Troops return home from deployment

  • Published
  • By SrA Anna Wyant
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen from the 927th Air Refueling Wing returned here from a 60-day Guam deployment Saturday. The airmen, who returned in three of the wing's own KC-135 refueling planes, were greeted by family, friends, co-workers and Ronald McDonald, who marshaled in the aircraft.

Casper Company of Tampa, which owns and operates McDonald's in the Tampa Bay area, donated hundreds of sandwiches, apple pies, and bottles of water for the welcome home gathering in Hangar 2 on base.

Another aircraft from the deployment returned Thursday.

Approximately 30 airmen returned from a 60-day Middle East deployment Sunday. The mission was in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
These deployments marked the first wing-wide activation of the 927th ARW since its initial standup here in April 2008.

Approximately 100 airmen from the 927th Maintenance Group and the 927th Operations Group deployed to Guam in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The mission was under direction of the U.S. Pacific Command, which is committed to promoting stability and security in the region.

"Our mission in Guam was to support the continuous bomber presence in the South Pacific by providing air refueling support to B-52s and B-2s," said Lt. Col. Gary G. Morrison, the Director of Operations and Training for the 927th Operations Group.

The deployment included giving refueling support to Australian military forces and building community relations with Pacific Islands surrounding Guam.

As part of the Air Force's "Total Integrated Force," the Air Force Reserve Command, which is the 927th Wing's command, routinely participates in supporting active duty missions.