Fairchild unit to depart on Christmas
With a feeling of shared sadness, about 50 Air Force personnel and their families will be celebrating Christmas early this year.
The men and women from the Fairchild Air Force Base 92nd Civil Engineers Squadron are being deployed to Southwest Asia. They will leave from the Spokane International Airport either Christmas morning or afternoon – ill-timed departures, but then again, there are no choices.
“When Uncle Sam wants you, Uncle Sam takes you,” said Tech. Sgt. James Kelley, one of three Air Force members and family members who spoke to newspaper and television reporters Wednesday afternoon at the base.
Kelley, husband and father of two daughters, said he’s missed Christmases over his 17-year-career. However, he’s never left on Christmas.
“Personally, I’m sure it happens, but I’ve never seen it happen,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott King, superintendent of public affairs and 18-year Air Force veteran.
According to Fairchild’s Personnel Readiness Unit records that date back two years, no one deployed from Fairchild AFB on Christmas in 2002 and 2003. However, there have been men and women who were stationed away from home during Christmas.
“It’s part of my job. It’s what I do. I signed up to serve my country,” said Kelley, of Walla Walla, who has been deployed five times since 1990.
Civil Engineer personnel are responsible for fire protection, explosive disposal, evaluating pavement, power systems, infrastructure planning, design, construction and other tasks. King said deployments on average last three to four months but are subject to change.
During Wednesday’s press interviews, Kelley’s youngest daughter, Samantha, stuck close by her father, listening and chiming in with her feelings.
“He leaves all the time. He missed five Christmases,” said 10-year-old Samantha, who was born on Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
“Three Christmases … and three birthdays,” Kelley corrected.
Kelley said that before deployment, the family will have a big dinner and open the presents “at 2 o’clock in the morning if we have to.”
“The first time (missing Christmas) is kind of hard,” he added. “The more times you do it, the older the kids get, it gets easier.”
For Lt. Andrew Cullen, not being here for the holidays will be new to him, his wife, Rory, and their 8-month-old son, Hunter. The Christmas Day deployment will be his first.
The Cullens, who are from Sandusky, Ohio, already celebrated by having a big Christmas turkey dinner, and driving around looking at lights.
“It happens,” Cullen said about serving in Southwest Asia. “With him (son) being so young, it’s not so bad. He doesn’t know about Santa yet.”