A 25-member team from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is in the vicinity of Normandy, France, searching for three missing airmen whose C-47A aircraft was presumably shot down by German antiaircraft fire on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Leading the team is Air Force Capt. Brian Foxworth, a logistics readiness officer.
Without proper logistical planning, none of this work is possible, he said, pointing out structures for workers and equipment, excavation pits, as well as wet and dry screening stations where dirt is screened for possible human remains, uniform items and personal keepsakes that the airmen may have had.
Equipment, such as water pumps, plumbing materials, wood for building structures, buckets, generators and so on had to be sourced from U.S. military installations or locally, he said.
Also, a local front-end loader operator was hired to systematically dig the excavation units and remove sludge from the wet screening retention ponds, he added.
Foxworth said he volunteered for this assignment to put his years of logistics expertise into a worthy cause — bringing home those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The captain has also been on two previous missions like this, one in Vietnam and the other in the Solomon Islands.
"This is a noble mission. The United States is fulfilling its promise to make sure none of us are left behind," he said.
An important aspect of being a team leader is being flexible with the plan, he said. For instance, when work started, there was freezing rain. Last week, cold rain and strong wind put work on hold.
Foxworth said he consults with his forensic archaeologist and noncommissioned officer in charge to determine when work should cease or resume, as safe working conditions are vital for the site and the team.
In 2006, Foxworth enlisted in the Air Force as an air transportation specialist, serving 13 years and picking up master sergeant. Then in 2019, he got his commission.
Having served for so long, Foxworth has been able to observe those he thinks were good leaders — and then he's tried to emulate them.
A good leader doesn't just give orders; he or she also encourages feedback from everyone, even from those in the lowest rank, to attain mission success and to inspire, Foxworth said.
For this mission, input from the team was important in setting up the infrastructure and the screening stations, he said, noting that there are a lot of creative and motivated team members — all of them.
Also, caring for the team is important to being a good leader, and that's mostly done by his noncommissioned officer in charge, Army Sgt. 1st Class Germainne Autrey, he said.
Foxworth, who is from Brenham, Texas, is married to Shelley, who is an Air Force senior master sergeant. They have five daughters, ages 16, 15, 12, 4 and 1.
They're currently in Hawaii, which is a 12-hour time difference, so Foxworth is mindful of that when he communicates with them; he does his best to find the time to share.
Although he loves being on this mission, Foxworth said he's also looking forward to being with his family again, but such is the life in the service.