The 104th Fighter Wing spent 3 months in Jordan with coalition forces from 19 countries.
WESTFIELD — For Tech. Sgt. Christopher Pinney, coming home was the best part of a three-month mission overseas.
“It was a very big success. We did an outstanding job,” Pinney said. “Coming home is best, it always is.”
Pinney, of Westfield, a member to the 104th Fighter Wing, was one of about 250 Air National Guard members who arrived at Barnes National Guard Base on Tuesday. They were greeted with hugs from family and friends, who chanted “Welcome Home,” while they walked into a hangar.
This was the third deployment for Pinney, but it was harder because this is the first since his 2½-year-old daughter was born.
The maintenance and operations squadrons for the 104th with eight of its F-15C/D Eagle fighter planes were involved in a massive military security training operation. In May The Republican reported the group was in Jordan working with 19 countries.
The operation was designed to strengthen the relationship between Jordan, the United States and other allied countries. It was designed to help military from different countries share and practice tactics and uses of equipment so they can work together better in war zones, Maj. Matthew Mutti, spokesman for the 104th, said in May.
For Lt. Col. Joseph Keenan, of Holyoke, the deployment was his first since he joined the National Guard two years ago at the age of 61. Keenan, a physician, served as the flight surgeon for this mission.
“The older I get I realized how lucky I was to be an American and there is a great need for flight surgeons,” he said.
Along with spending time in Jordan, Keenan, who is an ear, nose and throat specialist, said he took a side trip to Afghanistan to serve as a medical consultant.
“It was a great way to build partnerships and know people,” he said. “It was a real coalition builder.”
The biggest problem was the heat and humidity. The temperature indexes soared above 100. To prevent heat stroke, he had to make sure crews drank a lot and those working outside took breaks in the air conditioning.
“The humidity was so bad it was like swimming in the air,” said Airman 1st Class Andrew Karrasch of Belchertown. “I was happy to see trees and feel fresh air.”
Instead of blue sky there was a constant haze in the air.
This was Karrasch’s first deployment since he joined the National Guard three years ago. An electronics technician, he said he was constantly working. Most worked 12-hour shifts, six days a week.
“It was a good deployment, a good learning experience,” he said. “I learned a lot more about the jet itself.”
This was the fifth deployment for Tech. Sgt. Matt Chapman, of Russell, who worked on the ground support equipment for the jets.
“It was very well run,” he said. “The squadron did a good job.”