Air Force Crewmen On Duty In Afghanistan Over Holidays
Even though their counterparts were enjoying Christmas back home, aircrews and pilots who fly out of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan stayed the course, flying missions and providing combat support and airpower for Afghanistan, Coalition, and U.S. Forces throughout the country.
Their hard work did not go unnoticed, however.
Thank you for keeping everything running on time, and thanks for doing your job so well? said
NATO Commander General Dan McNeil. General McNeil made a surprise post Christmas visit to Thunderbolt II and F15E Strike Eagle Aircraft crews and and Airmen. You keep doing your mission, putting men and machines, steel up into the air so we can move steel on the ground, because of your help we can protect all of our personnel both in and outside the wire, said General McNeil.
Also making a surprise visit and inspection was Air Force Major General Maury Forsyth. General Forsyth is U.S. Central Command Deputy Commander, and visited airbases in the area with General McNeil. Your mission is to get the job done, and you do it with pride. If it was not extremely important you would not be here, said General Forsyth.
It can be hard, not being home for holiday time,? said Airman 1st Class Matthew Darrah. But I know my family is proud of me, and loves me, so it’s okay. It is a great feeling to serve. Said Darrah. Staff Sgt Knotts shared a similar sentiment: what keeps me going is I am doing what it takes to keep my family safe,? said Knotts.