Charleston's 15th Airlift Squadron deploys

Image by U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Timothy TaylorImage by 20080828deployment.jpg Fiance Jessica McDonnell embraces Capt. Alexander Lammi, before his deployment with the 15th Airlift Squadron from the air base terminal in Charleston on Wednesday, August 27.

More than 130 airmen from Charleston Air Force Base's 15th Airlift Squadron, 437th Operations Support Squadron and 437th Maintenance Group deployed on Wednesday (August 27).

The Charleston Air Force Base explains:
For this deployment, the squadron is deploying to a single base where they will fly and manage missions in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. The squadron will assume control of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from the 14th Airlift Squadron based out of Charleston AFB, who will return home within the next couple of weeks. ...

Their deployment marks the seventh time an entire Charleston C-17 squadron has deployed for an operation.

Live 5 News has a story that focuses more on the emotional side of deployment, saying in part:
"Hey, hold my hand," Captain Ben Tarkowski told one of his son, as he walked with his wife and their second son.

It's the third time Tarkowski is being deployed. It doesn't get easier, he said.

The Air Force also has a small photo-gallery from the deployment.

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