Spangdahlem gets deployment order

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Gerardo Gonzalez
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
More than 500 airmen and numerous F-16CJ Fighting Falcons left here Jan. 12 and 16 for a forward-deployed locations to support the unified command as part of a secretary of defense-issued order.

The 52nd Fighter Wing was part of the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's Dec. 24 deployment order, which directed additional forces to support Operation Enduring Freedom and possible future contingencies.

Maj. Geoffrey Bacon, 52nd Component Maintenance Squadron commander, was on hand to say farewell to his troops before they loaded up in the buses and headed to the deployment departure area.

"These are a great bunch of (people)," said Bacon, watching as his troops gathered their bags and loaded onto the waiting bus. "For a lot of our folks, this is their first time out."

That was not the case for Senior Airman Shaun Welden, a 52nd CMS electrician.

"I've been on deployments before," said the 22-year-old airman. "As far as this deployment goes, I'm not too worried about it."

Days prior to the departure, Capt. Ron Ruppel, who is the officer in charge of the base's personnel deployment facility, oversaw the processing of the airmen as they met with representatives from various base organizations who made sure everyone was prepared and cleared to deploy.

"They look 'gung-ho' to me," said Ruppel. "It's amazing. These people want to go." (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)