Heroes return home

  • Published
  • By Airmen 1st Class Alexander Brown
  • 439th Air Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER, Mass. --  Airmen from the 439th security forces returned home March 26 after a 180 day deployment to Afghanistan.

More than one dozen security force members were tasked with assisting the U.S. Army as Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airman.

The team has been deployed since September to Afghanistan. By the end of the tour the security forces members come home with an impressive record: three quarterly award winners and eight recommendations from the Air Force's 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron to receive medals for selfless devotion to duty. If that wasn't enough, they have saved lives.

While working in Afghanistan, they are tasked with some of the same security responsibilities they had at Westover including responding to car accidents, shoplifting at the base exchange, quelling disturbances and performing traffic enforcement.

The group of Airmen were escorted by the Chicopee police and delivered to Westover ARB Saturday morning to awaiting family and friends.

As the Airmen stepped off the bus cheer rose from the crowd of nearly 100 civilians and military members.

The deployed Airmen will now be able to enjoy all the things that being home has to offer.