Refuelers keep mission going Christmas Day over Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  'Tis the season for giving and receiving. In the skies over Afghanistan, every day of the year could pass as Christmas Day.

Refueling aircraft give up their fuel to the receiving aircraft which carry out the mission of air supremacy and ground support for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Christmas Day 2006 will be remembered fondly by a KC-135 Stratotanker crew from the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, which provided 39,000 pounds of fuel to a B-1 Lancer so it could carry on with its mission.

"This is the third year of my four-year career that I have flown a refueling mission on Christmas Day," said Senior Airman Chelsey Johnson, a 22nd EARS boom operator. "I am very proud of what I do and it makes a difference to the warfighter."

At a time when most people in the U.S. are gathering with family and friends, Airmen around the globe, like this crew, perform the Air Force's mission regardless of the day's significance.

"It doesn't matter if it's Christmas Day, New Year's Day or the third Monday of the month," said Capt. Mike Englehardt, 22nd EARS aircraft commander. "Every day of the year we support our receivers and our guys on the ground. The enemy doesn't care what day it is, we have to keep doing our part, too."

"(Us being here) tells the enemy we have complete resolve and we believe in what we are doing and we're going to be here regardless of Christmas or not," said 1st Lt. Tyler West, 22nd EARS pilot. "It also means our friends and families back home are enjoying this time of year because we're out here securing their peace and liberties."

The crew understands the hardships of being away from family and friends this time of year, but they also revel in the opportunity to serve.

"I missed my first snow with my daughters and the building of their first snowman," said Captain Englehardt. "At the same time, we're here doing our mission to defend the freedom of religion and freedom to celebrate different holidays regardless what you believe in.

"We, in America, only have these freedoms because of what we do over here," he said. "As hard as it is being away from home, I couldn't imagine not being here."

On this mission, the crew's originally scheduled receiver did not require refueling, so they were providing fuel for any AOR aircraft in need. Operations on the ground and in the air can be fluid, and the tanker crews have to be flexible. Just at the moment the crew was due to head back to Manas AB for Christmas dinner, the call came to refuel the B-1.

"Some days are like this," said Captain Englehardt. "On days when we don't get any (aircraft to refuel), we are showing our ability to fuel aircraft, whether we refuel them or not. Just to be able to provide that ability 24 hours a day, anywhere, is one of the things that make us the greatest Air Force in the world."

The KC-135 crews from the 22nd EARS fulfill one facet of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing mission in supporting the warfighter by moving fuel, people and cargo to Afghanistan. And, giving fuel on a daily basis makes every day seem like Christmas Day for the 22nd EARS in supporting the warfighters.

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