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#RAFA Operation Gas Station

  • Published
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
Members from Cannon Air Force Base, the Clovis High School football team and CHS cheerleaders volunteered to pump gas for people throughout Clovis, New Mexico, March 31, 2018.

The gesture continued “Random Acts For Andy,” a movement with the goal of paying it forward in remembrance of Maj. Andrew Becker, also known as Andy. The volunteers not only pumped gas for people but also handed out bracelets in hopes to bring more awareness to the movement.

In March of 2017, a U-28A aircraft assigned to the 318th Special Operations Squadron, crashed in eastern New Mexico killing three Air Commandos, including Andy. Andy’s wife insisted instead of giving flowers people give back.

“Being around Andy made you happy,” said Master Sgt. Trae Clark, the 33rd Special Operations Squadron aviation resource management superintendent. “When you’re around him you realize things in life may not be that bad.”

Andy was known to go out of his way to be friendly and would also do small deeds for people such as paying for the food of the person in line behind him. His wife decided to continue this when he passed.

“I worked and deployed with Andy so I wanted to get out and volunteer for him,” said Maj. Nick Wabeke, a 318th Special Operations Squadron pilot. “Andy had a profound impact on me so when I heard about the opportunity to volunteer for him I was on board.”

Clark plans to continue Random Acts For Andy in the coming years by keeping the gestures spontaneous throughout the community.

“It doesn’t have to be big or planned,” Clark said. “Any small gesture can go a long way.”

Clark continues to give back when he can hoping others pay it forward and keep a smile on their face.

“Knowing the type of person he was and the impact he had on our squadron, we wanted to make sure people never forget him,” Clark said. “We do it to keep his memory alive.”