Airman runs in AF Marathon to honor brother, others Published Sept. 9, 2010 By Maj. Jose A. Cardenas 445 Airlift Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Senior Airman Natalie Hopkins, 445th Airlift Wing Command Post, is training for the Air Force half marathon in honor of her brother Sept. 18. Sgt. Jon Stiles joined the Marine Corps after high school in 1990 and served for 16 years. He returned to duty in 2008 in the Army National Guard because he wanted to fight for what he believed in all his life - freedom. "He was lost as a civilian ... he was meant to be a Soldier," his sister said. Sergeant Stiles joined the Colorado National Guard as a member of the honor guard. He desperately wanted to deploy. When he learned that the Louisiana National Guard was being deployed to Afghanistan, he transferred to the Louisiana unit. While serving in Afghanistan in October 2008, Sergeant Stiles was involved in a blast in Afghanistan in which he rescued two fellow Soldiers from a burning Humvee. He sustained permanent damage from smoke inhalation but refused to go to Germany for treatment. Instead, he opted to stay in Afghanistan and recover there. He wanted so badly to be back "outside the wire" and was thrilled when he received the 'go ahead' just a few weeks later, said Airman Hopkins. On Nov. 13, just two weeks after returning to duty, Airman Hopkins was visited by two Army chaplains who notified her that her brother had been killed earlier that morning. Coping with her loss, Airman Hopkins became aware of a program called the Wounded Warriors Project. The purpose of this organization is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women. The organization also helps severely injured service members assist each other as well as provides unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members. "I have personally seen what wounded Soldiers have to go through, and I am honored to support those who have been injured in any way," Airman Hopkins said. "The program is there, you hope you never have to use it, but you never know if you, a friend or a family member will need it." Airman Hopkins said the program has helped her cope with losing her brother. "Jon was my big brother and my inspiration to join the Air Force Reserve," she said. "Life changed when my brother died. "I realized that there is so much more out there, and instead of sitting around and thinking about it, I needed to get up and do something. I want to help the people who did come back - those who were given a second chance, something my brother gave me." When Airman Hopkins runs in the Air Force Marathon, she will be honoring her brother and supporting the Wounded Warriors Project. More information about the Wounded Warriors Project is available online at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.