NC Air National Guard 145th Airlift Wing deploys to Middle East

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Members of the North Carolina Air National Guard deployed Wednesday morning to the Middle East.

More than 100 members of the 145th Airlift Wing were activated to provide the movement of troops and supplies.

They will be gone for four to six months, supporting the troops involved in Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Key components of that mission are counterterrorism operations.

Behind the smiling faces of families waving goodbye at the runway, hearts were aching.

"How do you stay strong these next few months?" asked Jason Smidelski.

The 9-year old burst into tears, saying, "I don't know."

Summer Smidelski held her hurting son after his father boarded his plane.

"I go day-by-day. I can't see between now and a month later, just day-by-day," she said. "I'm proud of him and I just can't wait for him to get back home."

Her husband will be gone for approximately 122.

As her 13-year-old daughter watched her father depart, her smile melted into tears and words slipped out that she will keep repeating until he's home again.

"I love you," Brianna Miller said.

Summer Smidelski watched the plane take off with her two children from the runway at Charlotte Douglas.

"Didn't want to leave and regret not going him one last hug or one last wave,” she said.

Her family is holding onto their memories and they are holding onto each other until the plane that took the troops away brings them back home.

"I love him and I'm proud of him and I just can't wait for him to get back home so I can hug him, kiss him, tell him I love him," said Summer Smidelski.

Members of the 145th Airlift Wing departed for the final time in their C-130 cargo plane. The airlift wing will transition to a new, larger aircraft, the C-17, after this deployment.

The C-130 primarily performs the tactical airlift mission and is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.

This is the last mission of its kind.

"We're going to be delivering troops and cargo, ground equipment, assets to whatever location the military needs us to,” said Kevin Meeks, a technical sergeant.

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