April 17, 2003
First security forces deactivated at Westover
By Master Sgt. Tom Allocco
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. (AMCNS) - Days after M-1 tanks rolled into Baghdad, Westover marked a second milestone in the war on terrorism with the first deactivation of security forces.
A demobilization line was set up April 11 for 25 members of the 439th Security Forces Squadron who were activated in the aftermath of 9/11. About 20 more members are expected to be deactivated in early May.
Brig. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, 439th Airlift Wing commander, addressed the security specialists as they started the demobilization process. He said no one at Westover paid a bigger mobilization price.
"I can't overestimate the value of having you here almost two years, creating a safe work environment so we could get the mission done. Be sure when you get home to thank your families and employers," the wing commander said.
The first security specialist through the demobilization line was Staff Sgt. Chris Dion, who had been in uniform since November 2001. In the uncertain days after 9/11, he was among those who bolstered security at the gate and reinforced the security patrols on the flightline and along the fence perimeter.
Later, he spent six months at MacDill AFB, Fla., home of U.S. Central Command and Special Operations, where his duties included working with the K-9 program. He had his picture taken with Gen. Tommy Franks, USCENTCOM commander. Now he's planning to marry the Florida woman he met at MacDill and transfer to Homestead AFB, Fla. He leaves the Patriot Wing with good memories.
"One of the reasons I switched from the Army to the Air Force was because I saw the opportunity for activation and a greater role. It's definitely been an interesting year and a half. The deployment to MacDill was a real world situation," he said.
Tech. Sgt. Tim Brock was activated just a few weeks after 9/11. He spent the summer of 2002 at Kapaun Air Station, Germany, guarding mobile radar sites supporting Operation Joint Forge Bosnia missions.
He looked forward to returning to his job for the Veterans Administration, Northampton. He knows what a long activation means to those left at home.
"I was proud to serve my country. But, it was difficult not knowing if you were going to be deploying next week, if you were going to war.
"My wife is not from a military background. It was stressful for her not knowing. She kept saying, 'If you've got to go, you've got to go. I support you all the way, but ...' It was almost a relief when I went to Germany because at least we knew," he said.
Tech. Sgt. Chris Kellam flew Phoenix Raven missions out of a Pakistan air force base into Afghanistan from August through December 2002. He was part of a 13-member 439th SFS squad headed by Master Sgt. Greg Quill, which flew security missions on C-130s into Bahgram Air Base and the cities of Kandahar, Khost, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif while they were in on the frontline of the war on terror.
"All the guys who went on the deployment were happy to go to Afghanistan. We felt we did the mission we trained for. There was a sense of fulfillment after 9/11. I think we all wanted to get over there and do our part," Sergeant Kellam said.
Like others, he agreed that the deployment was toughest on families. He left behind his wife and 10-year-old son. "The first sergeant, Master Sgt. Dan Major, stayed in contact with our families. That really helped," he said.
Senior Airman Raymond Harris was working as security forces ART on Sept. 11, 2001. He was sleeping that morning after the midnight shift when his brother called with news that planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. He immediately reported to his squadron.
"A lot of others just came in. There was a sense of pride. They just knew they had to be here when needed, to prove that it's not a one weekend a month job," Airman Harris said.
Master Sgt. Thomas Gaglione returned to his job as an Essex County Sheriff after serving as NCOIC of Force Protection. He was among security members who organized a summer picnic for everyone on base and made donations to the Family Support Center. Security specialists were working 12-hour shifts and many were staying on base at night.
"The Family Support Center helped a lot of families. When troops were in need, they assisted them," he said.
Gaglione and others said they were leaving with mixed emotions while fellow security specialists are serving here and overseas. "That's the hardest part of being the first group to demobilize," he said.
"The camaraderie of the troops and the morale they
displayed are going to be missed because I won't be with them until we join back
up on the UTA ... the morale stayed strong through everything," Sergeant
Gaglione said, speaking for himself and everyone who wears the blue beret.
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