National Air Guard Members Deployed to Afghanistan
National Air Guard Members Deployed to Afghanistan Save Email Print
Posted: 2:07 PM Dec 28, 2008
 Last Updated: 8:26 PM Dec 28, 2008
 Reporter: Carrie Jones
Email Address: Carrie.Jones@wsaz.com
16 comments
A | A | A

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Another emotional day of goodbyes as more members of the 130th Airlift Wing were sent overseas to help fight the war on terrorism.

About 30 troops were deployed Sunday to serve an up to four month tour in Afghanistan.

The group uses their C-130 aircraft to move military forces, equipment and supplies. They sometimes even provide air evacuations for wounded soldiers and provide help to the civilians in the regions they serve.

This is not the first time these National Air Guard members have spent time away for home, but for some it's their first time serving in Afghanistan.

"I worry about everything, what can happen here when I'm away and what can happen to me while I'm away," said Air Guard member Meredith Gray.

Gray also has more worries this trip. She's only been married for two months and now has a whole new family to say goodbye to.

"I'm amazed by all the things she does," said her husband Pat Gray. "I'll remember her bright beautiful eyes and her brilliant smile, waking up to that every morning and I can't wait until she returns and I see those things."

For other families, these goodbyes are just a way of life.

John Hill has dealt with his brother's absence for years.

"For my family, this is what their life is, " said Hill. "This is what their dad does."

This is the first wave of more than 150 members of the 130th Airlift Wing that will be deployed to Afghanistan over the next couple of months.

[ Copyright 2009 – WSAZ.com. All Rights Reserved. ]
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Severe Weather and Breaking News Coverage

