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Recent deployers share experiences with members of congress

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris met with Airmen at Club Fairchild June 2 to talk about their experiences on recent deployments. 

During the round-table discussion, also attended by Col. Scott Hanson, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, members of the 92nd Communications Squadron presented Rep. McMorris a United States flag that flew onboard a Predator during a mission over Iraq. 

Rep. McMorris, a representative of Washington state’s 5th District, requested the meeting because of her continuing interest in the well-being of Fairchild’s expeditionary Airmen and their families, said her Spokane staff. 

“She asked us for our ideas and opinions,” said Tech Sgt. Josh Wedin, a deployable team chief with the 92nd CS. “She had a down to earth attitude, like she really cared about what was going on.” 

Sergeant Wedin, along with 1st Lt. Bill Miklo, also with the communication squadron, were deployed together to Iraq. While on a visit to a forward operating location, the two men arranged to have an American flag placed onboard a Predator, an unmanned aerial vehicle, and flown on a mission over Iraq. 

During the meeting they presented the flag to the congresswoman. “She was very gracious about it,” said Sergeant Wedin. 

“She was interested in our general experiences,” said Tech. Sgt. Toby Dunlap, an emergency manager with the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron. He was deployed to Baghdad from January to May this year. 

Rep. McMorris asked the Airmen about the food and whether they ate well. “We certainly did,” said Sergeant Dunlap. “But despite that, I came back 20 pounds lighter.” 

“She actually came to visit us while we were deployed,” said Staff Sgt. Blaine Holland with the 92nd CES. He was on his second deployment to Iraq when she came through Iraq in April this year. 

For Sergeant Blaine, a crew chief on a fire engine, the best experience was helping the Iraqi people. “We were training them to do fire department work. It was a unique experience.” 

Also attending the meeting with Rep. McMorris were: Staff Sgt. Adam Thurston, Senior Airman Lazare Quintana, Airman 1st Class Chadwick Myers; and Airman Adam Osborn, all with the 92nd CES.