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America's shield and sword on Christmas Day

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  'Twas the night before Christmas, as America still slept, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing stood combat ready, to protect freedom at a moment's notice. 

When all through the base not a creature was stirring except, force protection, aircraft maintainers, pilots, air traffic controllers, medical personnel and a few hundred more.

The stockings were hung by individual body armor and helmets with care... When out on the runway we heard such a clatter as the more than 8,000 Airmen assigned to the wing continue at an operations tempo that cannot stop or slow down. 

At the wing headquarters building, a member of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Force Protection Section stands guard at the door, responsible for the safety and security of the wing commander and his staff. 

"I volunteered for this shift," said Senior Airman Stefan Adams, an aircrew flight equipment apprentice from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. "I have great pride in providing security at Joint Base Balad, so others could have the day off." 

"It's good we're over here," said Airman Adams, as he sits at a desk loaded with cookies and other treats sent from family and friends. "We are needed over here to help the Iraqis."

In the command post here, several Airmen are on duty monitoring the operations of everything from communications to aircraft on alert. 

"I am proud to serve my country," said Airman 1st Class Madeline De La Garza, a command post controller deployed from McGuire AFB, N.J. "I feel that I am helping keep my friends and family safe during the holidays." 

At the 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Airmen of different careers work to make sure the mission continues. 

"It was my turn in the rotation to work today," said Lt. Col. Steven Jantz, the assistant director of operations. "It's tough being deployed on Christmas, but everyone else here is as well, so it's not a problem." 

"Our job is to protect and support the guys on the ground," said Colonel Jantz, who is deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C. "We will do this job, especially on Christmas." 

So on this Christmas day, two F-16s sprung to the sky, giving the Tuskegee Airmen a reason to aspire, away they flew with trails of fire as they rocketed out of sight in the morning light. 

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