RED HORSE returns Published April 11, 2012 By Staff Sgt. William P. Coleman 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- More than 180 Airmen assigned to the 820th RED HORSE Squadron returned home from a six month deployment, April 9, 2012, covering multiple locations in Afghanistan and South West Asia. RED HORSE squadrons provide the Air Force with a highly-mobile civil engineering capability in support of contingency and special operations worldwide. They are self-sufficient, mobile squadrons that provide construction support such as runway repair, electrical upgrades and equipment transport. RED HORSE squadrons also build lodging facilities, storage areas and operational buildings in deployed environments. While waiting for the Airman to arrive, volunteers served refreshments to family and friends. An arts and crafts table set up for children helped calm the anxious feelings of the arrival. Enjoying the amenities, people shared plans of what they wanted to do, now that the whole family is together. After making a toy caterpillar, Ximira Green, daughter of Kari and Staff Sgt. Darrell Green, said she wants to play stuffed animals with her daddy. Before long, the Airmen were greeted by family, friends and RED HORSE members as they stepped off buses at the RED HORSE compound. Suzie Hosmanek, wife of Staff Sgt. Paul Hosmanek, greeted her husband with his mountain bike while wearing his biking jersey. "We mostly ride for fun and enter races to see how we do" Mrs. Hosmanek said. During his deployment, Hosmanek missed True Grit, a fifty mile mountain bike race in St. George Utah. He entered last year, but the event was cancelled due to rain. This year, Suzie did it without Paul, but barley. "I didn't have him to say let's go, let's go," Mrs. Hosmanek said. The 180 Airmen returned home, but not without completing an immense amount of work. Staff Sgt. Sabastien Mossay, 820th RED HORSE water and fuels systems maintenance craftsman, installed indoor and outdoor plumbing in several countries. It was a long deployment, but a good one said Mossay. While the families and service members said they are glad the tour has come to an end, they are also proud of the work the 820th RED HORSE Squadron accomplished during the deployment.
