Rescue wing reservist deploy, receive 'National' sendoff

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- John Patterson, a pitcher for Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals, hands out hats to children of deploying Air Force reservists at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 20. The Nationals play their spring-training games at nearby Space Coast Stadium. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)

Rescue wing reservist deploy, receive 'National' sendoff

Published Feb. 22, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla, -- Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing departed here Feb. 20 on the first-leg of a 14-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Before they left, they received a visit on the flightline by John Patterson, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals baseball team. The Nationals play their spring-training games at nearby Space Coast Stadium.

Mr. Patterson gave out hats and baseballs, signed autographs, visited with family members and personally thanked each Airman for their service.

After saying their goodbyes, the reservists boarded one of the unit's HC-130 Hercules aircraft en route to Arizona, where they will join helicopter pilots, aircrew and support people from the wing's 943rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

The combined group of reservists will then head for Afghanistan for the first half of a mobilization to support the U.S. Army medical evacuation operation.

Later this year, the 920th RQW will send another group of reservists from here to pick up the second half of the mission.

The wing's primary wartime job is combat search and rescue. CSARs involve locating and rescuing servicemembers isolated in combat - such as pilots shot down behind enemy lines.

The medevac deployment, called an "in-lieu-of" mission, marks the first time the 920th RQW will undertake the role for the Army. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)