For Sgt. Krantz, being around Marines dates to childhood
Sgt. Bryan Krantz Jr. comes from a Marine family, so it wasn't a surprise to those who knew him six years ago that he decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps about a month after graduating early from Kofa High School.
“I was always around Marines. It made an impression with me, the way they all chose to serve their country,” said Krantz, a Yuma native. “I joined the military to serve my country and to be a part of a brotherhood.”
Krantz said his father was an explosive ordnance technician in the Marine Corps before being medically retired after a bomb blew up in his hand. His stepfather was in the Marine aviation ordnance.
But that is not all. Krantz's brother-in-law is in the Navy, stationed at Balboa Medical Center as a surgical technician. His father-in-law is also still in the Marines and stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma as well. He is an ordnance officer for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-13.
“I saw the tight family that the Marine Corps had to offer and how close everyone was at the different functions that we went to, so I always wanted to be a part of that kind of group,” Krantz said. “I love the lifestyle.”
Krantz is deployed to Camp Leatherneck with MCAS Yuma's Marine Wing Support Squadron-371, known as the Sandsharks, which is providing aviation ground support for coalition aircraft operating in southwestern Afghanistan.
An aircraft rescue firefighter, Krantz specializes in putting out aircraft fires, standing ready to fight flames whether on the flightline, a nearby structure or at a forward operating base. They also have emergency medical technician training.
He is also a member of the casualty transfer team, taking injured or sick patients off helicopters and placing them in the care of the medic in the back of the ambulance so they can be transported to the camp hospital.
“It's calmed down a lot,” Krantz said.
And when he isn't responding to emergencies, Krantz is kept busy with various training classes.
He said the most interesting part of the deployment has been working with Royal Air Force firefighters on a daily basis, getting to see how they operate and respond to various emergencies.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know them and to know about their lives in the U.K. and more about the Royal Air Force. It is probably the best time I have ever had in the Marine Corps.”
Although his work keeps him busy, Krantz, who has been married for almost six years and has a daughter, said he constantly misses his family. He added that exchanging emails and talking to them via Skype lets them know he is doing well and is a way for him to stay involved in their day-to-day lives.
“I miss spending time with family, having them by my side, seeing their faces and talking to them.”
This is Krantz's second deployment, having been deployed to Iraq in 2007.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.
