Oklahoma reserve unit leaves for Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Oklahoma reserve unit leaves for Iraq
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 8:19:46 EST

OKLAHOMA CITY — Leaving loved ones behind will be hard, but Senior Airman Brian Baxter knew it was inevitable.

“It’s expected when you join,” Baxter, of Oklahoma City, said Thursday of his deployment overseas. “I joined to serve my country. I wanted to do something at some point.”

Baxter and 39 others said farewell to family members and friends as the 507th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit, left Thursday for Iraq.

The squadron will protect an American air base in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Members of the 507th have deployed routinely since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but this is the first deployment for many of the security forces members, said Maj. Robert Baird, squadron commander.


Rest of this IRR article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_oklahoma_080118/