Terrorism's tentacles touch home

By Staff
Oct. 19, 2001
Our national leaders have said for weeks now that terrorism's evil tentacles have a long reach. On Tuesday of this week, these tentacles touched Meridian as 100 members of the 186th Air Refueling Wing were called to active duty. While the exact nature of their mission was not announced, nor should it be, these Mississippians are essentially going off to war.
A spokesman said the unit could be used for homeland defense or directed to overseas positions in support of Operation Noble Eagle or Enduring Freedom. Suffice it to say they will go wherever they are needed.
The primary mission of the 186th is to refuel aircraft in flight, and the unit does a superior job. Over Afghanistan, two U.S. special forces AC-130 gunships entered the air war this week for the first time. The low-altitude gunship has a range of about 1,400 miles and can be refueled in the air, a mission the Meridian unit could undertake if deployed overseas.
Members of the 186th routinely fly individual retraining missions overseas so, while the nature of the threat to American freedoms may be new, whatever mission they are assigned will not be new.
As these fine people disrupt their personal lives and daily family routines and depart for danger, the hopes and prayers of a grateful community go with them for successful completion of their mission and a safe return home.