Ops-Talk

Memorial services for John Randall Shuck, 45, of Destin, Fla., were held in Niceville, Fla. He died April 17, 2008.
He served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years, with tours at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich., Camp New Amsterdam, Soesterberg, Holland, and Eglin AFB, with a remote tour at Camp Red Cloud, Korea and a short tour at Istris, France. We thank God for his blessings, protection and the great times we had.
He was in the 96th Transportation Squadron, Vehicle Operations Branch, Fleet Management, and has also served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Honor Guard at Eglin AFB, a position he took great pride in. He was with the 796th CES Vehicle Management Branch at Eglin AFB.

At the end of a life cut short by terminal cancer, Master Sergeant (Retired) John Randall Shuck never brought anyone down.

"He always had a smile on his face a heart of gold," friend Kelly Green Pfirrman says of the fearless Destin man. "The energy he had was so positive." Shuck's battle with cancer ended last week.

To help Shuck's family reclaim their lives, the Boathouse Oyster Bar of Destin is hosting a benefit Sunday, April 27 from 1-5 p.m.

All are invited to enjoy a family friendly crawfish boil. There will be live music, face painting, balloon animals and Italian Ice Cream. Crawfish will be donated by the Boathouse and draft beer will be donated by Gulf Goldring Distributing.

The event will feature a raffle and silent auction that includes a condo weekend through ResortQuest, a painting by local artist Don Sawyer, restaurant gift certificates, water craft rentals, fishing trips, a year of pool service and much more. Bids for the auction will be accepted starting Thursday, April 24 at 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Sunday April 27.

All of the proceeds will go to the Shuck family to help offset hospital costs and other expenses. Shuck left a great impression on everyone who knew him.

"He was very outgoing and friendly," remembers Technical Sergeant Nicholas Berry, a former co-worker. After 21 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Shuck had an incredible outlook on life.

He did not want his friends and family to waste time grieving him, but on things in life that really matter.

Pfirrman describes one of the last conversations she had with Shuck while he was still in the hospital.

"He said 'don't shed tears for me' and that when I am sad, to 'get $600 out of the bank and take your son fishing'."

He then told her "do something fun in remembrance of me."