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Rose Shirmer and her children Nicole (12), Rachel (7) and Lorelei (3) welcome home Master. Sgt. Rodney Shirmer, 40th Airlift Squadron load master, June 20. Sergeant Shirmer arrived back home after being deployed for more than four months supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Felicia Juenke)

redeployment

Little Alex Beck welcomes back Tech. Sgt. Brian Beck, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron June 20. Sergeant Beck, along with more than 200 deployed troops, were in Southwest Asia for more than four months supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Felicia Juenke)

40AS returns after unique deployment

Published June 27, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- More than 200 Airmen who were deployed from the 40th Airlift Squadron and 317th Airlift Group returned June 20 after a four-month rotation to Southwest Asia.

The Airmen have been performing operations in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. One of their jobs was to drop leaflets over enemy positions in Afghanistan warning of impending attacks to allow civilians and noncombatants time to evacuate the area.

These crews also supported operations in the Horn of Africa where they helped re-supply Marine Corps units stationed in the most remote areas of Africa.

Lietuenant Col. Michael Zick, 40th AS commander, said some Airmen were on their sixth or seventh deployment, but no matter how much deployment experience Airmen have, it never gets any easier to say goodbye to their families.

"We have some super Airmen and great professionals out there," he said. "I've never heard anyone say they don't want to go. When the time comes, everyone's hand goes up and says they're ready to go back and support the servicemembers on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa."

Look for a full article next week.