D.C. Air Guard Unit Arriving Home from Afghanistan in Time for Christmas

WASHINGTON, DC (12/21/2011)(readMedia)-- Approximately 175 members of the D.C. Air Guard's 113th Wing will be returning home from Afghanistan Friday, Dec. 23, at Joint Base Andrews (formerly Andrews AFB) in Maryland. Their arrival comes just in time for the holiday season. They will be met by their families and friends.

The media is invited to attend. Members of the media are asked to meet at the Joint Base Andrews Visitors Center at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Please contact Lt. Col. Kevin McAndrews at (202) 821-7181 or kevin.m.mcandrews@us.army.mil if you plan to cover the event.

The 113th Wing deployed the aviation package earlier this year and became the first Air Guard F-16 unit to conduct combat operations in Afghanistan.

"Our aviation package replaced an active duty unit in theater, proving that we are a responsive, accessible force answering our nation's call," said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Johnson, 113th Wing commander.

The deployed Airmen included pilots, aircraft maintainers, intelligence specialists, and dozens of supporting officers and enlisted personnel from D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

The 113th Wing was in high-demand immediately after entering combat operations in theater. Pilots of the 121st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, as it was designated during the deployment, dropped ordnance on a high-value target during their first mission, saving many lives of coalition forces.

"Each 113th Wing member who deployed sacrificed a great deal of time away from their families to execute this mission," Johnson said. "I couldn't be more proud of them."