911th Airlift Wing Security Forces Volunteers Return Home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Hehnly
  • 911 AW/PA
PITTSBURGH IAP ARS --  Thirteen Security Forces personnel returned to the 911th Airlift Wing from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan this month. The returning group replaced a Royal Air Force team from Lakenheath, England, which came under attack at the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany this past year.

The thirteen Airmen quickly answered the call to duty when the request for volunteers came in March to replace the Royal Air Force team. In less than 72 hours a squad of Security Forces volunteers was put together.

Senior Airman Domenic Mash said they got ready for pre-deployment training within a week and were in country by April.

Senior Airman Mash, along with Senior Airman Keith Graft, volunteered for the deployment knowing that they would both miss the birth of their first children.

At the end of their tour, Graft and Mash were given the opportunity to return a week early from overseas to surprise their wives. The surprise reunion took place on air, during HLN's "Morning Express with Robin Meade", Sept. 14.

"Our wives thought they were doing a salute to the troops," said Senior Airman Graft. "They thought we were still in Afghanistan."

During the emotional homecoming event, the two Airmen were reunited with their wives and were introduced to their children for the first time

"They were definitely surprised when we walked out," said Senior Airman Mash with a large smile on his face.

A week later Graft and Mash would have another surprise up their sleeves. On Sept. 21, Graft, Mash and four members of the 911th Security Forces Squadron's command section hopped on a C-130 to meet the remaining 11 Security Forces personnel as they came back to the United States.

The joyous reunion allowed Graft and Mash to regroup with their unit and be a part of the last leg of their journey home. Family, numerous members of the unit, and members of the media were all in attendance to welcome the squad back to Pittsburgh.