Home Front
My wife and kids had it a lot more difficult than I did in many ways. I knew what I was dealing with. They knew little more than I was flying in a shooting war. I couldn't explain to them my level of risk. The open-endedness of the deployment was difficult as well. We were there until we came home.
     — Maj. Tyler Otten

Fresh Scent
Ninety percent of the guys there had it much worse than we did. The Army guys are still there. The plane didn't smell quite as fresh when the guys were coming out for R&R.
     — MSgt. Trevor Williams

Canceled Orders
I've been at the base for four years working on F-117s that did nothing but training missions. I got orders to go to Korea just before we were to deploy to the Middle East for OIF. I canceled my orders so I could deploy to Qatar. I'm glad I stayed with the unit and went to the desert. I have a lot more pride in my job after seeing the airplane used in combat. The job can get repetitious. To launch a jet with bombs and see it return without them is exciting. The experience makes training more meaningful.
     — Amn. RW Ehart

Red Tails
The guys in Baghdad were always looking for the aircraft with the red tail bands. They knew we would be bringing in extra food, along with whatever supplies we had. Everybody would throw something extra in to take to the guys up there.
     — SrA. Justin McClellan

Gaining Experience
OIF was a good experience for me even though I didn't fly. I worked in the mission planning cell. I deployed because I wanted to be part of the team. This was my first deployment after pilot training. I had been in the unit for only five months. The open timeframe and uncertainty surrounding a return date was the most difficult part for the families. We didn't know how to prepare ourselves or our families for such unknowns. We were very lucky that the deployment lasted only two months.
     — Lt. Tom Kelly

Job One
I tried to keep the unit focused on the situation: We have one job, that is, kick Saddam Hussein's butt and get home safely. We had to work together because our lives depended on each other, whether on the ground or in the air.
     — Lt. Col. Andy Larson

Refueling Pods
Refueling pods are as complicated as any system on the aircraft. The hydraulics and hose gears work very hard, and they do require considerable maintenance. They are hard to troubleshoot, too, because so many systems are tied into them. Still, we never missed a refueling mission—not one.
     — SMSgt. Russ Withrow

Biggest Improvement
The biggest improvement going from SCU 4 to SCU 5 is JDAM capability. The combination of SADL ability with the Litening pod proved to be a fantastic tool for identifying targets. The combination made it easier for ground forces to hand off targets to us.
     — Lt. Col. John Reed

Show It Some Love
The C-141 is still a great aircraft. She just needs a little love.
     — SSgt. Jay Sherman