445th AW Airmen return from deployment in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Maj. Cynthia Harris
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  After travelling for more than 52 hours, 13 members of the 445th Airlift Wing Security Forces Squadron arrived at the Dayton International Airport. The Airmen returned Jan. 17, after serving a 197-day deployment in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Family, friends and co-workers applauded and cheered as the Airmen made their way through the airport escorted by members of the Ohio Patriot Guard Riders. While deployed the Airmen performed various security forces functions to include base security, vehicle searches, gate security, patrol, and tower duties.

"I'm glad to be home," said Staff Sgt. Jude Snell.

Snell described his time in Iraq as interesting. Even though he was in Iraq with 12 other people from his unit, he didn't see them except at the dining hall. The Airmen worked in different locations on the base and didn't see each other during duty hours.

For Senior Airman Dawn Gettys, the only female who deployed with the group, this was her first deployment. She says she had a good experience there.

"This deployment taught me that all of us make a difference somehow and I'm just doing my part. " While in Iraq, her duties entailed tower guard (keeping watch over the city), patrolling, and securing the gates to include opening the gates for convoys.

Another security forces member who worked every sector of the base, echoed the great experience he had. "It was a good experience. This was a great crew. Most of them received awards for their service in Iraq," said Master Sgt. Greg Myers.

Shortly after the security forces team departed the airport for home, Senior Master Sgt David Ellis, 445th Logistics Readiness Squadron, arrived and received a similar welcome.

Sergeant Ellis served nearly 5 months at Ali Air Base in southern Iraq. Ellis was originally tasked to oversee refueling operations, but experienced a lot more than he expected. While there, he trained the Iraqi army on convoys and served as an exercise evaluation team chief. He even found time to serve as president of the base's Top 3.

A memorable part of his deployment occurred when he bumped into an old friend. "The coolest thing was when I went over to the operations office to gripe about something."
To his surprise the person in charge was a lieutenant commander he knew when they both served in the Navy as E-1s. "That was 20 years ago and now he's a lieutenant commander in the Navy flying P-3s," the sergeant said.

When describing his experience in Iraq, Sergeant Ellis concluded, "The whole thing capped everything I trained for."