Alaska National Guard Guardian Angels Return from Afghanistan

   [ May 2011 / 6 images ]

Children hold signs eagerly waiting to welcome home thirteen Alaska Air National Guardsmen returning home from a combat search and rescue deployment May 14. Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
Sharlott Uriarte holds her son Justo while waiting for her husband Tech Sgt. Chris Uriarte to deplane a C-17 Globemaster III. Uriarte was one of thirteen Alaska Air National Guardsmen to return home from a deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan May 14 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
Erika Schrader runs out to meet her father Master Sgt. Matt Schrader as he returned from a deployment to Afghanistan May 14. The Guardsmen were flown home on a C-17 Globemaster III by a crew from the Alaska Air National Guard’s 249th Airlift Squadron. Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
Master Sgt. Matt Schrader smiles after being greeted by his wife Vicki and daughter Erika after he returned home from a deployment to Afghanistan. Schrader has been deployed with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 212th Rescue Squadron since Dec. 26. Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
Maj. Joe Conroy, 212th Rescue Squadron director of operations, shakes the hand of Tech. Sgt. Angel Santana after Santana returned home from a combat search and rescue deployment May 14. The unit was deployed for eight months, with individual Guardsmen supporting the deployment in two to four month intervals. Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
Maj. Jesse Peterson holds his daughter Cadence in his arms while sharing a laugh with 1st Lt. Aaron Hunter and his wife Lindsey after returning home from Afghanistan May 14. Thirteen Alaska Air National Guardsmen, including eleven from the 212th Rescue Squadron returned from a deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan where they provided combat search and rescue capabilities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Maj. Guy Hayes, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.