A Father's Day gift Home from Afghanistan Published June 23, 2011 By Senior Master Sgt. Elizabeth Gilbert 136th Airlift Wing NAS FORT WORTH JRB, Texas -- For the past week more than 140 members of the 136th Airlift Wing Maintenance and Operations Group have arrived here with smiles on their faces and eagerly jump into the arms of their love ones. They arrived home just in time for Father's Day. "I'm glad to be back," smiled Maj. Mark LaDrew, as his kids mauled him with precious hugs and kisses. The Wing members departed here on March 2011 and spent the following months in Afghanistan defending freedom. This particular deployment was very difficult for our members as well as our aircraft. There were numerous insurgent attacks that were very close calls and caused minor damage to our aircraft. To Date the 136 AW has deployed numerous times totaling more than 6,000 Airmen since 911 in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, HORIZON and NEW DAWN. "Welcome back,"said Col. John Conoley, 136 AW vice-commander, as he shook the hands of all deployers exiting the aircraft from Afghanistan and thanked them for a job well done. Though these members are back home safe and sound, reunited with their loved ones, let us not forget those who are still deployed in the war zone. Especially the family members who are left behind to care for the home front. They are just as important as their members who deployed to the area of operations in Southwest Asia.