CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
More than 125 Airmen from the 14th Airlift Squadron returned home Sept. 3 after completing more than a 120-day deployment to Southwest Asia as part of Operation's Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The 14 AS Pelicans deployed as the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to a forward deployed location in Southwest Asia from May 2008.
While deployed, the Pelicans flew more than three thousand missions equivocating to almost four thousand hours of flying time. They transported more than 108 million pounds of cargo and airlifted more than 70,000 passengers within the central command.
They executed approximately 30 distinguished visitor moves, including the Secretary of Homeland Security, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq, the deputy Secretary of Defense and the King of Jordan who was the first Arab head of state to visit Iraq.
The Pelicans completed more than 30 Persons Under Control missions where they transported more than 13,000 prisoners to detainment facilities throughout the central command.
The 14 AS also completed 25 successful airdrop missions over 41 drop zones totaling more than one million pounds of ammunition, food and water U.S. and Coalition troops in need of supplies.
Additionally, Pelican crews transported more than 1,000 thousand Georgians and more than 130 thousand pounds of cargo to Tbilisi at the beginning of the Georgian/Russian conflict.
In support of coalition forces the 14 AS transported almost two million pounds of medical supplies to medical facilities within the central command. Additionally, they completed approximately than 20 aero medical evacuations missions of more than 120 critical and injured patients to medical facilities for sometimes life saving treatment.
Capt. Steven Brown, a pilot from the 14 AS said it's awesome to be able to use all the training he's received to fly combat mission missions, especially since this is his first deployment.
"At the end of the day I really had a sense of accomplishment knowing our C-17s were bringing essential supplies to the front lines and helping the troops on the ground," said Captain Brown. "It was tough to be away from loved ones for four months, but the sense of pride I had after delivering food, water or ammo to the war or evacuating injured soldiers made it easier."
Airman 1st Class Thomas Benson, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, said that this deployment could not have been any better for him and that he looks forward to working with the 14 AS again in the future.
"The 14th Airlift Squadron has so much experience and personality that it would have been impossible to have walked away without a better understanding of the operational world and the people in it," said Airman Benson, "Looking back on this experience one will easily see that exceptional leadership, excellent people, and extra ordinary skill, were the key elements leading to the successes of this squadron."
Lt. Col. Norman Czubaj , 816 EAS and 14 AS commander said this past deployment has been a truly humbling experience for him for he was able to lead amazingly talented group of airman as they execute the mission ... every mission, every time.
"It has been a blessing to lead the 14 AS and our operations support section folks as the commander of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron." "None of it would be possible without the loving support of our families back home ... the silent heroes and warriors."
"We also send our special thanks to all of Team Charleston for the support in preparing for our deployment, and for the excellent support we received as we reintegrate to life back home," he said.
After returning home, the 14 AS will allow time off for their returning crews to be with their families. They will begin to re-establish their normal work routines and start their training cycles in preparation for their next deployment.