News

Reserve loadmaster and spouse welcome another precious gift

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Grant Saylor
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The life of a Reservist can often involve a busy schedule. For Senior Master Sgt. Lance "Gus" Gustafson, it just got a whole lot busier. The 313th Airlift Squadron loadmaster superintendent is the proud papa of a nine-month-old daughter, Abi, that he and his wife, Denice, recently adopted from Taiwan.

This is the second time Sergeant Gustafson and his wife have adopted. The first was in 2006 when they adopted their now four-year-old daughter, Ana, from Kazakhstan, with the help of an adoption agency out of Portland, Ore.

"After our first experience, my wife and I both knew we wanted to adopt again," said Sergeant Gustafson, an avid hunter and outdoorsman. "I just didn't know it was going to be this soon."

A native of Harstine Island, Wash., Sergeant Gustafson (affectionately known as "Gus") was temporarily deployed in support of Operation Deep Freeze in the winter of 2008 when his wife called. She explained their adoption agency was preparing to open a pilot program in Taiwan. The agency had called the Gustafson family to ask if they would be willing to adopt again.

With the support and blessing of his squadron, Gus and Denice traveled to Taiwan to meet Abi and her birth mother, who didn't feel she could raise her daughter, given their desperate situation.

Mrs. Gustafson recalled the moment after they met, when Abi's biological mother broke into tears, paralyzed with fear at the thought that her little girl would grow to hate her for letting her go.

"We assured her, through many tears of our own, that we would never allow that to happen," said Mrs. Gustafson. "We said we would always tell Abi that her birth mom loved her so much."

The Gustafsons also promised Abi's mother they would send pictures and updates to her about every three months. When she is old enough, they hope to take Abi back to Taiwan to meet her mother.

Sergeant Gustafson's colleagues are quick to recognize the renewed focus he has since embracing adoption.

"You can tell the change in priorities," said Chief Master Sgt. James Masura, 446th Operations Group.

The loadmaster chief of standards and evaluations has known and worked with Sergeant Gustafson since 1986.   He has witnessed firsthand the sacrifice Sergeant Gustafson makes for his country and his family.

"Everyone needs a focal point," said Chief Masura. "Gus chooses to focus his life around his kids."

According to Sergeant  Gustafson, all the money, time and sacrifice has been well worth the reward. While he recognizes that adoption isn't for everyone, he and his wife feel it's something they were called to do.

"Kids are kids, no matter what country they're from," said Sergeant Gustafson. "If you just give them a chance in life, that's all they need."

Gus and Denice, who have three biological children, are now working to raise money for the Taiwan orphanage that, despite modest resources, took such good care of their new daughter before the adoption.

The veteran loadmaster has seldom transported more precious cargo to the U.S.

"I realize this is the greatest thing I've done with my life," he said.