To send a news tip or submit a story idea, e-mail news@wsaz.com

More Stories
UPDATE: Missing Teen Found Safe in Cabell County

Fed Ex Truck Gets Stuck in Huntington Viaduct

Columbus Children's Hospital to Open Center in Ironton

Traffic Stop Leads to Six Arrests

 Jack Whittaker's Daughter Found Dead

Local Company Expanding, Adding 30 Jobs

Ky. Congressmen, Federal Courthouses Receive Threatening Letters

Grayson Raises More than $600,000 in Potential Senate Bid
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Lora on Jan 9, 2009 at 10:08 AM
how sad that you, jmiller, think the 4 months is a drop in the bucket. have youever had a loved one go off to war? probably not or you would not have made such an assinine remark! the freedom you have to make such remarks are being protected by MY cousins who are over there right now! what a sad soul you must be!
Posted by: Gertie on Jan 9, 2009 at 12:33 AM
oh, yesi forgot to mention that i had one grantson and a cousin, on htat flight sat. i wish to god that none of our families members would have to go. but i thanks god somebody has the love for their families and country to step up to the olate. all my love and prayers to all our boys and girls that stand tall for what they believe in.
Posted by: GERTIE MOOEW on Jan 9, 2009 at 12:26 AM
It's so sad to read something like this. i wonder just how his family would feel if he had the courage to go where these boys are going. and doing what they are doing???? have you ever been in the service? do you have family you would want to protect???? answer sll these questions and then sit down and we'll talk about it. god bless you my friend , you seemed to be a badly misguided person.
Posted by: GDP on Jan 8, 2009 at 09:28 PM
Well JMILLER thanks to the drop in the bucket of four months...you have freedom. You should be thanking these men and women instead of leaving ignorant comments for the nation to see. If its so easy maybe you should sign up?
Posted by: TRINA CRADDOCK on Jan 8, 2009 at 04:46 PM
My husband was one of those brave women and men that was deployed Saturday. He has been on other deployments before and if it's one day or 6 months they are still PROTECTING YOUR FREEDOM AND YOU JMILLER, it's sad that my husband, my childrens father has to serve and protect people like JMILLER. One day seems like an eternity to me and my children, they miss their dad everyday. If you had any sense at all you would be praying for their safe return to their families. And go get a book and read about Afghanistan, it's winter over there right now. I thank God that people like you are not fighting for this country, we would be in a world of trouble. People like JMILLER makes my sick to my stomach. KEEP OUR SOLDIERS IN YOUR PRAYERS AND THAT THEY RETURN HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES, THEY MAKE ME VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M AN AMERICAN.
Posted by: daisy on Dec 31, 2008 at 02:12 PM
my husband retired from the 130th and served in Gulf I - he was gone for 6 months and 6 days and I was never so thrilled as when those big planes returned him to me - don't think that because they are on an air base and not out in the field that they are not in danger - EVERYPLACE in that part of the world is dangerous for our service personnel - they are not kicking back and having a good time - they are doing a necessary job and counting the days until they can return to their families and loved ones - just because the time is short doesn't make it any less painful for those involved - Please keep these men and women in your prayers that they will return at the end of their time as safe and healthy as they were when they left.
Posted by: Austin on Dec 29, 2008 at 11:56 PM
My cousin was sent over their yesterday with this airborne. It was very depressing and its also sad that people like JMiller doesn`t respect for what soldiers are doing over seas to protect our freedom. God Bless my cousin and the Miltary.
Posted by: Air Guard cousin on Dec 29, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I have to agree with Air guard wife.I was down to say goodbye to my cousin and its really sad that people like JMiller doesn`t respect people that are risking their lives for your freedom.They might not be in a line of fire but their still away from home and their families.Good luck to all the people fighting for our freedom.
Posted by: Air Guard Wife on Dec 29, 2008 at 03:40 PM
For your info JMiller i'm the wife of one of those air guard members that will be leaving soon, one day in Afghanistan is to long, for your info they will NOT be in Khandahar and it will NOT be warm. SO JMiller why don't you join the military and go get ya one of those suntans. God Bless my husband and all the men and woman of the 130th and the military!!!!!
Posted by: ? on Dec 29, 2008 at 02:01 PM
I would like to thank all of those men and women out fighting for our country. You are brave men and women. I couldn't imagine leaving your family never knowing if you will see them again. May God be with all of you and hope you have a safe return.......GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES !!!!! THANK YOU !!!!
Posted by: Sabrina on Dec 29, 2008 at 10:16 AM
God Bless each one of them for the sacrifices they make for each of us---I love you Curt & we will all miss you--we can't wait until all of you come home safely---you are all American Heros!
Posted by: JMiller on Dec 29, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Big deal, four months is a drop in the bucket. The air guard will be set up nice on the air base in khandahar getting a suntan.
Posted by: Navy Wife on Dec 29, 2008 at 08:15 AM
My prayers and thoughts go out with you. My husband retired with 20 yrs. of Navy and each time he left it never got easier. Be safe and May God protect you as you protect the United States of America.
Posted by: navy daughter on Dec 28, 2008 at 06:11 PM
God speed to you all. Praying for your safety and your families strength.
Posted by: watcher on Dec 28, 2008 at 05:25 PM
May God's protection be with you.
Go to our mobile site | Make this your homepage (IE)
WSAZ.com Most Popular / Most Comments
National News Headlines
PHONE IN YOUR YELLS TO: 1-866-616-5354
The Yell: Comments for the Week of 7/5
  • Posted By: to food for thought: i think you have solved the mystery on m.t.r.obama pay back of the unions.lets see if the so called news investigates this theory.but aren,t news media union too.wont hear any thing from them.left up to the peons and peasants to bring up truth ful news.
  • Posted By: Keith: Anon. it would seem Big Earl is sick of you too. And Food for Thought, great comment, Cecil Roberts is a joke and a sorry excuse for a labor leader he seems to as big a dunce as his buddy Obama. Look at the union under him and figure it out. So hows the hope and change working for everyone? Another half million jobs lost in June. Trace it back folks, the economy went belly up when it bacame apparent the democrat party was going to nominate a radical, ignorant, inexperienced marxist to their ticket. Economists tell us that full employment is considered at an unemployment rate of 4.7%, a year ago unemployment was at 5%. But you all know, Bush was soooo stupid. Look at how the war in Iraq turned out...ooops can't use that one, look at how great the economy is now...oops, can't use that one...well everybody hated us when Bush was in office and now everybody just loooves us and helps us out in the world, well, oops, look at N. Korea, Iran, can't use that one. Some of you really got fooled.
