Ohio National Guard News

Air Guard members welcomed home from deployment

Maj. Gen. Harry “A.J.” Feucht Jr. welcomes home an Airman with the 220th EIS after deploying in support of the Global War on Terror.

Airmen with the 220th EIS stand at attention after receivng medals for their deployment in support of the Global War on Terror.

Story by 1st Lt Nicole L. Ashcroft, photos by the 121st Air Refueling Wing public affairs

ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Maj. Gen. Harry “A.J.” Feucht Jr., welcomed home 25 airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 220th Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS) during a ceremony held in Zanesville on Sunday, February 22, 2009.

The members were recognized by various military leaders, local community leaders, family and friends for their service is support of the Global War on Terror. These members had deployed to various locations throughout Southwest Asia, including Afghanistan. The duration of their tours lasted from 60 to 120 days.

“It’s great to see all the smiling faces as this is a happy event. It’s about the airmen and their families,” said Feucht to the ceremony attendees.

In thanks for their heroic efforts, these Airmen received a combination of the following awards: Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

“Ohio National Guard Airmen are extremely professional and have served their country well,” said 220 EIS Commander, Lt. Col. Robert Panian. “I could not be more proud of them.”

The 220 EIS is based in Zanesville, Ohio but has airmen throughout the state supporting their communications mission. These members engineer and install “long-term” communications such as voice/data networks, ground-to-air communications and meteorological/navigational systems in and around airfields. They have been successfully supporting this mission around the world; and have deployed over half of their members September 11, 2001.