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No place like home for the holidays: 188th Security Forces Airmen return from Middle East in time for Thanksgiving

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing executive officer
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing family has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday. Thirteen Airmen with the 188th Security Forces Squadron returned Nov. 27 from a six-month deployment to the Middle East just in time to spend Thanksgiving with their families.

The Airmen, who left last May, arrived at Fort Smith Regional Airport at approximately 11:15 p.m. and were promptly treated to a to hero's welcome home. Along with a host of family, friends and wing leadership, Maj. Gen. William Wofford, Arkansas National Guard adjutant general, and Brig. Gen. Dwight Balch, Arkansas Air National Guard commander, were on hand to welcome back the returning Airmen. Approximately 200 people ventured out on the night before Thanksgiving to show their support and welcome the Airmen home.

"We're certainly glad to have our defenders home safe in time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their families," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "Deployments can be challenging for families, especially during the holidays. We're very proud of our security forces Airmen and very appreciative of the sacrifices they and their families have made to protect our country."

While deployed, the Airmen were attached to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, supporting installation and aircraft security. They were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of an Air Expeditionary Force rotation. Multiple Airmen from this group were also forward deployed to other locations in Southwest Asia as part of their mission.

"It's an honor to serve alongside such professional and dedicated Airmen," said Lt. Col. Troy Howerton, 188th Security Forces Squadron commander. "They take pride in the mission and always make their wing and community proud. We're definitely glad they will get to celebrate the holidays with their families. They've earned it."

Staff Sgt. Quincy Cherry, a force protection specialist with the 188th Security Forces Squadron, said he wasn't certain this moment would be possible. Severe weather in Baltimore and a flight delay in Atlanta pushed their flight back nearly two hours. Cherry also said his group was originally informed it would not return until Dec. 1.

"About a week out, we were told they thought they could get us home before Thanksgiving," Cherry said. "That was a pretty good feeling knowing we would get home to celebrate and spend time with our families. When we walked in the [Fort Smith] airport, we were pretty surprised at the turnout. It was much more than we expected and we appreciate all the support."

No place like home for the holidays: 188th Security Forces Airmen return from Middle East in time for Thanksgiving

  • Published
  • By Maj. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing executive officer
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing family has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday. Thirteen Airmen with the 188th Security Forces Squadron returned Nov. 27 from a six-month deployment to the Middle East just in time to spend Thanksgiving with their families.

The Airmen, who left last May, arrived at Fort Smith Regional Airport at approximately 11:15 p.m. and were promptly treated to a to hero's welcome home. Along with a host of family, friends and wing leadership, Maj. Gen. William Wofford, Arkansas National Guard adjutant general, and Brig. Gen. Dwight Balch, Arkansas Air National Guard commander, were on hand to welcome back the returning Airmen. Approximately 200 people ventured out on the night before Thanksgiving to show their support and welcome the Airmen home.

"We're certainly glad to have our defenders home safe in time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their families," said Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "Deployments can be challenging for families, especially during the holidays. We're very proud of our security forces Airmen and very appreciative of the sacrifices they and their families have made to protect our country."

While deployed, the Airmen were attached to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, supporting installation and aircraft security. They were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of an Air Expeditionary Force rotation. Multiple Airmen from this group were also forward deployed to other locations in Southwest Asia as part of their mission.

"It's an honor to serve alongside such professional and dedicated Airmen," said Lt. Col. Troy Howerton, 188th Security Forces Squadron commander. "They take pride in the mission and always make their wing and community proud. We're definitely glad they will get to celebrate the holidays with their families. They've earned it."

Staff Sgt. Quincy Cherry, a force protection specialist with the 188th Security Forces Squadron, said he wasn't certain this moment would be possible. Severe weather in Baltimore and a flight delay in Atlanta pushed their flight back nearly two hours. Cherry also said his group was originally informed it would not return until Dec. 1.

"About a week out, we were told they thought they could get us home before Thanksgiving," Cherry said. "That was a pretty good feeling knowing we would get home to celebrate and spend time with our families. When we walked in the [Fort Smith] airport, we were pretty surprised at the turnout. It was much more than we expected and we appreciate all the support."