Okla. Guard fighter wing sent off to Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Okla. Guard fighter wing sent off to Iraq
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Sep 12, 2008 10:08:27 EDT

TULSA, Okla. — The families of 225 members of an Oklahoma Air National Guard unit stood in the rain to send off their loved ones who are being deployed to Iraq.

The fact that Thursday’s ceremony took place on the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks wasn’t lost on those who attended.

The anniversary made it all the more important to complete the missions in the Middle East, said Jenks resident Mike Schoonover, who was saying farewell to his son, Senior Airman Brian Schoonover, a member of the Tulsa-based 138th Fighter Wing.

Melodee Taber, who was there to send off her son, 19-year-old Senior Airman David Taber, agreed.

“Especially today, when we are remembering why we’re going over there,” said Taber, whose husband, Thomas, retired from the Air Force after fighting in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_oklahomaguard_091108/%2e