Whiteman Airmen return from Guam

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Whiteman leadership, friends and families welcomed more than 200 Airmen home May 29 and May 31 following a deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. 

More than 150 family members, friends and co-workers were on the flight line to welcome the deployed members home when the first plane landed around 8 p.m.

The four-month deployment, the sixth from Whiteman since March 1998, was led by the 13th Bomb Squadron and included more than 250 members of the 509th Maintenance Group and 509th Operations Support Squadron. 

The 13th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron completed more than 120 sorties with more than 700 flying hours and upgraded several pilots within 110 days. 

"The men and women of Whiteman are key players in providing unmatched combat power anytime, anywhere in the world," said Col. John Robinson, 509th Bomb Wing vice commander. 

"The deployment to Andersen provided our crews an excellent opportunity to train, meanwhile gaining valuable real world experience in a forward-operating location environment. We are glad our Airmen are home to be with their families," Colonel Robinson said. 

As the doors to the aircraft opened, faces in the crowd lit up and several children held up welcome home signs. As the deployed Airmen's family and friends anticipated watched their loved ones step off the plane and once again be held in each other's arms. 

Among the crowd, Hannah Germain, 3, waited anxiously for her father to emerge from the aircraft. Capt. Shaun Germain was welcomed home by open arms from his daughter as well as his wife, Cat. The 13th Bomb Squadron member was deployed as part of the B-2's continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

"I'm happy to have him back home," Mrs. Germain said, adding it will be nice having him home spending time with his family. 

"Deterrence is a principle part of our mission and a major part of that is demonstrating our ability to deploy to other parts of the world," Colonel Robinson said. "Of course when the deployment is over, we are always happy to get our Airmen back home safely to be with their loved ones.  When called upon, the 509th Bomb Wing stands ready to answer its Nations call."