Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Cohen Young | U.S. Air Force Col. Rhude Cherry III (left), 451st Air Expeditionary Group commander,...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron deactivated in front of 200 attendees inside the squadron’s hangar at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 1, 2014.
The deactivation ceremony began with the arrival of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James Mansard, 361st ERS commander, as he piloted an MC-12W to the hangar doors, which signaled the final mission and concluded four years of activity for the squadron.
“Today was an absolute bittersweet day,” said Mansard, a native of San Diego and deployed from Beale Air Force Base, California. “To see the success that these Airmen have achieved in this battle space is nothing short of amazing. I know there is so much more we could do in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, so that’s the bittersweet part. Our Airmen have done great work and they deserve to go home and be with their families.”
Col. Rhude Cherry III, 451st Air Expeditionary Group commander, presided over the ceremony and applauded the successes of the unit.
“This unit has provided over watch for this area, which means they’re responsible for scanning 57,000 kilometers of land, 700 convoys, 190 vehicle interdictions, 150 drug caches, 320 weapons caches and most importantly, we removed 890 enemies off the battlefield as far as killed in action and another 950 detained, it’s truly remarkable,” said Cherry. “These are the last of the members, but all of the members together have truly performed magnificently and what a great mission of the last couple of years.”
According to Tech. Sgt. Gerald Haynes, a sensor operator assigned to the 361st ERS and the narrator for the ceremony, “the unit was created in response to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance requirement shortfall in the skies of Afghanistan. The MC-12W was developed under the Project Liberty program and executes its combat role using the highly modified Beechcraft 350 aircraft. Project Liberty rocketed from concept to combat in only 10 short months, which made it one of the fastest aircraft acquisition programs since the P-51 Mustang development during World War II.”
The 361st ERS was one of three Project Liberty Squadrons whose core mission was to provide real-time tactical ISR to combatant commanders in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility and the 361st ERS was the third of the three expeditionary squadrons activated utilizing the MC-12W. The first was the 362nd ERS at Balad Air Base, Iraq and the second was the 4th ERS at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, which will transfer authority to the U.S. Army Oct. 1, 2014.
Squadron members thought of the squadron’s legacy as Cherry and Mansard placed the squadron guidon into the sheath.
“When the sheath went over the guidon, I thought of the four Airmen we lost in 2013,” said Master Sgt. Illyas Asaddullah, a sensor operator and acting first sergeant for 361st ERS. “They paid the ultimate sacrifice. They weren’t doing anything different from what the rest of us are doing, but in the same token, we look at them and hope they are looking down on us and are ensuring we return safely from each mission that we take off on.
Mansard thanked everyone in the squadron and recognized a few for their dedication to the squadron and their sacrifice.
“At some point in your life, if not already, you realize both the depth of your sacrifice and the magnitude of your contributions,” said Mansard. “When you redeploy in the next few days and you pass through Baltimore … I don’t care if this was your first or your fourth deployment, when you clear customs and you walk through those gates at the terminal and you are greeted by an older gentleman wearing a VFW cap and with his hand outstretched to you and he looks you in the eye and says, ‘Welcome home,’ it is my hope that each of you will be both proud and immediately humbled by your service to our great nation.”
Although the unit cased their colors, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are done, because history has shown that they return when needed.
“This squadron was first activated in World War II in 1943 flying B-17s and later B-24s, and then it was deactivated,” said Cherry. “It was reactivated in during Vietnam flying EC-47 aircraft, then deactivated, then reactivated in 2002 for a special mission and then deactivated, so you are not over, your colors will be unfurled again … we just don’t know when and where, this squadron seems to have a life that continues on and that’s a great thing. You’ve answered your nation’s call and you’ve served with great honor.”
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2014 17:36 |
| Story ID: | 141164 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 477 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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