Scarred by war, Air Force sergeant returns to the skies

Scarred by war, Air Force sergeant returns to the skies

(AP) — A dozen years after he was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro was on the verge of completing a final, unbelievable stage of his comeback.

After enlisting in the Air Force in 1997, he signed up for one of the service's hardest jobs — calling in airstrikes from the ground, The Gazette reported (https://goo.gl/dHfiKk ).

There's something different about airmen who spend so much time with the Army and special forces teams, Del Toro said.

Before getting a chance to leap from a plane Feb. 18, Del Toro had to go through parachute training a second time, relearning alongside cadets at the Air Force Academy, one of two Defense Department jump schools.

The parachute program at the academy has long been held up as among the things that makes the school special.

Along the way, the students also learn how to overcome their fear — a useful skill for future military officers.

"Some of these guys will face real challenges in their careers," explained Tech.

With enemy troops trying repeatedly to reclaim the place, and just two .50 caliber machine guns on Humvees, the team held their ground with no sleep and repeated airstrikes, called down by Del Toro.

Parts of academy parachute training are designed to shake students up.

On Saturday, The master sergeant wore a tan replica of an American flag on the shoulder of his green flight suit.

Del Toro fought through two years of physical therapy and still was considered "100 percent" disabled — a status that leads to a pension rather than a promotion.

Lt. Col. Sean Baerman, who commands the 98th Flying Training Squadron which includes the jump school, said cadets need people like Del Toro to teach them what's expected of those who serve.

Carmen and Little DT watched as he prepared to board a plane for a 4,500-foot climb above the school's airfield.

Despite everything he's done and every obstacle he's toppled, the master sergeant still knows fear.