Tech. Sgt. Daniel Tucker Jr., one of approximately 70 members of the 123rd Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash Air National Guard Station, Ohio, deploying to Iraq, and his wife, Heather, join other deploying Airmen and their families at their deployment ceremony Dec. 29 at Raymond Walters College in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Approximately 70 deploying members of the 123rd Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash Air National Guard Station, Ohio, stand during the National Anthem at their deployment ceremony Dec. 29 at Raymond Walters College in Cincinnati, Ohio. |
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Story and photographs by Airman 1st Class Amy N. Adducchio
178th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CINCINNATI—About 70 members of the 123rd Air Control Squadron, Blue Ash Air National Guard Station, Ohio, and their Families readied for deployment in a call-to-duty ceremony Dec. 29 at Raymond Walters College in Cincinnati.
Before the ceremony started, Airmen and their Families were invited to socialize and pick up resources to use while the parent is deployed.
Heather Tucker, wife of Tech. Sgt. Daniel Tucker Jr., said she plans to take advantage of the “flat daddy”—a life-size cardboard photo bust of the deploying servicemember—that was given to the couple’s four daughters. Her husband, a full-time aerospace ground equipment technician, was deploying for the first time.
“I have every intention of taking him lots of places and sending him pictures of where he’s been. He won’t feel like he missed much,” Heather said. “It’ll be helpful for the kids to have him there.”
The couple, who has four children ranging in ages from 3 to 9, said they talk openly about their father’s deployment. “I think it’ll be equally hard for all of them,” she said.
The family will take advantage of services offered by connectandjoin.com, which allows deployed Servicemembers and their Families to stay in contact in a “…safe, secure and private online community, free from ads and pop-ups.”
“It’s going to be really healthy for the whole family,” Heather said.
Emilie Grube, wife of Staff Sgt. John Grube, also plans to use the resources the Air Force has provided such as a “flat daddy,” Air Force Instant Messenger, coloring books and pillowcases with a photograph of her husband to ease the absence for their two children during his first deployment.
“I was amazed at the deployment briefing and how much detail was given,” she said. “It makes me feel more prepared.”
The ceremony kicked off with the entrance of the official party, followed by the entrance of the deploying members. Guest speakers included U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson from Ohio’s 7th District, who retired from Congress in January when his term ended, and said he knows what it’s like because he has deployed before.
“It’s not an easy time to be called up,” Hobson said. “The most important thing is that this is a great country, and (they)’re making it greater through (their) service.”
Other attendees included U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio’s 2nd District, Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio’s adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Harry “A.J.” Feucht, the assistant adjutant general for Air. They and other distinguished speakers also expressed their gratitude and wished deploying Blue Ash Airmen a safe deployment and return.
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