AIR BASE: 107th members leave for Middle East Friday

[Dr Funky]

AIR BASE: 107th members leave for Middle East Friday

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local...004181654.html


(Members of the New York Air National Guard 107th Air Refueling Wing board a plane at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as part of a deployment of over 100 unit members supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.)


(Master Sgt. Ronald of the Town of Tonawanda, right, hugs his sister Tina Gurbacki, of Mt. Kisco, good-bye as he prepares to deploy with his unit. Members of the New York Air National Guard 107th Air Refueling Wing boarded a plane at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as part of a deployment of over 100 unit members supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom a press release said)


(Staff Sgt. Dave of Niagara Falls visits with his granddaughter Julia, 2, and his wife Robin, before deploying with his unit. Members of the New York Air National Guard 107th Air Refueling Wing boarded a plane at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as part of a deployment of over 100 unit members supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom a press release said. )


( A family member shows off a hand-stitched keepsake given to children and loved ones left behind by soldiers departing for service. ?he soldier should kiss the pillow and give one to each of his or her loved ones to hold onto until he or she returns from war,?an accompanying pamphlet read. Members of the New York Air National Guard 107th Air Refueling Wing board a plane at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as part of a deployment of over 100 unit members supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom a press release said.)

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By Mark Scheer
Niagara Gazette

TOWN OF NIAGARA — They’ll be gone for four months.

For the loved ones they leave behind, it will feel like four years.

Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Air Refueling Wing departed Friday from the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as part of a support mission in the Middle East.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Robin, a Niagara Falls native whose husband, a Staff Sgt. named Dave, took off on his second tour of duty. “The first thing that goes through your mind is that you want him to be safe and that everything is all right and that the time goes by quickly.”

Military officials asked that the last names of all service personnel and their family members be withheld for security reasons.

The 25 members of the unit that left Friday were flown to an undisclosed destination within the U.S. From there, they will be transported to the Middle East where they will perform various engineering duties at U.S. air bases as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The group is the first wave of more than 100 members of the 107th who are expected to be deployed in the coming months.

“Nobody wants to leave their families and their loved ones, but we have a mission to do,” said Ricardo, a master sergeant from Lewiston. “Fortunately, we have a family here and we come together as a family over there.”

Patrick, a lieutenant colonel from Lewiston who has flown numerous missions overseas in recent years, said leaving home, while never easy, is all part of the job. This time will be especially difficult for him because it will mean he’ll miss his first wedding anniversary in March.

“You take it one day at a time,” he said. “The days are long, but the weeks will fly by and we will be home before we know it.”

Patrick’s wife, Cindy, said she passes the time by staying as busy as possible with the couple’s six children. She said she’ll stay in touch with her husband through e-mails that will update him daily on what’s going on back home.

“I’m definitely going to miss him and it is hard,” she said. “I am very proud of him. I think it’s great that he’s protecting our country.”

[Dr Funky]

My old neighbor is one of the people leaving....

[sharky]

the new AF camo is odd. like a digital tiger stripe

[Dr Funky]

the new AF camo is odd. like a digital tiger stripe

Its just a matter of time until stores start selling Camo clothing like that....

[BorderBob]

So Staff Sgt Dave, whose last name is redacted for national security reasons, is photographed with his name tag.

Nice going Gazette!!

b.b.

[FisherRd]

So Staff Sgt Dave, whose last name is redacted for national security reasons, is photographed with his name tag.

Nice going Gazette!!

b.b.

If you click the photo they even identify him in the caption below.

[Dr Funky]

So Staff Sgt Dave, whose last name is redacted for national security reasons, is photographed with his name tag.

Nice going Gazette!!

b.b.

I know right... lmao