly grateful and appreciative of the support they have received from the 2nd SFS, the Defender family, the base and the local community. 

 

Since moving into base housing, Kitana’s mother has found a job in the local area and her three siblings have stated they love the local schools they’re now attending.

 

Grable has a strong faith, believing everything happens for a reason and that God will provide for her family.

 

“Sometimes he’s going to test you and knock you down before he picks you up,” she said.