5 minute read
Stuck in South Korea
Moral Compass
Chief Warrant Officer Shawn Fyfe Keeps Positive Outlook Despite Challenging Two Years
By Jesse S. Lyons (Delta Alpha–Western Carolina ’98)
Shawn Fyfe (Gamma Chi–Texas Tech ’06) is a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the United States Army. He flies multiple fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft as a Standardization Instructor Pilot, an Instrument Flight Examiner, and a Maintenance Test Pilot. He’s a husband and a father. He’s a former Number V and Province Undergraduate Chairman.
And due to COVID-19, he is stuck in South Korea. The story doesn’t begin there, however.
This year has been a full of challenges and the impacts from COVID-19 and he could not have planned for the issues they have manifested into. “In March 2019, I had a permanent change of station from the U.S. to Korea, for what was planned to be a 12-month unaccompanied tour. Even before I left for that assignment my family and I had spent quite a bit of time apart.” Fyfe had recently completed a 4-month rotation in Afghanistan in October 2018, and then came home for nine days before departing on a two-month training period. He then returned with his family for a two-week period during Christmas. He hopped right back on duty and spent another month training, before preparing for the Korea move.
“Despite the time apart, my wife and I were optimistic and had planned for her and the baby to come and visit frequently during my time in Korea. That all changed 2 weeks after my arrival to Korea when I received the hardest phone call of my life,” Fyfe recounted.
Separated by fourteen hours and more than 6,000 miles, Fyfe’s wife Holland told him over the phone that she had just been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The next few months were incredibly di cult for their family, as Holland had several doctors’ appointments and many issues to deal with, none of which Fyfe was able to assist. In the summer of 2019, she had a thyroidectomy and was able to be declared cancer free. Fyfe was relieved for a bit, and, “I was fortunate enough to be granted 2 weeks of emergency leave to take care of her and our infant son.”
Later in 2019, his wife was nally able to come visit Korea, and again, in early 2020. As you can guess, their visit ended abruptly as COVID-19 began spreading through Korea. When they left in February, neither thought much of it as his assignment had less than a month left had less than a month left before ending. Their thoughts had turned to their altogether new station.
Ten days prior to his nal day in Korea, the U.S. Army halted all permanent change of station travel. A few days after that the Department of Defense issued a stop move order, which suspends all travel throughout the entire Department of Defense. Fyfe explained further that, “in Korea almost all ancillary activities were suspended and most everything closed, and all of my usual outlets for passing time on deployments, such as working out at a gym, were gone.”
Fortunately, Fyfe is mission essential, so he has been able to work six days a week with a reset day here and there. When asked what thoughts come to mind while monitoring the events and actions unfolding in the U.S. this spring, he says, he, “can’t help but be envious of those stationed in the states who are on minimal manning and are spending everyday at home with their families.”
As he wraps up the fourteenth month of this assignment he is no closer to an answer of when he might leave for the U.S. In his words, “I have a big question mark and a timeline that keeps sliding right.” June will mark two years since he last lived with his wife and his now two and half year old son. [Editor's Note: As of press time, Fyfe had nally been reunited with his family in Germany.]
“I’m sure hoping that we get something gured out soon", he says, and hopes continue that the Department of Defense lifts the stop move order. What is he ready for, beyond his family to be back together? Fyfe remains positive and lighthearted, and shares, “I could de nitely go for some Chik-Fil-A.” CW2 Shawn Fyfe reengaged with KA in two ways during his “extra” stay in South Korea—he joined Forever KA online, and took the time to answer some additional questionas for The Journal.
Q & A
What is your favorite KA memory?
Every year as graduation approached, after one of our last chapter meetings for the year, each of the seniors would refl ect back on all their great memories in college. It was an opportunity for the juniors to get to hear some of the outlandish stories or fun times that the older guys had during their time as a KA. Getting to tell those stories with my graduating class and look back on all the great times we had since being pledges was my favorite memory because it encompassed the entire time I had as an undergraduate.
Why do you believe KA membership is for life?
As a pledge we were often told brotherhood was for life and that from that day forward our brothers would be a part of all of the signifi cant moments in our life. I certainly believe that. My brothers have always been there for me, whether it be standing next to me on my wedding day, encouraging me the day my son was born, or even checking in on me and my family during a deployment.
What caused you to join Forever KA?
It’s important for the future of our organization to ensure that many of the great works of the Order continue to be funded. There were many before me who were a part of endowments and gifts to KA which funded some of the outstanding opportunities I had as an undergraduate and I would like to see our future KA brothers have those same opportunities.
What is one thing you’d tell every graduating alumnus about KA?
Hold the ideals and values that you have followed by being that defi nition of a gentlemen well beyond your time as an undergraduate. The path will always be clear if you stick that for the rest of your life.
