Kadena Airmen return from Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alesia D. Goosic
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Seventy-five Airmen from the 33rd Rescue Squadron and 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit returned to Kadena Air Base, Dec. 9 and 10, after supporting Operation Enduring Freedom at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

The crews of the squadron, which was designated the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron while deployed, flew 270 combat sorties and logged 148 U.S. and coalition saves and assists during the three-and-a-half-month deployment.

"The primary mission of the squadron is dual-role, executing 24-7 personnel recovery support through the AFCENT's Joint Personnel Recovery Center and Casualty Evacuation in support of U.S. and coalition operations in Regional Command-East," said Lt. Col. Sean Choquette, 33rd Rescue Squadron commander.

During the deployment, the majority of squadron missions involved forward deploying to austere Army Forward Operating Bases to provide critical CASEVAC support to deliberate U.S. and Afghan operations to destroy and disrupt insurgent forces in Eastern Afghanistan.

"Towards the end we started doing a lot of operations and at one point we picked up about fifty individuals in three days," said Capt Gabriel Brown, deployed director of operations for the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. "It was good work that we did out there and I think they definitely made a difference."

Upon returning to Kadena after this intense deployment, the Airmen were welcomed home by family, friends and base leadership.

Capt. Marcus Maris, a flight commander with the 33rd RQS, was greeted with a kiss by his wife and hugs from his three children, two which jumped into his arms and one wrapped around his leg.

"I just couldn't wait to give him a big hug," said seven-year-old Lola, of seeing her dad for the first time since he left in September.

Captain Maris said it's hard to put into words how he felt when he saw his family for the first time after returning from his deployment, but he gave it his best shot.

"In one word: fortunate," he said.

Colonel Choquette said despite the family separation and other challenges deployments bring, these Airmen are true rescue professionals.

"I am incredibly proud of the professionalism and airmanship displayed by our men and women over these past few months," the colonel said. "These guys gladly fly into harm's way every day to save their comrades on the battlefield. Despite the family separation, the extreme operational tempo, and very real enemy threat, I have no doubt that if I asked for volunteers to go back tomorrow, most would say 'Send me.' They really live the motto, 'These things we do, that others may live'."