Preparing to leave

1st Lt. Devon Bledsoe, 823rd Base Defense Squadron member, sits beside his wife before deploying at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Members of the 823rd BDS waited in an auditorium before departing on their deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Douglas Ellis)(RELEASED)

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Family time

Staff Sgt. Josh Wells, 823rd Base Defense Squadron member, sits with his family before deploying to Afghanistan at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Col. Randall Richert, 820th Base Defense Group commander, briefed the Airmen and their families on their upcoming mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Douglas Ellis)(RELEASED)

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Final moments with family

2nd Lt. Shane Watts, 823rd Base Defense Squadron member, says goodbye to his family at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Friends and family members were in attendance to show their support of the 823rd BDS as they deployed to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Douglas Ellis)(RELEASED)

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Saying goodbye

Madison and Heather Watts walk away as they say goodbye to 2nd Lt. Shane Watts, 823rd Base Defense Squadron member as he was boarding the bus to deploy from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The 823rd BDS Airmen deployed for about six months to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Paul Francis)(RELEASED)

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Please don’t go

Staff Sgt. Chris Bonhorst, 823rd Base Defense Squadron member, hugs his wife, Senior Airman Brittany Bonhorst, 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron member, before departing for a deployment at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Members of the 823rd BDS will be deployed to Afghanistan for at least six months. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Douglas Ellis)(RELEASED)

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Hug goodbye

Members of the 823rd Base Defense Squadron give their goodbyes to the deploying Airmen at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. After receiving their goodbyes, the deploying Airmen loaded onto a bus and began their deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Douglas Ellis)(RELEASED)

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823rd BDS supports war efforts in Afghanistan

Published June 1, 2011

Preparing to leave

Family time

Final moments with family

Saying goodbye

Please don’t go

Hug goodbye