
Operation Iraqi Freedom (Click to enlarge)“Deployed to Bourgas, Bulgaria in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Supporting KC-10 missions to refuel B-52 on their way back from Iraq. Capt Andrew Feth and SMSgt Don Seaton were in charge of the crew.”
Camp Saravo, Bulgaria February-May, 2003
Picture contributed by Chris Mercado
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Operation Iraqui Freedom (Click to enlarge) Top Left Corner going clockwise: A1C Bryan Walsh, SSgt Cary Hatch & SrA Nick Allen get a ride on a Blackhawk. SSgt Hatch & SrA Allen doing their METNAV thing. SSgt Chris Mercado taking advantage of the tax free reenlistment bonus. Some of the ATCALS crew get a photo op in front of an A-10. Tent City. MSgt Michael Lavoie gets to shoot a few rounds off. TSgt Thomas O’Connell working on the ASR. SSgt Dewayne Wilson checking out some wreckage. Center: The whole ATCALS crew on a blown out Iraqi tank.
Tallil Air Base, Iraq September-December 2003
Picture contributed by Chris Mercado
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Operation Iraqui Freedom (Click to enlarge) “The ATCALS crew getting a photo op on top of a blown out Iraqi Tank.”
From the Top Left to Right: SSgt Eric Uptegrove & SSgt Cary Hatch
In the Middle, Left to Right: TSgt Ron Hodgkins, SSgt Dewayne Wilson, SSgt Chris Mercado, SrA Aaron Gallo, MSgt Mike Lavoie, SrA ‘Bud’ Wieser, SMSgt Jeff Patterson, A1C Bryan Walsh & SSgt Dustin Freeman
On the bottom: SrA Nick Allen, TSgt Thomas O’Connell, TSgt Stephen Landry & SSgt Stephen Peterson
Iraq, 2003
Picture contributed by Chris Mercado
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Operation Iraqui Freedom (Click to enlarge)“Playing with our guns at the ATCALS site”
Standing from the left: SrA ‘Bud’ Wieser, SSgt Chris Mercado, SrA Nick Allen, A1C Bryan ‘I eat 5 MREs a day and I don’t gain an ounce’ Walsh, SMSgt Jeff Petterson, SSgt Cary ‘Don’t ask about all the extra safety gear’ Hatch, TSgt Thomas O’Connell, SSgt Dewayne Wilson, SSgt Stephen Peterson
Kneeling from the left: SSgt Dustin Freeman, SrA Aaron ‘AKA Chris Farley’ Gallo, MSgt Mike Lavoie, TSgt Stephen ‘Best barber in town’ Landry, SSgt Eric ‘Upty’ Uptegrove & TSgt Ron ‘Nine-Fingers’ Hodgkins
Iraq, 2003
Contributed by Chris Marcado
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A view of the ATCALS CompoundTallil AB, Iraq - 2003
Picture contributed by Chris Mercado
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SSgt Chris Mercado enjoying a cool Iraqi morning.Tallil AB, Iraq - 2003
Picture contributed by Chris Mercado
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SSgt Chris Mercado Reenlisting in IraqTallil AB, Iraq - 2003
Picture contributed by Chris Mercado
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Ray Whitmire, March13, 1935 - July 21, 2003 (1st Mob 1960-1963, Radio Operations)"In Remembrance of Dad"
Let's take time to think of Ray (dad) he left this world three years ago. He is loved and missed by everyone that knew him.
Native American Prayer
I give you this one thought to keep -
I am with you still - I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush -
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone -
I am with you still - in each new dawn.
God bless,
Cindy Whitmire
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1 CCSQ METNAV HAZ in Compound at Ramstein 2003Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
All of the different workcenters in the 1st, except the command section, were located in older aircraft shelters since arriving from Sembach. When I left in 2004, they were working on the new facilities toward the end of the flightline and leveling all of the old aircraft Shelters/HAZ's. Alot of memories in those older buildings.
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SATCOM Workcenter in 1 CCSQ Compound at Ramstein 2003Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
All of the different workcenters in the 1st, except the command section, were located in older aircraft shelters since arriving from Sembach. When I left in 2004, they were working on the new facilities toward the end of the flightline and leveling all of the old aircraft Shelters/HAZ's. Alot of memories in those older buildings.
