TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- More than 250 Airmen from the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron and the 552nd Maintenance Group returned to Tinker, July 21, from a nearly five-month long deployment to Southwest Asia.
Colonel Richard Land III, 552nd Operations Group commander, was the first person in the receiving line to shake everyone’s hand as they filed off the aircraft. The colonel praised the men and women of the 552nd Air Control Wing for their dedication and professionalism.
“While they were deployed, they flew over 2,100 hours, 180 combat missions and 9,600 aircraft were controlled throughout Southwest Asia. America’s Wing is vital to our nation’s ability to ensure Air Dominance through battle management, which is a warfighting capability highly sought after by our senior leaders. The AWACS crews, maintainers, software experts, and medical professionals did a tremendous job while deployed and their dedication to accomplishing the mission ensured that our collective Air Force team continues to dominate our adversaries, defend our nation, and protect those that need our help. We applaud their success, and on behalf of the 552 ACW commander, Col. David Gaedecke, we welcome home our phenomenal warriors,” said Colonel Land.
The commander of the 960th AACS Vikings, Lt. Col. Kristen Thompson, enthusiastically welcomed every one of her returning squadron members.
“It was a great day to be a Viking! I am extremely proud of my Airmen and the formidable team they
built with their Maintenance and Air Control Network Squadron teammates. The nearly 200 Viking Warriors we welcomed home delivered command and control at its finest and ensured unrivaled Air Dominance for our nation. The Vikings are certainly proud of what they accomplished in theater and are grateful for the unending support they received from their families and the community. I am glad to have them all safely back at home,” said the 960th AACS commander.
Also on hand were hundreds of family members and friends holding hand-made signs to welcome home their heroes.
One sign read: “I drove 1,446 miles from California to Oklahoma, to surprise my husband.” Holding the sign and waiting patiently, was Rebecca, wife of Staff Sgt. Alex from the 960th AACS Vikings. As she watched the returnees streaming past her trying to spot her husband, she commented that they had planned for Alex to fly out to California to close out her house and move her to Oklahoma. But unknown to Alex she changed the plan.
“I decided on Monday not to wait for him to come get me and just drove out to Oklahoma. It took me two
days but I made it in time,” Rebecca said.
As if it had been scripted in Hollywood, Rebecca had to wait and wait and wait. Her husband Alex was one of the last to clear customs, and as he trudged off the flightline loaded down with luggage, he didn’t notice Rebecca at first and then he saw her, dropped his bags and gave her a big hug.
It was the perfect ending, just like in the movies.