Latest news with #deployment
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Welcome home: 114th Fighter Wing airmen honored
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Nearly 200 South Dakota Air National Guard members have returned home safely from a mission that started in 2023. It spanned across three different regions of the world. 'Our main mission was to generate and sustain combat air power from a base in the Middle East. That entailed providing security and stability throughout the region,' Deployment Chief of Staff Jessica Bak said. The final group returned in April from a six-month deployment. Those a part of the year-and-a-half long mission were recognized for their bravery Saturday morning in Sioux Falls. ''Welcome Home' ceremonies like this are just really important because it just goes to show that we can't do this mission without the support from our families and communities back home,' Bak said. 'It's so important to know that they have our backs.' Many families don't reunite until after deployment. However, that wasn't the case for one father-son duo. Technical Sergeant Roger Crook has almost 20 years of military service. This was his last mission. 'I'm going to miss some aspects. I'm going to definitely miss the people,' Roger said. The sergeant is retiring, but not without passing along the torch to his airman son, Trevor Crook. 'It really means a lot to me, knowing that I'm the one carrying on the legacy from now, carrying out the Crook name,' Trevor said. This was Trevor's first deployment. He said he's learned a lot from his dad and other airmen. 'Almost everyone you would run into over there, they would be willing to help you,' Trevor said. The two worked alongside each other throughout the entire mission. 'It gave me a little bit of comfort, still having family back home,' Roger said. 'But also having family with me was kind of a nice comfort.' City, state and air guard leaders gave remarks and thanked airmen for their service. Each guard member received two golden coins. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Thankful for all of them': The ‘Proud Warriors' return to Jacksonville after 8-month deployment
Family and friends gathered at Naval Air Station Jacksonville Saturday afternoon to welcome back the 'Proud Warriors' - a team of servicemembers who have been gone on deployment for months. They make up Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72, which embarked on its latest mission back in September, eight months ago. NAS Jax says the squadron was never meant to be gone so long -their time away was extended three times before Saturday's homecoming. 'It definitely never gets easier. This is, this is the longest one I've done,' said Commanding Officer John Zilai. 'Eight hurts. But you know, whatever. It's been fantastic to come home.' >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The squadron left on the the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), along with her escort ships, the USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109). 'We spent the first two months conducting exercises with NATO allies, with port visits in Norway and France. In late 2024, we entered the Red Sea as the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) began combat operations to safeguard America's national security interests and maintain the U.S. Navy's maritime dominance worldwide,' said Cmdr. Zilai. While on the Red Sea in February, the strike group supported a large-scale airstrike on ISIS-Somalia operatives, delivering 124,000 pounds of ordinance. Later, in March, they also led initial strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as part of Operation Rough Rider. Those missions came with a lot of risk and danger, making the homecoming even more special for family members. 'Just out-of-our-minds excited to have him come home safe,' said Cmdr. Zilai's father, Rob. Now that he's home, Zilai is excited for some well-earned time home relaxing. 'If I could pick one thing, it's take the boots off, put some flip flops on for a little bit, that would be fantastic.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More than 600 Wisconsin Guard soldiers ready for deployment with sendoff in Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Over 600 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers received a heartfelt sendoff at the Kolf Sports Center on Friday morning, surrounded by loved ones and state military leadership. The soldiers, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment and Gulf Company, 132nd Brigade Support Battalion, are mobilizing to active duty and will soon deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. 'Light the Night Market' returns to Appleton's College Avenue with Renaissance flair Their mission will involve working with NATO partners to promote regional security and stability. 'It was a two-year readiness cycle that started on the individual level,' said Spc. Alfonso Cordova of Milwaukee. 'We were graded on our performance to determine our readiness for this upcoming deployment.' Cordova said the road to deployment has been long and demanding, but he's honored to serve. 'The opportunity to serve my state and serve the nation alongside these great people — it's fantastic,' he said. 'Sometimes you can get a little down in the dumps, but having good family and good friends helps pick you up.' For many families, Friday's ceremony was a moment of both pride and heartache. 'I'm here for my cousin Tony Jones,' said Kimora Johnikin, who traveled from Milwaukee. 'We grew up together. We are the same age. We wish him nothing but the best. We're honestly beyond proud of him.' Tony's aunt, Glenda Bennett, echoed that pride. Sharing that he recently graduated from Marquette University with a 3.9 GPA and completed training with the Cedarburg Police Department. New Indigenous-owned restaurant in Green Bay looks to provide affordably fast & fresh cuisine 'He's the backbone of our family,' Bennett said. 'We're going to miss him like crazy.' The Guard currently includes more than 9,000 soldiers and airmen, who are routinely called to serve both abroad and during emergencies at home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
The Vietnam War was a debacle. 50 years on, its lessons still matter.
I have been reflecting on the anniversary of the fall of Saigon after reading The Post's coverage. My memories include how much I missed my father when he deployed there with the Army when I was a second-grader. All four of us children recorded reel-to-reel tapes to send to him, and he would send back recordings of his own; we still have those tapes. This was before the school military support groups that are now embedded in many schools, but I still remember a teacher at my school in Pennsylvania who helped me count down the days until my dad returned.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Submarine USS Alexandria returns to Naval Base Point Loma after 7-month deployment
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Sailors aboard submarine USS Alexandria have returned to their homeport in San Diego after a seven-month deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific, the Department of Defense announced on Friday. The crew aboard the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) returned to Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego on May 15. According to the U.S. Navy, Alexandria left Naval Base Point Loma in 2024 on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of national security objectives to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. 'This crew went above and beyond, no matter what was asked of them,' said Cmdr. Chris Rose, Alexandria's commanding officer. 'Deploying on submarines is a demanding but rewarding and consequential task. I could not be prouder of my crew's resolve over the past seven plus months in demonstrating every day what makes our boats and our crews the apex predators of the maritime domain.' WATCH: Talking with sailors aboard USS Cape St. George homeported at Naval Base San Diego According to the Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, while deployed, Alexandria conducted an integrated exercise with U.S. Marine Corps personnel assigned to Third Reconnaissance Battalion during and immediately after a scheduled port visit to Guam. The Navy said the crew also made a scheduled port visit to Busan, South Korea while deployed, where U.S. submarine forces conducted exercises, training, operations and other military cooperation activities with our Republic of Korea Navy allies. 'I really enjoyed Busan, South Korea because I have never been to that part of the world,' said Fire Control Technician 3rd Class Justin Guerra. 'Port visits give us that time to explore new places, get some well-earned rest, and experience the culture, food, and hospitality of our Allied and partner nations.' When the sailors arrived home, Electronics Technician, Submarine, Navigation 3rd Class Dylan Caruthers was the first Alexandria Sailor to depart the boat for the 'first kiss.' Heroes Next Door: Step into a Submarine! 'I am thrilled to be home with my family and I'm proud of all the great work we accomplished on deployment,' said Torpedoman's Mate 3rd Class Ezekiel Hamner. 'This morning when I heard the order to station the maneuvering watch and send line handlers topside, it really hit that we were at the end of our deployment. It was an awesome feeling.' The 46th Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine and was commissioned June 29, 1991. Alexandria is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, home to four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines, which are capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to the Navy. 'This crew did a phenomenal job in all aspects of this deployment,' said Master Chief Machinist's Mate (Auxiliary) Mitchell Gatton, Alexandria's chief of the boat. 'I am especially proud of the 35 submarine warfare devices earned by Alexandria Sailors, which to me underscores the crew's commitment to continued growth and development.' The USS Alexandria submarine is the third Navy ship with the name Alexandria, named for both Alexandria, Virginia and Alexandria, Louisiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
