MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Members assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron and 75th Fighter Generation Squadron returned Dec. 8, 2023, to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, from a deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.
More than 200 Airmen supported the A-10 Thunderbolt II mission there for over nine months.
“The Tigersharks provided close-air support capabilities to U.S. Central Command, which enhances integration with our partners in the region,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Keilen, 23rd Fighter Group deputy commander. “I am proud of the hard work our teammates put in, and through their efforts, we’ve strengthened international ties and fostered relationships crucial for regional security and stability.”
The work the two squadrons performed was vital, but the cost for families was high.
“All deployments feel long, but this one was especially difficult,” said Staff Sgt. Dorymar Rojas, spouse of Tech. Sgt. Delrico Harris from the 75th FGS. “We’re all thankful of what they did out there, and we’re extremely proud of the accomplishments of the whole team … but it was time for them to come home.
“Rico’s return is the best gift we could have gotten in time for the holidays,” she added.
The homecoming celebration included music and food, and more than 500 people attended to congratulate the returning Airmen for a job well done.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the men and women of the 75th,” Keilen said. “Their dedication and toughness have not gone unnoticed. Any deployment is hard, but they continued to take the fight to the enemy through multiple extensions. They’ve absolutely lived up to the Tigershark and Flying Tiger legacy.”