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Patrick welcomes home second group of rescue Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Forshaw
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Loud cheers, whistles, claps and shouts signified the end of a four-month deployment for about 40 reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing as a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft touched down at 1:30 p.m. here today.

About 100 family, friends, co-workers and leadership were present as the Airmen departed the bus that shuttled them from the large combat aircraft, which carried not only the reservists, but an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter home from war.

"The warriors we're welcoming home today have been deployed since May. This is the second part of the first group who returned home Monday. They are all group one of three four-month rotations," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th RQW commander.

The wing deployed helicopter crewmembers, maintenance and support personnel as part of the 920th's year-long mission to perform medical evacuation operations - picking up the injured from combat zones to get them to treatment facilities. During this rotation, the reservists are credited with flying 505 rescue missions; successfully saving 358 lives; and assisting in saving another 287 lives. A 'save' refers to a situation where, without immediate intervention, a person would lose their life, a limb or eyesight.

As the men and women of the rescue wing stepped off the bus, they were swarmed by loved ones, co-workers and their civilian employers, including Paul Chalko, Brevard County Sheriff commander. He was there to greet Tech. Sgt. John McDilda, a helicopter crewmember in the Air Force Reserve and fulltime lawman with the Brevard County Sherrif's Office.

"It's one of those bittersweet things. He's helping out with the bigger picture, but missed back at home," said Chalko. "He has to step up to the plate in both occupations and he does."

"This is such a sense of relief," said Mrs. Jennifer Bixler, "He was so very missed." Her husband, Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Bixler, 920th RQW maintenance, was responsible for the care and upkeep of the aircraft while deployed.

This deployment was one of many for rescue reservists who endure a high operational tempo because their skill set is in high demand.

"We love the support from back home," said Staff. Sgt. Carlous Gillis, 920th RQW Operations Support Group. "While we're out there fighting the fight; getting letters, boxes and packages make it that much better."

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.