Small town Airman makes big time impact

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tony R. Ritter
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group
ALI BASE, Iraq --  Heroes and champions daily walk, work, and live among us, often unfamed and unsung. One such champion rose from a small town in the heart of Minnesota, proving himself a leader from his high school years to the enlisted ranks of the U.S. Air Force and is still today, nearly 30 years later, forging a valorous path as a public servant, leader, and mentor.

Jeff Malherek was born in 1965 to parents Tim & Shirley of Riverton, Minnesota, a small community of the Crosby-Ironton area.

"Riverton has a population of approximately 60 residents, it's one of the many smaller towns that encompass the 'Twin Cities' of Crosby-Ironton, Minnesota." said Malherek, "Residents in the area proudly call themselves 'C-I Rangers' because of the area's rich history of Iron Ore mining."

Although he describes himself as an 'average' student in high school, he accelerated in sports, becoming a three year letter winner in both baseball and football, as well as being the team captain for both teams and being recognized as a district running back in his senior year. On and off the field, Jeff's leadership abilities were apparent as he was elected to a class officer as a senior and later the Homecoming King. The roles he filled in his school years and the influences that guided him later became a catalyst to his continued success.

One of my biggest influences while in school was the auto shop teacher, Mr. Paul Lendobeja. He was a real visionary, always encouraging his students to set goals, take chances, and never limit themselves to their environment" recalled Jeff.

So, for Malherek the limits were off, and in 1983, shortly after graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was whisked off to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for his basic military training.

"Like most young adults I was eager to leave and find my own way through life after high school." he said "I knew I needed some type of formal training to be successful in life and the Air Force offered the widest variety of technical training at the best price; Free!"

Malherek, now Airman Malherek, went on to do his technical training as an electrical power production specialist and then received his first duty assignment to Aviano Air Base, in Northern Italy. While stationed in Italy, Airman Malherek, began the of firsts of many 'world-wide tours' as he answered the call of duty, deploying to England, Germany, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria and these just in his first two years. Also, while at Aviano he was promoted to Senior Airman 'below the zone', an honor achieved by only two percent of the Air Force's enlisted corp.

He was next assigned to Warner Robins, Georgia but continued to deploy as a power pro specialist, being sent to set up the electrical capabilities of temporary air bases in places like Florida, California, Nevada, and even South America.

The opportunity to take on a very unique assignment presented itself in 1990 and he volunteered for it. Now a sergeant and non-commissioned officer, he would spend the next year on a very remote site off the Alaskan Aleutian island chain of Shemya. He had the vast responsibility and challenge of providing power to the early warning radar and the some 500 military and civilians that lived on the remote island, battling the most frigid of winters.

"I remember wondering why there were ropes between the buildings there, until the first winter storm hit and made the reason very clear." recalled Sergeant Malherek " Without these ropes it would have been impossible to travel outside in those blizzards. Northern Minnesota seemed like a tropical paradise compared to those harsh winters in the Bering Strait Sea."

He would go on to be assigned to Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Northwest Florida where he met and married his wife, Ms. Pearl Marti Martinez in 1992. He continued to be sent to overseas, adding countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Honduras, and Cuba to his growing list of deployments. After another promotion, he and he his wife were sent to live 'Down Under' as they packed their belongings and boarded a 26 hour flight to a remote village in southern Australia called Woomera. Sergeant Malherek would later deem this is favorite overseas assignment.

"There would be mornings we would wake up to five or six kangaroos eating the grass in our lawn, not many people get that opportunity." remarked Sergeant Malherek about his time in Australia.

He was back stateside, serving in New Mexico as a Master Sergeant when the attacks of September 11, 2001 took place. Within days of the attack he led 27 Airmen into Oman, a country southwest of Afghanistan, where the U.S. military was staging the first offensives against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"I remember my team and I were flown out of our base in the middle of the night without a clear picture of what we were getting involved with, we were all in the same 'boat' and relied on each other to get in and get the job done." said Sergeant Malherek.

After moving to Japan he would see additional combat, he was deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his first deployment to Iraq in 2004 this installation he was working on experienced two rocket attacks by local insurgents. Again, in 2007, while on a vehicle convoy in Iraq, the convoy encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) attack. "No one was injured during the IED attack thanks to the combat skills training we had all received prior to our deployment," said Sergeant Malherek.

These days you'll find Senior Master Sergeant Malherek on his third deployment to Iraq, serving at Ali Base in the south. He is a senior enlisted leader for the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron here.

"RED HORSE is a U.S. Air Force squadron that conducts heavy engineering operations, building airfields, buildings and nearly anything an engineer can draft," said Sergeant Malherek.

His current home station is Aviano Air Base, Italy, where he will return when his deployment is up. His character and selfless service has been an asset to the Air Force and especially those whom have had the privilege of working with him.

"Sergeant Malherek is the real deal. He's an Airman's senior NCO. He epitomizes service before self--having volunteered and deployed to the area of responsibility multiple times in the last few years alone. I routinely rely on his sage advice and counsel. Sergeant. Malherek is an essential facet of our unit's leadership team at Aviano, as well as deployed locations." said Lt Col. Bo Bloomer, commander, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy.

Today, after 26 years in the military, 13 tours in the middle east, five Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals, 14 Air Force Achievement Medals, and countless other awards, recognitions and nominations, Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Malherek is still serving, leading and mentoring with excellence. This C-I Ranger from Northern Minnesota took his small town character and leadership skills, took some chances, rose to every challenge, and became a champion of duty and service.

After such a robust and colorful career you might think he would be ready to settle down and enjoy retirement. However, this Sergeant suggests that day is not as close as one might expect.

"Each time I reenlisted I promised myself that when the day came that I was no longer excited to put on my uniform and perform my duties, that's when I would separate or retire; 26 years later, that day hasn't come."