Welcome Home Squadron 138 "Yellow Jackets"
08-26-2007, 07:24 PM
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Welcome Home Squadron 138 "Yellow Jackets"
Thank you for your service!
SEATTLE - Sunday was a happy day for NAS Whidbey families as they welcomed home loved ones from duty in the Middle East.
Members of the Electronic Attack Squadron 138 "Yellow Jackets" returned from a seven-month deployment supporting both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from the USS John C. Stennis, a Bremerton-based aircraft carrier.
The Yellowjackets are radar and communications jammers who provide electronic cover for bombers and ground troops.
Among those returning was Lt. Rick Burns. He and wife Erin had been separated for 7 months of their 18-month marriage and half of baby Jillian's 14-month life.
"She's talking, she's walking. She wasn't doing any of that when I first left. She was barely crawling around," said Burns.
In addition to combat missions to Iraq, the 200 men and women had more than 650 flight hours of combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Yellow Jackets also took part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 near Guam, with two other carrier battle groups and several Air Force squadrons.
But Lt. Burns said the work done back here on the home front was much appreciated.
"I'm very proud of their sacrifice as well," he said. "They've had to take care of themselves for the past 7 months and they've done a great job."
This is just the beginning of Western Washington homecomings. On Friday, the crew of the USS Stennis returns to its homeport in Bremerton.
SEATTLE - Sunday was a happy day for NAS Whidbey families as they welcomed home loved ones from duty in the Middle East.
Members of the Electronic Attack Squadron 138 "Yellow Jackets" returned from a seven-month deployment supporting both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from the USS John C. Stennis, a Bremerton-based aircraft carrier.
The Yellowjackets are radar and communications jammers who provide electronic cover for bombers and ground troops.
Among those returning was Lt. Rick Burns. He and wife Erin had been separated for 7 months of their 18-month marriage and half of baby Jillian's 14-month life.
"She's talking, she's walking. She wasn't doing any of that when I first left. She was barely crawling around," said Burns.
In addition to combat missions to Iraq, the 200 men and women had more than 650 flight hours of combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Yellow Jackets also took part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 near Guam, with two other carrier battle groups and several Air Force squadrons.
But Lt. Burns said the work done back here on the home front was much appreciated.
"I'm very proud of their sacrifice as well," he said. "They've had to take care of themselves for the past 7 months and they've done a great job."
This is just the beginning of Western Washington homecomings. On Friday, the crew of the USS Stennis returns to its homeport in Bremerton.