  • Posted By: Bob & Meg: What I want to know is how many times does the water company have to be notified that water is coming up from the street on East Gardner Ave. in Belle? Bugs are getting bad and sometimes it has a sewer smell to it. Get on the ball WVAWC!
  • Posted By: politically correct again: do video on left wing coal protesters,tea party ,a grudgeing few sentences.i wrote a longer anynallyse,but i dont see it,it must have been too much truth for liberal left wing so called reporting.but we do have some truth seeker else where,they,re catching on.....
  • Posted By: jesco: What a disappointment the Ashland Summer Motion was for our children. No focus on the children whatsoever...........The hospitals were the main focus along with the motorcycle show..... very little for the children to enjoy. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!
  • Posted By: Ben Chambers: YOUR DECISION TO SHOW MJ FUNERAL IN PLACE OF DAYS IS VERY POOR AND NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAME. MAYBE A NEW PROGRAM DIRECTOR IS IN ORDER.
  • Posted By: : RE: Worm in Water If you will Google "hair worm", you will be given millions of pages of information concerning the hair worm. There used to be a myth that a horse hair put in water would turn into a worm. From experience, it doesn't work.
  • Posted By: food for thought: WSAZ I ask of you please do a a follow up story of the 6 weeks of rain that we had so some of these people who have forgotten will have some miniscule sense of thereselves to know that ALL THAT RAIN would cause flooding anywhere. Here is another story. Find UMWA president MR. Roberts and ask him why he hasn't come out and had his brothers and sisters to be involved in keeping there MTR jobs.All these people that say Massey is a Union breaking company should be worried in salvaging the jobs they do have. It's not rocket science, UMWA supports Obama, in return Obama may reward them. This may be from left field but believe I am on to something. Isn't it strange the protesters only target Massey. Most of them are led to believe there are NO union jobs in WV. HOW STRANGE!? Here is the hunch I have WV politicians don't like Don B and the Union supports Obama. So sounds like a money trail to me for the hippies. Just a thought, but makes for good reporting. Big Earl lets make the idea reality!
  • Posted By: To Fat Earl: You're losing! Ha,Ha!
  • Posted By: Diane: Buck, I agree. When it comes to kids playing sports (not just in the summer), the parents are CRAZY! They just need to "cut the cord" and allow their children, the refs, and coaches worry about the games. Now if you have a parent who is a coach just watch out...that is a double wammy!
  • Posted By: jbug: i saw on the news this morning obama is in russia and he took the family,people are upset about gov of south carolinia takeing a trip on taxpayers money,witch he agreed to payback, is obama going to pay for his familys plane tickets,hotel bill,food and entertainment or will it us taxpayers.....
  • Posted By: : I for one am sick and tired of reading the same bs that big earl keeps spewing out. All you ever hear is peta, tree huggers, hippies. People who made a difference in this world and who are smart enough to care, should be honored instead of being bashed by some people who have the mentality of the monkeys who they believed they evolved from. also big earl keep on believing that your idol, who you worship and adore so much is smarter than a nasa scientist, apparently you haven't been around any smart people.
  • Posted By: bias obious: if anyone has had a dought about left wing liberal news bias,heres a glaring clue.anti coal party,news,with video.tea party,productive people concerned with socialism,taxed into poverty,a czar run government,etc,no video ,a disintrested report,yawn,yawn,yawn.thankfully we now have an alternative to this liberal bias with conservative talk radio,internet news ,alternate t.v. etc.there is a good article on world net daily about the vietnam war.hollywood was running the war then too.
  • Posted By: buck: why is it w/ summer sports it seems the parents make it all about them instead of the kids. am i wrong or do alot of these parents seem to want to relive life again through the kids. or even worse make a claim to being so good at whatever the sport the parent did that they push the kid all because of what they did 'or never did'. These parents also seem to be the really high ego type person. funny thing is if the parent was so good then why arent they pro or at least a great college player. what i have noticed is the the kids w/ the parent who did play college or was on the verge of being pro does not press the issue. they allow the kids to play ball. just my opinion
  • Posted By: Big Earl: Well hello again good working coal people of WV this is Big Earl and I hope everyone had a nice holiday wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a holiday or one of them permenant vacations from all the tree hugger types and hippies that are barging into our communities uninvited tying to run all our jobs off. Well good people I am calling on those who have the means to do so and you know who you are so lets pony up some cash and have our own protest here in the coal fields to support our coal miners. I seen on this very TV station where the tree huggers held a rally and a cookout with a bunch of Grateful Dead hippie wanttobees singing about the trees and polar bears but we can do one better. We can have it down at the coal festival in Madison people I say invite some real singers who aint got above there raisin like WV adopted son Mr. Charlie Daniels and how about Alabama since they have coal down there to. Invite Gov. Joe and them people from Washington DC that is a good way to find out who is pretending to be a friend of coal and who is really on our side. We could even make Mother Jones bobblehead dolls to give away I for one would like to see her set loose on these tree huggers that have invaded Cabin Creek trying to run off her beloved coal miners. You could pull a string and she would say #** !!##**!! Tree huggers.
Click Here to Read Story and Post Comments
First Warning Hour-By-Hour Forecasts
+ Ashland, KY
+ Athens, OH
+ Beckley, WV
+ Charleston, WV
+ Clarksburg, WV
+ Clay, WV
+ Gallipolis, OH
+ Huntington, WV
+ Ironton, OH
+ Logan, WV
+ Morgantown, WV 		+ Paintsville, KY
+ Parkersburg, WV
+ Pikeville, KY
+ Pomeroy, OH
+ Portsmouth,OH
+ Ripley, WV
+ Spencer, WV
+ Sutton, WV
+ Wayne, WV
+ Wheeling, WV
+ Williamson, WV
SearchKOW Business of the Day
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
Healthy Tri-State
Live a healthier lifestyle in 2009
SOMC
Very good things are happening here
Moms4Moms
By moms, for moms
WV Lottery
Nightly drawings and numbers
Big Sandy
For all your furniture and appliance needs