Photo By Capt. Jade Watkins | U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Edward Deadio takes a photo in front of an F-16 fighting...... read more read more
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KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Kingdom of Thailand --
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Edward Deadio, a noncommissioned officer in charge of the weapons loading element, is a Thai native born to first-generation immigrant parents in Chicago, Illinois.
At just three months old, he was sent to Thailand to be raised by his grandparents. He would live in Thailand until he finished elementary school at which point, he moved back to the United States.
After graduating high school, Deadio returned to Thailand to further his studies and attended Swinburne University of Technology and studied computing business. Shortly after graduating the university, Deadio became an underwriter assistant but felt like something was missing.
“I was bored with my day-to-day office job, I felt like I could be traveling the world,” said Deadio. Itching for something new and exciting, Deadio decided to join the Air Force.
Nearly 17 years later, Deadio is currently stationed at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea where he was selected to be the project officer and weapons lead for his maintenance unit during Exercise Cobra Gold.
Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Deadio’s unit of approximately 110 personnel supports the 36th Fighter Squadron assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea by providing 14 reliable F-16 fighting falcons to train alongside other nations. His team’s hard work has enabled over 130 sorties during the duration of the exercise.
During the exercise Master Sgt. Deadio has had the opportunity to use his knowledge of the country and bilingual languages skills while working alongside the Royal Thai Air Force.
“It feels fantastic to be back in Thailand because I get to use my language skills to help communicate with the Thais,” said Deadio.
Master Sgt. Deadio has been able to work hand-in-hand with the RTAF throughout the exercise that spanned from Feb. 27 – Mar. 10.
“I work with the RTAF daily. Working and coordinating with the RTAF maintenance personnel in order to get our aircraft ready for the next training sortie has been my favorite moment thus far.”
Although Deadio no longer lives in Thailand, the country still holds a special place in his heart.
“Enjoying the Songkran festival is my fondest memory; the event is full of culture, family values, food and fun.”
The United States is committed to maintaining our enduring friendship with the Thai people and this exercise demonstrates our ongoing readiness to project forces throughout the region in support of our allies and partners, in order to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 03.10.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2023 19:17 |
| Story ID: | 440218 |
| Location: | KORAT, TH |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, U.S. Airman with Thai roots returns for Cobra Gold 2023, by Capt. Jade Watkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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