Dyess welcomes back bomber squadron

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Duff
  • Air Force News Agency
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Hundreds of family members and friends welcomed home 279 Airmen of the 7th Bomb Wing who returned to Dyess AFB Sept. 13 from a deployment to Southwest Asia.

The squadron deployed for several months throughout Southwest Asia in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"It's all about reunions today," said Col. Scott Vander Hamm, the 7th Operations Group commander here and commander of the deployed 40th Air Expeditionary Group. "Nobody does it better than the families in Abilene."

Of the deployment, Colonel Vander Hamm said persistence and presence were the name of the game.

"When you think air power, you think flexibility," he said. "The flexibility of the B-1B Lancer proved immeasurable as the mission evolved. Not only did the B-1 bomb its targets with precision, it also provided close-air support to ground troops.

"It was a super mission success; but it's good to be back home," he said.

Many of the returnees were looking forward to some much-needed rest and relaxation or just spending time with friends and loved ones.

"We have some catching up to do," said Staff Sgt. Ken Smith's wife, Heather. "I look a little different," she said, pointing to her belly bump. She is expecting their fifth child. "We're so glad he's back."

The Smith's 11-year-old son, Gage, said, "I can't wait to start having some fun again -- to go out and have some fun with my dad."

Staff Sgt. Mark Bergmann, a B-1 maintainer with the 7th Component Maintenance Squadron, said saying goodbye when he left had been the hardest part of the deployment. This was his second deployment.

"I am looking forward to spending all the time I can with my girls and my wife," he said. "It is so, so good to be home, again."