Airman returns lost property

Airman 1st Class Rafe Holmes looks on as Master Sgt. Jerry Colbaugh, 513th Maintenance Squadron, looks through the shoe box full of items that Holmes and Senior Airman Justin Simmons found while searching through the devastation in Moore, Okla. An EF-5 tornado struck the greater Oklahoma City area on May 20th, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Wanzer)

Airmen return lost property

Airman 1st Class Rafe Holmes, Master Sgt. Jerry Colbaugh and Senior Airman Justin Simmons pose after Holmes and Simmons returned items they found in the wreckage of Colbaugh’s Moore home. An EF-5 tornado destroyed Colbaugh’s house along with countless others on May 20th, also killing 24 people and causing an estimated $1.5-2B in damage. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Wanzer)

Airmen reunite tornado victim with property

Airman 1st Class Rafe Holmes, 72nd Security Forces Squadron, explains how he found the property of Master Sgt. Jerry Colbaugh while volunteering after the May 20 tornado struck Moore, Okla. Colbaugh’s home was destroyed in the storm that killed 24 people, including 10 children. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Wanzer)

Reserve tornado victim reunited with belongings

Published June 3, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Caleb Wanzer
513th Air Control Group public affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Due to the kindness of a fellow Airman and volunteer, a 513th Air Control Group maintenance Airman was reunited with lost uniforms, personal items and checks almost two weeks after an EF-5 tornado destroyed his house in Moore, Okla. on May 20.

Master Sgt. Jerry Colbaugh, 513th Maintenance Squadron, never thought he would see many of his belongings again.

Airman 1st Class Rafe Holmes, 72nd Security Forces Squadron, contacted the 513th Air Control Group public affairs office through social media and explained that he had found a 513th Airman's items while he was volunteering with the cleanup effort in Moore.

"A fellow security forces member and I recovered dog tags, a blues jacket, a photograph, two lockets and a box of checks belonging to [Colbaugh]," Holmes wrote. "I know that his home was completely leveled, but if you have a way to contact or locate him I would appreciate it so I can return these items to him."

The public affairs office coordinated a meeting place for Holmes to present Colbaugh with his lost items. After a couple handshakes at Tinker AFB, Colbaugh held a shoe box and uniform jackets that he thought were lost in the rubble.

"It was pretty surprising to get some of my belongings back," Colbaugh said. "I just want to say thanks to the Airmen who found my stuff, and to encourage them to keep their integrity as strong as it is now."

Holmes and Senior Airman Justin Simmons volunteered to assist with the recovery efforts in Moore on May 24. They joined more than 600 Airmen and civilians from three Oklahoma Air Force bases who volunteered on their own time.

"We were both eager to help out," Holmes said. "We went [to Moore] at 8 a.m. and were there all day."

After spending most of the day helping residents search through the rubble, Holmes and Simmons found an Air Force dress uniform jacket in the wreckage of a house.

"I saw the blues jacket, so we realized that it was another service member's home," Holmes said. "From there we found dog tags, pictures of his family and other stuff including personal checks."

The Airmen continued searching the house until the curfew forced them to head back to base.

More than two weeks after his home was destroyed, life is still challenging for Colbaugh.
"It's getting back to semi-normal," he said.

Three 513th ACG Airmen's homes were completely destroyed by the tornado on May 20, and an additional three Airmen's houses were partially damaged. According to base officials, the total Tinker Air Force Base personnel impacted ranging from a total loss of a home to severe damage is 372 with an additional 134 homes damaged but habitable.