Giving Thanks

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William J. Foster
  • 139th Airlift Wing
11/25/2010 - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN --  Members of the 139th Airlift Wing based out of St. Joseph, MO., received some warm thanksgiving greetings this week from area schools.

"It was wonderful to get a little piece of home while we're deployed here in Afghanistan," said Master Sgt. Andrew Mosley, 139th fuels technician. "It feels really great to know that people back home are thinking about us, it makes the holidays a little easier to bear."
Along with cards, letters and signs the members of the 139th also received care packages, which contained everything from favorite snacks to personal care products that are hard to come by.

One individual, Tech. Sgt. Raina Hauenstein, hydraulics specialist, organized a letter writing campaign to respond to the letters sent by local children.
"Nothing puts more smiles on faces overseas than care packages and letters from children," Hauenstein said.

"It's a taste of home and a reminder of why we are here. These children pour their hearts to us on paper, asking questions and wishing us safety in our travels. They let us know we are in their prayers. I think a response to them is deserved."

The 139th Maintenance Group is keeping with a proud tradition as part of the 455 Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron/C130 Aircraft Maintenance Unit. Not a single line has been missed due to maintenance issues since January of this year.

"Despite ...equipment [challenges] and less than hospitable working conditions, we are effectively accomplishing our goals and mission in a more than timely manner," said Senior Airman Trevor Beck, electrician specialist. "So far, knock on wood, we haven't missed a single mission yet."

The 455th transports thousands of passengers and hundreds of tons of cargo a day.
"We have a good time here, just another day in paradise," said Tech. Sgt. Ryan Breyfogle, crew chief.

"The ops tempo is very high. We do the job safely and on time, we know the guys down range are depending on us."