Desert communion

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Father (Maj.) David Fitz-Patrick, Air Force Catholic Chaplain, helps Army Sgt. Casey Schwab, a military police officer with the 300th Military Police Company from Fort Riley, Kan., take communion during a mass service on May 13, 2003. Fitz-Patrick provided Army members deployed to Convoy Supply Center Scania, Iraq with their first Mass service since early March. Fitz-Patrick is deployed from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris)

Making the rounds

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Chaplain (Maj.) Dave Fitz-Patrick visits with Master Sgt. Richard O'Connor at Tallil Air Base in southern Iraq. The only Catholic chaplain in the region, he visits troops here and at outlying Army and Marine posts. Fitz-Patrick is deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va., and O'Connor is a quality assurance inspector from Whiteman AFB, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Jon Anderson)

Ayers

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Capt. Matt Ayres, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing, grabs several American flags while preparing to take off for a mission from a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia on March 27. Ayers is deployed from the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Hannen)

Lyles

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Airman 1st Class Desmond Lyles, a crew chief deployed from the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, SC, to the 363rd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, communicates with an F-16CJ pilot while co-workers pull weapon pins on the aircraft prior to taking off for a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Hannen)

Perkins

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Staff Sgt. William Perkins, a weapons loader, controls the loading of an air-launched cruise missile into the belly of a B-52 Stratofortress on March 20. B-52s and support troops from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are deployed as part of the 7th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christina M. Rumsey)

Buffing up

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Staff Sgts. John Beldin and Landon Favors, B-52 Stratofortress weapons loaders, prepare an air-launched cruise missle for loading on a B-52 here March 20. Aircraft and support troops from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are deployed as part of the 7th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christina M. Rumsey)