[Calpernia]

The sky above Balad Air Base, Iraq, was thick with dust and sand when four F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots completed another mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They were headed to their deployment “home” in Balad when they were eventually diverted here Oct. 17.

"There’s no simulator that can teach you the feeling you get when you hear the guy on the ground yell into the radio, ‘We need help now! Take care of it.'" U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jose Monteagudo

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!