Minnesota Airmen in Bagram Airfield

Senior Airman Jessica Dahlquist, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, works on a C-130 engine in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on March 30, 2012. Dahlquist is deployed from the 133rd Airlift Wing in St. Paul, Minn. USAF official photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Ressie (released)

Minnesota Airmen in Bagram Airfield

Technical Sgt. Corey Redder, 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, positions an aircraft jack under a C-130 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on March 28, 2012. Redder is deployed from the 133rd Airlift Wing in St. Paul, Minn. USAF official photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Ressie (released)

Minnesota Airmen in Bagram Airfield

C-130 maintenance crews from the 133rd Airlift Wing, currently deployed to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, pause for a group photo on March 23, 2012 in a hangar. They have been deployed from the Minnesota Air National Guard since early March and are responsible for keeping the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s “Hercules” military cargo aircraft flying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. USAF official photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Ressie (released)

Commander in chief with troops in Bagram Airfield

President Barack Obama interacts with troops on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 2. DOD photo by Sgt. Roland Hale, Combined Joint Task Force 1 – Afghanistan (released)

Welcome home

Gay McEwen welcomes her daughter Master Sergeant Sheri Bailey 133rd Airlift Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron home from a sixty day deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Twenty nine Airmen arrived at the St. Paul Air National Guard Base on the Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 on September16, 2010. USAF official photo by Tech Sgt Erik Gudmundson

Two wheels down

A 133rd Airlift Wing Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 Hecules cargo aircraft lands after deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Twenty nine Airmen arrived at the St. Paul Air National Guard Base on the Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 on September16, 2010 after a 60 day deployment to Afghanistan. USAF official photo by Tech Sgt Erik Gudmundson

The Wings looked like this

Master Sergeant Thomas Penney 133rd Maintenance Squadron interviewed while daughter describes the landing of the C-130 Hercules returning from Afghanistan. Twenty nine Airmen arrived at the St. Paul Air National Guard Base on the Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 on September16, 2010. USAF official photo by Tech Sgt Erik Gudmundson

A happy return

Technical Sergeant Leon Perterson 133rd Maintenance Squadron 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard walks with his family from a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft. During the third wave of returns for the 133rd Airlift Wing from Afghanistan wing leadership, family members and friends greet Airmen after the two month deployment as soon as loved ones get off the "Hercules" military cargo aircraft. Twenty nine Airmen arrived at the St. Paul Air National Guard Base on the Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 on September 10, 2010. USAF official photo by Tech Sgt Erik Gudmundson

Minnesota aircraft delivers aid to Pakistan

The United States provided humanitarian relief to Pakistan shortly after July 29, 2010 flooding left hundreds reported dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. The first American military aircraft to fly into Pakistan with assistance was from the Minnesota Air National Guard. Thousands of Halal meals were delivered by a C-130H assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 1, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

455th delivers aid to Pakistan

Pakistani Air Force members help unload thousands of Halal meals from a U.S. Air Force C-130H at Peshawar, Pakistan, Aug. 1, 2010. The meals will go to Pakistanis affected by the floods that have devastated the region. The C-130H is assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

455th delivers aid to Pakistan

Thousands of Halal meals are ready to be loaded on to a C-130H at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 1, 2010. The Halal meals will be delivered to Pakistan as part of a humanitarian relief mission flown by the U.S. Air Force. Monsoon floods brought on by torrential rains have in Pakistan have devastated hundreds of thousands. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Second wave arrives from Afghanistan

During the second wave of returns for the 133rd Airlift Wing from Afghanistan, family members and friends get their hugs, and then the commercial news media engage Airmen for comments about the two month deployment . Twenty nine Airmen arrived at the St. Paul Air National Guard Base on the Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 on July 16, 2010. USAF official photo by Senior Master Sgt. Mark Moss