Security Forces Return from Deployment

  • Published
  • By Major Audra Flanagan
  • 148FW Public Affairs
DULUTH, Minn. --  Family and friends gathered on a cold and rainy day to welcome home nearly 35 Duluth, Minn., based 148th Security Forces members who were deployed to southwest Asia in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM for nearly seven-months.

Billie Jean "Bea" Hawley had two reasons to be happy. Bea is the spouse of Master Sgt. William Hawley and mother of Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Hawley, both of whom returned today. Upon returning, Master Sgt. Hawley told family and friends that "none of this was possible without the support of the families back home." There won't be a lot of relaxing for the Hawley's this weekend. The family will travel to Saint Paul from Ely to watch William receive his Master's Degree from Concordia University.

148th Mission Support Group Commander, Col. Penny Dieryck enjoyed "watching our Airmen who returned walking taller and being prouder about serving their country." She said they "did a stellar job at their deployed location."

The Security Forces specialists left in October for Fort Dix, New Jersey where they received additional combat skills training to prepare them for their deployment. Of the 35 personnel who deployed, 22 of them had previously deployed to southwest Asia; locations include: Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan (2006), Baghdad, Iraq (2005 & 2006), the United Arab Emirates (2002), and Diego Garcia (2005).