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TSgt Jones (Tech Control facing away), TSgt Davis (Voice Shop) and TSgt Rutherford (Data)Diyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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20' SATCOM dish - Local Training ExerciseRamstein AB, Germany - late 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Capt Hayworth briefing USAFE CC Gen MartinDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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Capt Hayworth and team out front waiting for another 'Dog and Pony' show of DVs to show up.Diyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
Click picture to enlarge
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Capt Hayworth, SSgt Russo, SSgt Stoltz, TSgt Jones, TSgt Rutherford, TSgt Rasario and unknownDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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Col Appleyard (1 CCSQ CC 2000-2002) - TSgt Rosario (Tech Control) in backgroundDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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Comm SiteDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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Local Training ExerciseRamstein AB, Germany - late 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Local Training ExerciseRamstein AB, Germany - late 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Pulling FiberDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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TSgt Tony Rutherford and TSgt Jones enoying the outdoorsDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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TSgt Davis (far right), TSgt Jones and others discuss with Turkish Sgt about who goes into the manhole to run cableDiyarbakir, Turkey - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
"Our team was there to support the operations in Northern IRAQ. I wasn't on this deployment but most of the names are familiar."
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Col Dryer (Deployed CC) congrats to SSgt select Hollis (Power Pro) while in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone, July-August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Comm Site - We were there for 45 days and I beleive it rained on 44 of them..Lungi-Freetown, Sierra Leone, July-August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Data technicians SrA Villareal, SSgt Russo, SSgt McGuireLungi-Freetown, Sierra Leone, July-August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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HH 60G from our location at US EmbasseyMonrovia, Liberia - July, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Local market area just outside Intl AirportLungi, Sierra Leone - August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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Maj from 86th CRG we supportedLungi, Sierra Leone - August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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SrA Hollis with local guards.Lungi, Sierra Leone - August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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SSgt Ornelas telling one of his many stories to A1C Bush.Lungi, Sierra Leone - July-September, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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John Thaxton deployed to Jordan in Jan of 2003 for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM."I spent 5 1/2 years in the Mob and never deployed for a war. I retrained into the Financial Analysis career field in 1997 for a more stable family life. Just my luck, I'm stationed at 4 bases (Travis AFB CA, Minot AFB ND, Incirlik AB TU, and Davis-Monthan AFB AZ) in a 4 year period and deployed for 6 months to support OIF as a Budget Analyst/Accountant. My 1st Combat Comm training and experience paid off. We were the 4th plane into a bare base and immediately started erecting tents for the 1,500+ personnel following us. It brought back some found memories from the all the Healthy Stars and real world exercises/deployments I participated in. I was at the site for about 3 weeks and then forward deployed to Amman to work at the Joint Contracting Center and US Embassy for the next 5 months. I got very lucky and stayed in a 5-star hotel, had my own rental car, and wore civilian clothes. I retired on 31 May 2004 after 22+ years of service. A great career overall--no regrets! The 1st Combat Comm was by far my best assignment--great people, great location, great mission, and great memories!" - John Thaxton
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SrA Shyne, Pat, Eric, Sra Villaruel, SSgt Dan Churchill, SSgt Rocco Russo, A1C Bush. Kneeling, MSgt Jeff Cockerill, SrA James, SSgt Orneleas. 1 CCSQ crew at Lungi Sierra Leone July-Sept 2003Lungi, Sierra Leone - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
Click on picture to enlarge.
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C17 ride home at Lungi, Sierra Leone airport. August, 2003Lungi, Sierra Leone - August, 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
Click on picture to enlarge.
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56 ERQS Rescue Squadron we supported at Lungi, Sierra Leone for JTF Liberia operationssLungi, Sierra Leone - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
Click on picture to enlarge.
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View of Trans-Load evac site of personnel from US Embassey Monrovia Liberia. JTF Liberia Ops, July 24 2003Lungi, Sierra Leone - 2003
Contributed by Jeff Cockerill
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