SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- More than 300 Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, S.C., returned home to a cheering crowd of families and friends following a six-month deployment to Afghanistan March 23-26.
"We're incredibly proud of everyone who is coming home," said Col. Patrick Doherty, 4th FW commander. "The number of Soldiers and Marines' lives they saved over the last several months is incredible. This entire community and all of the base are incredibly proud of what these Airmen accomplished."
The returning Airmen served at Bagram Airfield in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
"It's a great honor to be one of the first people to shake their hands as they come back," said Chief Master Sgt. Blake Malpass, 4th FW command chief. "It never gets old watching a hug and a welcome back from the families."
The deployed Airmen were responsible for performing close-air support missions. During one mission the weapon systems officers from the 335th FS took out approximately 70 Taliban insurgents. In addition, the maintenance Airmen's dedication led to F15E Strike Eagle #89-0487 surpassing 10,000 flying hours, the first to do so.
"We had a strategy to support the ground commanders and we feel we were very successful at that mission," Lt. Col. David Moeller, 335th Fighter Squadron commander said. "For them to perform the way they did is phenomenal and I'm so proud of their accomplishments."
Moeller credited the maintainers as the unsung heroes of this deployment. They provided maintenance for more than 2,500 sorties and fulfilled 100 percent of the missions. He said there was never a doubt the Strike Eagles would be overhead to support the ground commanders.
"I am overwhelmed by the job these Airmen did," Moeller said. "It was a very successful deployment, and it's the greatest feeling in the world to be back."
When Staff Sgt. Richard Restorff, 335th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, walked into the massive crowd of eagerly awaiting family members, he was greeted by his wife Louise, son Tyler and a new addition to his family.
"I'm so happy to see my sons," said a tearful Restorff as he held his three-day-old son, Brayden, in his arms for the first time. "Things have changed a lot and I'm looking forward to spending time with my family."