138th Fighter Wing, Okla., -- More than 90 Airmen from the 138th Fighter Wing recently returned home from a six month deployment in various areas throughout the Middle East and Africa in support of Operations Freedom Sentinel, Inherent Resolve, Resolute Support and Spartan Shield.
On March 5, 2017, the 138th FW hosted a welcome home event to recognize the contributions of these Airmen throughout their deployment.
Brigadier General David Burgy, Chief of Staff of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, spoke at the event and began by thanking the Airmen for their service.
“While deployed, these Airmen missed out on the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas,” Burgy noted. “But that’s not taking into account the birthdays and anniversaries they may have also missed.”
The deployed Airmen were overseas for over 180 days supporting the mission. A few of their accomplishments overseas included serving an average of 10,000 meals per day, ensuring safe issue and receipt of 160 million gallons of jet fuel and maintaining the Air Forces Central Command’s largest vehicle fleet worth 147.6 million dollars.
“Your service to this nation is more important today than any time in its history,” Burgy explained. “The military has never been this small. You, as individuals, have never been a bigger part of this nations fighting force.”
More than 200 Airmen, families and friends attended the event to welcome home the deployers, including members of the Silver Beavers and Blue Star Mothers.