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Travis crew makes historic flight out of Iraq

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A Travis C-17 Globemaster III departed Iraq Dec. 17 with approximately 129 service members and media on the flight headed for Kuwait as Operation New Dawn came to a close.

After nearly 9 years of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, America is withdrawing its military presence from Iraq. Travis aircraft transported the last group of combat service members from Tallil Air Base, Iraq to Ali Al Saleem Air Base, Kuwait.

The last aircraft out of Iraq was operated by a Travis-based crew from the 21st Airlift Squadron -- Capt. Aaron Jones, Capt. Brian Walsh, Staff Sgt. Mike Burk and Airman 1st Class Nicole Cruz-Ramos.

Both Jones and Walsh are aircraft commanders, and took on the challenge of executing a night vision goggle landing.

"It was an honor," Jones said. "Lots of time, effort and sacrifices were put into the war. It was incredibly humbling to be the last people there."

"We both felt really lucky to be a last part of that puzzle," Walsh said.

The last Airmen on the flight were escorted by Maj. Gen. Anthony Rock, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and Maj. Gen. Russell Handy, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq commander.

"This represents the final chapter in Operation New Dawn, but I think the important thing to remember is this is not just the end of eight years of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn," Rock said. "This is the end of 21 years of Air Force and U.S. military involvement in and around Iraq."

Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander and staff greeted the service members and civilians on the flight when the aircraft arrived at its destination in Ali Al Saleem Air Base, Kuwait.

The historical flight representing the end of a war did not proceed as most routine flight departures.

"It was a high priority mission," Jones said. "We received a call from the tower and they let us know that the air traffic controller was getting on the jet and that he was the last guy."

"The command center said a very thorough headcount was needed because there were no missions scheduled to go back in there," Walsh said.

There were unique and challenging aspects to this mission, Jones said. Everything came full circle. People sacrificed so much and it's an honor to help them finish the job.

(Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes contributed to this article.)