Airmen deopying

Staff Sgt. Mark Kambell hugs his wife Clarissa, before climbing on the bus to be transported out to the aircraft to depart for Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photos by Ben Stasser)

88 SFS Deployment

Staff Sgt. Christopher Klein (left) and Tech. Sgt. Jason Grant (right) just arrived at building 143 to receive a transportation briefing before being transported out to the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photos by Ben Stasser)

Wright-Patt Airman recovering at Walter Reed

Airman First Class Ahja Nock (right) visits Senior Airman Tre Porfirio Dec. 29, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Airman Porfirio is recovering after multiple surgeries following being shot in the back by an insurgent Nov. 21, 2009 while deployed to Afghanistan. Walter Reed doctors hope to release Porfirio in the coming weeks to Wright-Patterson Medical Center where he will continue his recovery. Porfirio is assigned to the 88th Communications Squadron and Nock to the 88th Medical Operations Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (courtesy photo)

Bellbrook students send wounded warrior greetings

Senior Airman Tre Porfirio (center), Airman First Class Ahja Nock, and Lt. Col. Rick Johns, hold a banner of get well wishes from Bellbrook (Ohio) Middle School students Dec. 29, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Porfirio is recovering after a groundbreaking Thanksgiving Day surgery when doctors removed his damaged pancreas, harvested islet cells and transplanted them into his liver. A communications technician with the 88th Communications Squadron, Senior Airman Porfirio was shot in the back by an insurgent while deployed with an Army unit to Afghanistan. Nock is a mental health technician with the 88th Medical Operations Squadron and Johns is commander of the 88th Communications Squadron. All three Airmen are assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (courtesy photo)

Two brothers from Dayton taught the world to fly

Col. Brad Spacy and Stephen Wright place a wreath at the Wright Brothers Memorial overlooking Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Dec. 17, 2009 during a ceremony marking the 106th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight. Mr. Wright is the Wright Brothers’ great grand-nephew and Col. Spacy is 88th Air Base Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bonnie White)

First Flight

After donning a costume reminiscent of the turn of the century, Brig. Gen. Paul Sampson tells the story of Dayton, Ohio’s most famous inventors, Wilbur and Orville Wright, during a ceremony Dec. 17, 2009 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The general was keynote speaker for a ceremony marking the 106th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight. Brig. Gen. Sampson is mobilization assistant to the commander of Aeronautical Systems Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bonnie White)