Airmen return from South Korea

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Jimenez
  • 482 FW Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Days away from home and 28 hours of transit time, Maj. David Black, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, arrived at Homestead Air Reserve Base exhausted early in the morning on Jan. 12. All he wanted to do was see his fiancée Jessica Martinez and his dog Bandit who were waiting for him with open arms. With 96 other Airmen arriving, Maj. Black is one of over 150 Airmen who were deployed to South Korea and happy to return home to their families after a successful deployment.

Col. Ross Anderson, 482nd Operations Group commander, said the troops were continuing their training typical for wartime.

Ms. Martinez said that she was so happy to have David coming home. It hasn't been easy for her without him here to help her day to day. Maj. Black had proposed to her right before he left. He told her over the phone how he couldn't wait to be home and see her and their dog Bandit. He had requested she bring Bandit to meet him with her when he arrived.

Master Sgt. Veronica Mosqueda, 482nd Operations Group, said that this was her first Christmas away from her son. She was so happy to be back and to spend time with him after being gone for the holidays.

Maj. Black said that he was happy to be home after being deployed for close to 70 days. He felt the deployment was a success and the Air Force's presence in South Korea made a difference with recent events that transpired.

"If things escalated, Homestead would be right there on the front lines," said Col. Donald R. Lindberg, 482nd Fighter Wing commander.