A hero's welcome for Rescue Warriors deployed to Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  As an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft touched down here in the dark October 3 at 8:15 p.m., the roar of its engines roused a crowd nearby as they waited for the return of its cargo.

A burst of cheer surpassed the jet noise as the combat craft landed carrying two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and 20 Airmen returning from a four-month deployment to Afghanistan. Family, friends and leadership from the 920th Rescue Wing convened at the Patrick passenger terminal in wait to welcome them home.

The warriors we're welcoming home tonight have been deployed since May. This is our first group of three four-month rotations." Said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing Commander.

They served as helicopter crewmembers, maintenance and support personnel as part of the 920th's yearlong deployment to save lives by using their skills and equipment to perform medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations - picking up the injured from combat zones to get them to treatment facilities.

"They've flown nearly 1,000 sorties in these four months and rescued over 500 people, which is more sorties than we would typically fly at home in year. " said the Colonel.

A 'save' refers to a situation where, without immediate intervention, a person would lose their life, limb or eyesight (LLE). They also logged an equal number of assists where somebody was wounded or needed routine transport.

An eagerly awaiting crowd stood ready to give them a hero's welcome with balloons, banners and American flags waving them in.

"Every time they land it's an answered prayer because they're over there fighting for us. I want to see them all come back safely," said Senior Master Sgt. Carla Chatman, superintendent of aviation resource management, 301st Rescue Squadron.

"I was over there. I know what it's like to go through it. I know what it's like to get back home. I can imagine how excited they feel now that they've landed," said Chatman.

For some of the Airmen it's their first deployment, while many others have deployed multiple times. This is the fourth time for Master Sgt. Greg Inlow, 920th communications technician. During his time away, his wife Shannon managed to continue working full time and take care of their three kids who are 3, 6 and 10. "I was super busy," she said, "but having a great babysitter helped."

Keeping busy is one way family members dealt with the separation from their loved ones in the combat zone, although the diligent efforts of 920th Family Readiness Team provided a source of comfort by keeping them informed.

It was stressful, but her unit has done a wonderful job staying in touch with us and giving us updates and telling us how she was doing and today telling us that she was coming home," said Ms. Bernie Vega, mother of Tech. Sgt. Sara Lomonaco, 920th Operations Group. "I'm really happy right now. So happy I could cry. I'm more than proud. She's done more in her short life than I've done in my whole life."

It was a happy occasion to welcome those who risked their lives to save the lives of others. Master Sgt. Larry Jarrell, avionics technician, 920th Maintenance Squadron, along with his young daughter Megan, were there to greet his fellow maintenance Airman. "I'm glad they are back, glad they are all safe. It will be nice to have them back at work," he said.

"While deployed, they did a lot of flying, they were all really busy, but it's a great mission and we're all really proud of what they've been doing over there," said the wing commander.

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