An Extraordinary Journey of Service - Senator Ted Gaines Honors Tommy Frazier

The great Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” 

Sometimes life can shock us, disturb us, even immobilize us with it's cruelty, brutality and the uncontrollable force of nature. We are not always in control of what comes our way. Unfortunately, living in a world of sin means the human experience can have peaks of joy, happiness, and contentment, and valleys of tribulation, pain and struggle. But through perseverance, trust in God, and the support of one another, the human spirit can survive almost anything and find hope to thrive.

Whether we are the one helping to hold someone up or coming to their aid in times of hardship and devastation, or we are the one in need of help, showing kindness and compassion to one another is never a wrong decision. No matter what the outcome. 

Even if all you had was a crumpled up dollar in your pocket to give the homeless person on the street, you gave something. It isn't what you give or how much you sacrifice that God sees and blesses you for. It's the heart in which you give it. And no amount of good works will make you holy or worthy. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." I believe God had to remind of us of this because he knew our natural pride and self-righteousness would get in our own way and hinder our growth. We would start to repel the very people he called us to help and to love. 

Mother Teresa had a way of sharing God's heart with us. She also lived it. She said, "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."

Though we should not to help others for the recognition or the praise, sometimes recognition comes when people do extraordinary things and others want to acknowledge it. Moments like that should be a reminder to us all why we were placed on this Earth and how we are all connected. Those moments of recognition are a lesson to those still on the sidelines, unsure how to help, or uninterested in loosing the comfort of their own couch.  

I want to share with you a little bit about a man I know who has received recognition several times for giving tirelessly, selflessly and increasingly for many years. He was willing to give up his comfort and be inconvenienced for the sake of others. I hope you find this story inspirational. But remember, you don't have to have the skills Tommy has to make a difference. Just a crumpled dollar can mean the world to someone in need...

December 18, 2018, FTB’s Tommy Frazier received a Certificate of Appreciation from Senator Ted Gaines for setting up Field Hospitals during three crisis deployments; the Carr Fire, Camp Fire and Hurricane Michael. Since 2012 Tommy has served as a Logistics Management Specialist for medical first responders sent into the heart of disaster zones in California, across the country and in various territories of the United States.

As a Logistics Management Specialist, Tommy is one of the first on the ground after a natural disaster strikes. He surveys the area and any standing structures to ensure the safety of the first responders. In a time of crisis, setting up a Field Hospital is critical, not only for the sake of the community, but for the emergency response teams who will going bravely into dangerous situations to provide medical aid during their search and rescue efforts. “I’m kind of like Radar on that old T.V. show, M*A*S*H!” Tommy says with a chuckle.

Tommy’s ability to walk in, stay calm, and do whatever needs to be done has given him the reputation of a trusted ally and vital addition to the medical first responders. Not only is he responsible for making sure the Field Hospitals are structurally sound, set up safely, supplies, electricity, safe drinking water, food, heat and ventilation, but he also coordinates and organizes all the logistics, daily activities and needs of the emergency response teams serving the people in the community. Without someone like Tommy taking the reins, emergency medical response efforts would be unsafe, disorganized and ineffective.

“I’m the first one up in the morning and the last one to go to bed at night. I’m the last one to eat after the team eats. I’ll give them the cots and take the floor. I don’t care. Whatever I need to do, I’m going to do it,” Tommy explains. “In Puerto Rico, I worked 20 hour days for nearly 30 days. Someone there asked me, ‘How are you still smiling?’ I answered them, I helped save lives today. How can I not smile?” To Tommy, it is a calling and he has the greatest time fulfilling that calling and serving others.

When Tommy receives the phone call for deployment, he drops everything. He keeps a “go bag” packed at all times, even when hurricane season has passed or fire season isn’t yet at its peak. He never knows when he will be needed but answers the call without hesitation and without delay. Tommy refuses to take all the credit for his heroic actions and openly states that, “Without the support of my family and my managers at FTB, I would not be able to do this job. My life and my work duties don’t just stop when I get deployed. Someone else has to take care of what I do when I’m gone. Without them, I simply couldn’t do this.” 

It’s people like Tommy who exemplify caring for a community and service to others. As a civil servant for State of California in his everyday career, his employer encourages its employees to embrace service and find a way to give back. When Tommy is asked what it’s like to serve as a Logistical Management Specialist for Medical First Responders, his smile widens and his eyes twinkle as he says, “It’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Not because it is easy, but because of the reason I’m doing this work. It’s a well-defined reason – To save lives! If you are complaining, you need to evaluate your reasons for doing it.”

Tommy Frazier has been deployed to several disasters since 2012 and played an essential role as a Logistics Management Specialist. In addition to the certificate of recognition presented to Tommy on December 18, 2018 by Senator Gaines, Tommy has also received other awards, certificates of recognition, and a commemorative coin.

Within the State of California are many more employees just as inspiring as Tommy who use their knowledge and experience to help those in need. You don’t have to have specialized training and education to serve. You just need to have a desire, willingness to make the time, and ability to put others first. And you don't even have to work for the State of California to do it! To quote Tommy one last time, “Find the nitch that fulfills you. I know not everyone is an engineer, but there is a place for everyone. Find it.”

Tommy Frazier receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Senator Ted Gaines on December 18, 2018.

 

2018 Camp Fire - Field Hospital at the Airport.

2018 Camp Fire – Inside the Field Hospital at the Airport.

2017 Hurricane Marie – San Juan, Puerto Rico – Tommy preparing and loading supplies.

2017 Hurricane Marie – San Juan, Puerto Rico Convention Center.

2017 Hurricane Marie – Caguas, Puerto Rico Field Hospital.

2017 Hurricane Marie – Caguas, Puerto Rico – Tommy using Wet Vac to clear water from a flooded Field Hospital.

2017 Hurricane Marie – Caguas, Puerto Rico with the Surgeon General.

 

2017 Hurricane Marie – Caguas, Puerto Rico – Loading Helicopter for Infrastructure Assessment.

2017 Hurricane Marie – Caguas, Puerto Rico – Headed to the Helicopter.

 

2017 Hurricane Marie – Caguas, Puerto Rico – Just returned from the other side of the Island.

 

Tommy’s “Go Bag” and sleeping bag are always ready and waiting the next call to action.