An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

773rd Airlift Squadron reservists honored for combat missions

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple
  • 910th Airlift WIng Public Affairs
More than 90 Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 773rd Airlift Squadron, one of the two flying squadrons assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing, were honored here during a 3:30 p.m. military awards ceremony Dec. 3. 

The reservists were called to active duty from December 1, 2003 to November 30, 2005 supporting six major military operations including Operations Joint Forge, Coronet Oak, Focus Relief, Shining Express, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. 

Their actual deployment locations included at least 25 countries throughout Europe, Southwest Asia, and the African continent. Over the course of this period the C-130 aircrew members transported more than 50,000 people and more than 9,000 tons of cargo on at least 5,500 flying missions, of which at least 4,500 were actual combat missions. All together, the squadron flew more than 6,000 hours during its period of activation. 

Col. Tim Thomson, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing, presented 203 Air Medals and nine Aerial Achievement Medals to 80 aircrew members of the unit at the ceremony.
The shining hope of freedom now rises with the morning sun in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq thanks in large part to the men and women of the United States military who have been defending the United States against terrorism around the globe since Sept. 11, 2001. 

Members of the 757th Airlift Squadron, the other C-130 flying unit assigned to the 910th, were recognized during a military recognition ceremony here in July.